arXiv subjects

E. C. Aschenauer

Publications and source records attributed to E. C. Aschenauer.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

$J/ψ$ polarization in p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV in STAR

We report on a polarization measurement of inclusive $J/ψ$ mesons in the di-electron decay channel at mid-rapidity at 2 $<p_{T}<$ 6 GeV/$c$ in $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV. Data were taken with the STAR detector at RHIC. The $J/ψ$ polarization measurement should help to distinguish between different models of the $J/ψ$ production mechanism since they predict different $p_{T}$ dependences of the $J/ψ$ polarization. In this analysis, $J/ψ$ polarization is studied in the helicity frame. The polarization parameter $λ_θ$ measured at RHIC becomes smaller towards high $p_{T}$, indicating more longitudinal $J/ψ$ polarization as $p_{T}$ increases. The result is compared with predictions of presently available models.

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arXiv2014

Beam-energy and system-size dependence of the space-time extent of the pion emission source produced in heavy ion collisions

Two-pion interferometry measurements are used to extract the Gaussian radii $R_{\rm out}$, $R_{\rm side}$, and $R_{\rm long}$, of the pion emission sources produced in Cu$+$Cu and Au$+$Au collisions at several beam collision energies $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$ at PHENIX. The extracted radii, which are compared to recent STAR and ALICE data, show characteristic scaling patterns as a function of the initial transverse size $\bar{R}$ of the collision systems and the transverse mass $m_T$ of the emitted pion pairs, consistent with hydrodynamiclike expansion. Specific combinations of the three-dimensional radii that are sensitive to the medium expansion velocity and lifetime, and the pion emission time duration show nonmonotonic $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$ dependencies. The nonmonotonic behaviors exhibited by these quantities point to a softening of the equation of state that may coincide with the critical end point in the phase diagram for nuclear matter.

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arXiv2014

Transverse polarization of $Λ$ hyperons from quasireal photoproduction on nuclei

The transverse polarization of $Λ$ hyperons was measured in inclusive quasireal photoproduction for various target nuclei ranging from hydrogen to xenon. The data were obtained by the HERMES experiment at HERA using the 27.6 GeV lepton beam and nuclear gas targets internal to the lepton storage ring. The polarization observed is positive for light target nuclei and is compatible with zero for krypton and xenon.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2014

$J/ψ$ production at low $p_T$ in Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV at STAR

The $\jpsi$ $\pt$ spectrum and nuclear modification factor ($\raa$) are reported for $\pt < 5 \ \gevc$ and $|y|<1$ from 0\% to 60\% central Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at $\snn = 200 \ \gev$ at STAR. A significant suppression of $\pt$-integrated $\jpsi$ production is observed in central Au+Au events. The Cu+Cu data are consistent with no suppression, although the precision is limited by the available statistics. $\raa$ in Au+Au collisions exhibits a strong suppression at low transverse momentum and gradually increases with $\pt$. The data are compared to high-$\pt$ STAR results and previously published BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider results. Comparing with model calculations, it is found that the invariant yields at low $\pt$ are significantly above hydrodynamic flow predictions but are consistent with models that include color screening and regeneration.

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arXiv2014

Observation of $D^0$ meson nuclear modifications in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}}$ = 200 GeV

We report the first measurement of charmed-hadron ($D^0$) production via the hadronic decay channel ($D^0\rightarrow K^- + π^+$) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}}$ = 200\,GeV with the STAR experiment. The charm production cross-section per nucleon-nucleon collision at mid-rapidity scales with the number of binary collisions, $N_{bin}$, from $p$+$p$ to central Au+Au collisions. The $D^0$ meson yields in central Au+Au collisions are strongly suppressed compared to those in $p$+$p$ scaled by $N_{bin}$, for transverse momenta $p_{T}>3$ GeV/$c$, demonstrating significant energy loss of charm quarks in the hot and dense medium. An enhancement at intermediate $p_{T}$ is also observed. Model calculations including strong charm-medium interactions and coalescence hadronization describe our measurements.

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arXiv2014

Isolation of Flow and Nonflow Correlations by Two- and Four-Particle Cumulant Measurements of Azimuthal Harmonics in $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}} =$ 200 GeV Au+Au Collisions

A data-driven method was applied to measurements of Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}} =$ 200 GeV made with the STAR detector at RHIC to isolate pseudorapidity distance $Δη$-dependent and $Δη$-independent correlations by using two- and four-particle azimuthal cumulant measurements. We identified a component of the correlation that is $Δη$-independent, which is likely dominated by anisotropic flow and flow fluctuations. It was also found to be independent of $η$ within the measured range of pseudorapidity $|η|<1$. The relative flow fluctuation was found to be $34\% \pm 2\% (stat.) \pm 3\% (sys.)$ for particles of transverse momentum $p_{T}$ less than $2$ GeV/$c$. The $Δη$-dependent part may be attributed to nonflow correlations, and is found to be $5\% \pm 2\% (sys.)$ relative to the flow of the measured second harmonic cumulant at $|Δη| > 0.7$.

