arXiv subjects

F. M. Fawzi

Publications and source records attributed to F. M. Fawzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Evidence of Mass Ordering of Charm and Bottom Quark Energy Loss in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

Partons traversing the strongly interacting medium produced in heavy-ion collisions are expected to lose energy depending on their color charge and mass. We measure the nuclear modification factors for charm- and bottom-decay electrons, defined as the ratio of yields, scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, in $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions to $p$+$p$ collisions ($R_{\rm AA}$), or in central to peripheral Au+Au collisions ($R_{\rm CP}$). We find the bottom-decay electron $R_{\rm AA}$ and $R_{\rm CP}$ to be significantly higher than that of charm-decay electrons. Model calculations including mass-dependent parton energy loss in a strongly coupled medium are consistent with the measured data. These observations provide clear evidence of mass ordering of charm and bottom quark energy loss when traversing through the strongly coupled medium created in heavy-ion collisions.

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arXiv2023

$K^{*0}$ production in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27 and 39 GeV from RHIC beam energy scan

We report the measurement of $K^{*0}$ meson at midrapidity ($|y|<$ 1.0) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$~=~7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27 and 39 GeV collected by the STAR experiment during the RHIC beam energy scan (BES) program. The transverse momentum spectra, yield, and average transverse momentum of $K^{*0}$ are presented as functions of collision centrality and beam energy. The $K^{*0}/K$ yield ratios are presented for different collision centrality intervals and beam energies. The $K^{*0}/K$ ratio in heavy-ion collisions are observed to be smaller than that in small system collisions (e+e and p+p). The $K^{*0}/K$ ratio follows a similar centrality dependence to that observed in previous RHIC and LHC measurements. The data favor the scenario of the dominance of hadronic re-scattering over regeneration for $K^{*0}$ production in the hadronic phase of the medium.

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arXiv2023

Higher-Order Cumulants and Correlation Functions of Proton Multiplicity Distributions in $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 3 GeV Au+Au Collisions at the RHIC STAR Experiment

We report a measurement of cumulants and correlation functions of event-by-event proton multiplicity distributions from fixed-target Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV measured by the STAR experiment. Protons are identified within the rapidity ($y$) and transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) region $-0.9 < y<0$ and $0.4 < p_{\rm T} <2.0 $ GeV/$c$ in the center-of-mass frame. A systematic analysis of the proton cumulants and correlation functions up to sixth-order as well as the corresponding ratios as a function of the collision centrality, $p_{\rm T}$, and $y$ are presented. The effect of pileup and initial volume fluctuations on these observables and the respective corrections are discussed in detail. The results are compared to calculations from the hadronic transport UrQMD model as well as a hydrodynamic model. In the most central 5\% collisions, the value of proton cumulant ratio $C_4/C_2$ is negative, drastically different from the values observed in Au+Au collisions at higher energies. Compared to model calculations including Lattice QCD, a hadronic transport model, and a hydrodynamic model, the strong suppression in the ratio of $C_4/C_2$ at 3 GeV Au+Au collisions indicates an energy regime dominated by hadronic interactions.

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arXiv2023

Azimuthal anisotropy measurement of (multi-)strange hadrons in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}$ = 54.4 GeV

Azimuthal anisotropy of produced particles is one of the most important observables used to access the collective properties of the expanding medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. In this paper, we present second ($v_{2}$) and third ($v_{3}$) order azimuthal anisotropies of $K_{S}^{0}$, $ϕ$, $Λ$, $Ξ$ and $Ω$ at mid-rapidity ($|y|<$1) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}$ = 54.4 GeV measured by the STAR detector. The $v_{2}$ and $v_{3}$ are measured as a function of transverse momentum and centrality. Their energy dependence is also studied. $v_{3}$ is found to be more sensitive to the change in the center-of-mass energy than $v_{2}$. Scaling by constituent quark number is found to hold for $v_{2}$ within 10%. This observation could be evidence for the development of partonic collectivity in 54.4 GeV Au+Au collisions. Differences in $v_{2}$ and $v_{3}$ between baryons and anti-baryons are presented, and ratios of $v_{3}$/$v_{2}^{3/2}$ are studied and motivated by hydrodynamical calculations. The ratio of $v_{2}$ of $ϕ$ mesons to that of anti-protons ($v_{2}(ϕ)/v_{2}(\bar{p})$) shows centrality dependence at low transverse momentum, presumably resulting from the larger effects from hadronic interactions on anti-proton $v_{2}$.