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arXiv2014

Inclusive cross sections, charge ratio and double-helicity asymmetries for $π^+$ and $π^-$ production in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV

We present the midrapidity charged pion invariant cross sections and the ratio of $π^-$-to-$π^+$ production ($5<p_T<13$ GeV/$c$), together with the double-helicity asymmetries ($5<p_T<12$ GeV/$c$) in polarized $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV. The cross section measurements are consistent with perturbative calculations in quantum chromodynamics within large uncertainties in the calculation due to the choice of factorization, renormalization, and fragmentation scales. However, the theoretical calculation of the ratio of $π^-$-to-$π^+$ production when considering these scale uncertainties overestimates the measured value, suggesting further investigation of the uncertainties on the charge-separated pion fragmentation functions is needed. Due to cancellations of uncertainties in the charge ratio, direct inclusion of these ratio data in future parameterizations should improve constraints on the flavor dependence of quark fragmentation functions to pions. By measuring charge-separated pion asymmetries, one can gain sensitivity to the sign of $ΔG$ through the opposite sign of the up and down quark helicity distributions in conjunction with preferential fragmentation of positive pions from up quarks and negative pions from down quarks. The double-helicity asymmetries presented are sensitive to the gluon helicity distribution over an $x$ range of $\sim$0.03--0.16.

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arXiv2014

Charged-to-neutral correlation at forward rapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV

Event-by-event fluctuations of the ratio of inclusive charged to photon multiplicities at forward rapidity in Au+Au collision at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV have been studied. Dominant contribution to such fluctuations is expected to come from correlated production of charged and neutral pions. We search for evidences of dynamical fluctuations of different physical origins. Observables constructed out of moments of multiplicities are used as measures of fluctuations. Mixed events and model calculations are used as baselines. Results are compared to the dynamical net-charge fluctuations measured in the same acceptance. A non-zero statistically significant signal of dynamical fluctuations is observed in excess to the model prediction when charged particles and photons are measured in the same acceptance. We find that, unlike dynamical net-charge fluctuation, charge-neutral fluctuation is not dominated by correlation due to particle decay. Results are compared to the expectations based on the generic production mechanism of pions due to isospin symmetry, for which no significant (<1%) deviation is observed.

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arXiv2014

Measurement of longitudinal spin asymmetries for weak boson production in polarized proton-proton collisions at RHIC

We report measurements of single- and double- spin asymmetries for $W^{\pm}$ and $Z/γ^*$ boson production in longitudinally polarized $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 510$ GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The asymmetries for $W^{\pm}$ were measured as a function of the decay lepton pseudorapidity, which provides a theoretically clean probe of the proton's polarized quark distributions at the scale of the $W$ mass. The results are compared to theoretical predictions, constrained by recent polarized deep inelastic scattering measurements, and show a preference for a sizable, positive up antiquark polarization in the range $0.05<x<0.2$.

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arXiv2014

Dielectron Mass Spectra from Au+Au Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV

We report the STAR measurements of dielectron ($e^+e^-$) production at midrapidity ($|y_{ee}|<$1) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200\,GeV. The measurements are evaluated in different invariant mass regions with a focus on 0.30-0.76 ($ρ$-like), 0.76-0.80 ($ω$-like), and 0.98-1.05 ($ϕ$-like) GeV/$c^{2}$. The spectrum in the $ω$-like and $ϕ$-like regions can be well described by the hadronic cocktail simulation. In the $ρ$-like region, however, the vacuum $ρ$ spectral function cannot describe the shape of the dielectron excess. In this range, an enhancement of 1.77$\pm$0.11(stat.)$\pm$0.24(sys.)$\pm$0.33(cocktail) is determined with respect to the hadronic cocktail simulation that excludes the $ρ$ meson. The excess yield in the $ρ$-like region increases with the number of collision participants faster than the $ω$ and $ϕ$ yields. Theoretical models with broadened $ρ$ contributions through interactions with constituents in the hot QCD medium provide a consistent description of the dilepton mass spectra for the measurement presented here and the earlier data at the Super Proton Synchrotron energies.

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arXiv2014

Beam-energy dependence of charge separation along the magnetic field in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

Local parity-odd domains are theorized to form inside a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP) which has been produced in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. The local parity-odd domains manifest themselves as charge separation along the magnetic field axis via the chiral magnetic effect (CME). The experimental observation of charge separation has previously been reported for heavy-ion collisions at the top RHIC energies. In this paper, we present the results of the beam-energy dependence of the charge correlations in Au+Au collisions at midrapidity for center-of-mass energies of 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39 and 62.4 GeV from the STAR experiment. After background subtraction, the signal gradually reduces with decreased beam energy, and tends to vanish by 7.7 GeV. The implications of these results for the CME will be discussed.