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arXiv2023

Pion, kaon, and (anti-)proton production in U+U Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV measured with the STAR detector

We present the first measurements of transverse momentum spectra of $π^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p(\bar{p})$ at midrapidity ($|y| < 0.1$) in U+U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The centrality dependence of particle yields, average transverse momenta, particle ratios and kinetic freeze-out parameters are discussed. The results are compared with the published results from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 200 GeV in STAR. The results are also compared to those from A Multi Phase Transport (AMPT) model.

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arXiv2023

Pattern of Global Spin Alignment of $ϕ$ and $K^{*0}$ mesons in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Notwithstanding decades of progress since Yukawa first developed a description of the force between nucleons in terms of meson exchange, a full understanding of the strong interaction remains a major challenge in modern science. One remaining difficulty arises from the non-perturbative nature of the strong force, which leads to the phenomenon of quark confinement at distances on the order of the size of the proton. Here we show that in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, where quarks and gluons are set free over an extended volume, two species of produced vector (spin-1) mesons, namely $ϕ$ and $K^{*0}$, emerge with a surprising pattern of global spin alignment. In particular, the global spin alignment for $ϕ$ is unexpectedly large, while that for $K^{*0}$ is consistent with zero. The observed spin-alignment pattern and magnitude for the $ϕ$ cannot be explained by conventional mechanisms, while a model with a connection to strong force fields, i.e. an effective proxy description within the Standard Model and Quantum Chromodynamics, accommodates the current data. This connection, if fully established, will open a potential new avenue for studying the behaviour of strong force fields.

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arXiv2022

Collision-System and Beam-Energy Dependence of Anisotropic Flow Fluctuations

Elliptic flow measurements from two-, four- and six-particle correlations are used to investigate flow fluctuations in collisions of U+U at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$= 193 GeV, Cu+Au at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$= 200 GeV and Au+Au spanning the range $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$= 11.5 - 200 GeV. The measurements show a strong dependence of the flow fluctuations on collision centrality, a modest dependence on system size, and very little if any, dependence on particle species and beam energy. The results, when compared to similar LHC measurements, viscous hydrodynamic calculations, and T$\mathrel{\protect\raisebox{-2.1pt}{R}}$ENTo model eccentricities, indicate that initial-state-driven fluctuations predominate the flow fluctuations generated in the collisions studied.

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arXiv2022

Measurement of $\rm ^4_ΛH$ and $\rm ^4_ΛHe$ binding energy in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 3 GeV

Measurements of mass and $Λ$ binding energy of $\rm ^4_ΛH$ and $\rm ^4_ΛHe$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}=3$ GeV are presented, with an aim to address the charge symmetry breaking (CSB) problem in hypernuclei systems with atomic number A = 4. The $Λ$ binding energies are measured to be $\rm 2.22\pm0.06(stat.) \pm0.14(syst.)$ MeV and $\rm 2.38\pm0.13(stat.) \pm0.12(syst.)$ MeV for $\rm ^4_ΛH$ and $\rm ^4_ΛHe$, respectively. The measured $Λ$ binding-energy difference is $\rm 0.16\pm0.14(stat.)\pm0.10(syst.)$ MeV for ground states. Combined with the $γ$-ray transition energies, the binding-energy difference for excited states is $\rm -0.16\pm0.14(stat.)\pm0.10(syst.)$ MeV, which is negative and comparable to the value of the ground states within uncertainties. These new measurements on the $Λ$ binding-energy difference in A = 4 hypernuclei systems are consistent with the theoretical calculations that result in $\rm ΔB_Λ^4(1_{exc}^{+})\approx -ΔB_Λ^4(0_{g.s.}^{+})<0$ and present a new method for the study of CSB effect using relativistic heavy-ion collisions.