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arXiv2014

Reevaluation of the parton distribution of strange quarks in the nucleon

An earlier extraction from the HERMES experiment of the polarization-averaged parton distribution of strange quarks in the nucleon has been reevaluated using final data on the multiplicities of charged kaons in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering obtained with a kinematically more comprehensive method of correcting for experimental effects. General features of the distribution are confirmed, but the rise at low x is less pronounced than previously reported.

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arXiv2014

Precision Measurement of the Longitudinal Double-spin Asymmetry for Inclusive Jet Production in Polarized Proton Collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV

We report a new high-precision measurement of the mid-rapidity inclusive jet longitudinal double-spin asymmetry, $A_{LL}$, in polarized $pp$ collisions at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV. The STAR data place stringent constraints on polarized parton distribution functions extracted at next-to-leading order from global analyses of inclusive deep inelastic scattering (DIS), semi-inclusive DIS, and RHIC $pp$ data. The measured asymmetries provide evidence for positive gluon polarization in the Bjorken-$x$ region $x>0.05$.

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arXiv2014

Low-mass vector-meson production at forward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured low mass vector meson, $ω$, $ρ$, and $ϕ$, production through the dimuon decay channel at forward rapidity ($1.2<|y|<2.2$) in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV. The differential cross sections for these mesons are measured as a function of both $p_T$ and rapidity. We also report the integrated differential cross sections over $1<p_T<7$ GeV/$c$ and $1.2<|y|<2.2$: $dσ/dy(ω+ρ\rightarrowμμ) = 80 \pm 6 \mbox{(stat)} \pm 12 \mbox{(syst)}$ nb and $dσ/dy(ϕ\rightarrowμμ) = 27 \pm 3 \mbox{(stat)} \pm 4 \mbox{(syst)}$ nb. These results are compared with midrapidity measurements and calculations.

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arXiv2014

Jet-Hadron Correlations in sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV p+p and Central Au+Au Collisions

Azimuthal angular correlations of charged hadrons with respect to the axis of a reconstructed (trigger) jet in Au+Au and p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}} = 200 \text{GeV}$ in STAR are presented. The trigger jet population in Au+Au collisions is biased towards jets that have not interacted with the medium, allowing easier matching of jet energies between Au+Au and p+p collisions while enhancing medium effects on the recoil jet. The associated hadron yield of the recoil jet is significantly suppressed at high transverse momentum ($p_{\text{T}}^{\text{assoc}}$) and enhanced at low $p_{\text{T}}^{\text{assoc}}$ in 0-20% central Au+Au collisions compared to p+p collisions, which is indicative of medium-induced parton energy loss in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions.

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arXiv2014

Probing Gluon Saturation through Dihadron Correlations at an Electron-Ion Collider

Two-particle azimuthal angle correlations have been proposed to be one of the most direct and sensitive probes to access the underlying gluon dynamics involved in hard scatterings. In anticipation of an Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), detailed studies of dihadron correlation measurements in electron-proton and electron-ion collisions at an EIC have been performed. The impact of such measurements on the understanding of the different gluon distribution functions, as a clean signature for gluon saturation and to constrain saturation models further, has been explored. It is shown that dihadron correlation measurements will be one of the key methods to probe gluon saturation phenomena at a future EIC.

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arXiv2014

Beam-Energy Dependence of Directed Flow of Protons, Antiprotons and Pions in Au+Au Collisions

Rapidity-odd directed flow($v_1$) measurements for charged pions, protons and antiprotons near mid-rapidity ($y=0$) are reported in $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV Au + Au collisions as recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). At intermediate impact parameters, the proton and net-proton slope parameter $dv_1/dy|_{y=0}$ shows a minimum between 11.5 and 19.6 GeV. In addition, the net-proton $dv_1/dy|_{y=0}$ changes sign twice between 7.7 and 39 GeV. The proton and net-proton results qualitatively resemble predictions of a hydrodynamic model with a first-order phase transition from hadronic matter to deconfined matter, and differ from hadronic transport calculations.

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arXiv2014

Beam energy dependent two-pion interferometry and the freeze-out eccentricity of pions in heavy ion collisions at STAR

We present results of analyses of two-pion interferometry in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV measured in the STAR detector as part of the RHIC Beam Energy Scan program. The extracted correlation lengths (HBT radii) are studied as a function of beam energy, azimuthal angle relative to the reaction plane, centrality, and transverse mass ($m_{T}$) of the particles. The azimuthal analysis allows extraction of the eccentricity of the entire fireball at kinetic freeze-out. The energy dependence of this observable is expected to be sensitive to changes in the equation of state. A new global fit method is studied as an alternate method to directly measure the parameters in the azimuthal analysis. The eccentricity shows a monotonic decrease with beam energy that is qualitatively consistent with the trend from all model predictions and quantitatively consistent with a hadronic transport model.

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