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arXiv2022

Azimuthal transverse single-spin asymmetries of inclusive jets and identified hadrons within jets from polarized $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV

The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of the transverse single-spin asymmetries, $A_N$, for inclusive jets and identified `hadrons within jets' production at midrapidity from transversely polarized $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV, based on data recorded in 2012 and 2015. The inclusive jet asymmetry measurements include $A_N$ for inclusive jets and $A_N$ for jets containing a charged pion carrying a momentum fraction $z>0.3$ of the jet momentum. The identified hadron within jet asymmetry measurements include the Collins effect for charged pions, kaons and protons, and the Collins-like effect for charged pions. The measured asymmetries are determined for several distinct kinematic regions, characterized by the jet transverse momentum $p_{T}$ and pseudorapidity $η$, as well as the hadron momentum fraction $z$ and momentum transverse to the jet axis $j_{T}$. These results probe higher momentum scales ($Q^{2}$ up to $\sim$\,900 GeV$^{2}$) than current, semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering measurements, and they provide new constraints on quark transversity in the proton and enable tests of evolution, universality and factorization breaking in the transverse-momentum-dependent formalism.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Search for the chiral magnetic effect via charge-dependent azimuthal correlations relative to spectator and participant planes in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

The chiral magnetic effect (CME) refers to charge separation along a strong magnetic field due to imbalanced chirality of quarks in local parity and charge-parity violating domains in quantum chromodynamics. The experimental measurement of the charge separation is made difficult by the presence of a major background from elliptic azimuthal anisotropy. This background and the CME signal have different sensitivities to the spectator and participant planes, and could thus be determined by measurements with respect to these planes. We report such measurements in Au+Au collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider. It is found that the charge separation, with the flow background removed, is consistent with zero in peripheral (large impact parameter) collisions. Some indication of finite CME signals is seen in mid-central (intermediate impact parameter) collisions. Significant residual background effects may, however, still be present.

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arXiv2022

Evidence for Nonlinear Gluon Effects in QCD and their $A$ Dependence at STAR

The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of back-to-back azimuthal correlations of di-$π^0$s produced at forward pseudorapidities ($2.6<η<4.0$) in $p$+$p$, $p+$Al, and $p+$Au collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. We observe a clear suppression of the correlated yields of back-to-back $π^0$ pairs in $p+$Al and $p+$Au collisions compared to the $p$+$p$ data. The observed suppression of back-to-back pairs as a function of transverse momentum suggests nonlinear gluon dynamics arising at high parton densities. The larger suppression found in $p+$Au relative to $p+$Al collisions exhibits a dependence of the saturation scale, $Q_s^2$, on the mass number, $A$. A linear scaling of the suppression with $A^{1/3}$ is observed with a slope of $-0.09$ $\pm$ $0.01$.

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arXiv2022

Probing Strangeness Canonical Ensemble with $K^{-}$, $ϕ(1020)$ and $Ξ^{-}$ Production in Au+Au Collisions at ${\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = \rm{3\,GeV}}$

We report the first multi-differential measurements of strange hadrons of $K^{-}$, $ϕ$ and $Ξ^{-}$ yields as well as the ratios of $ϕ/K^-$ and $ϕ/Ξ^-$ in Au+Au collisions at ${\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = \rm{3\,GeV}}$ with the STAR experiment fixed target configuration at RHIC. The $ϕ$ mesons and $Ξ^{-}$ hyperons are measured through hadronic decay channels, $ϕ\rightarrow K^+K^-$ and $Ξ^-\rightarrow Λπ^-$. Collision centrality and rapidity dependence of the transverse momentum spectra for these strange hadrons are presented. The $4π$ yields and ratios are compared to thermal model and hadronic transport model predictions. At this collision energy, thermal model with grand canonical ensemble (GCE) under-predicts the $ϕ/K^-$ and $ϕ/Ξ^-$ ratios while the result of canonical ensemble (CE) calculations reproduce $ϕ/K^-$, with the correlation length $r_c \sim 2.7$\,fm, and $ϕ/Ξ^-$, $r_c \sim 4.2$\,fm, for the 0-10\% central collisions. Hadronic transport models including high mass resonance decays could also describe the ratios. While thermal calculations with GCE work well for strangeness production in high energy collisions, the change to CE at $\rm{3\,GeV}$ implies a rather different medium property at high baryon density.

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arXiv2022

Measurements of Proton High Order Cumulants in 3 GeV Au+Au Collisions and Implications for the QCD Critical Point

We report cumulants of the proton multiplicity distribution from dedicated fixed-target Au+Au collisions at 3.0 GeV, measured by the STAR experiment in the kinematic acceptance of rapidity ($y$) and transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) within $-0.5 < y<0$ and $0.4 < p_{\rm T} <2.0 $ GeV/$c$. In the most central 0--5\% collisions, a proton cumulant ratio is measured to be $C_4/C_2=-0.85 \pm 0.09 ~(\rm stat.) \pm 0.82 ~(\rm syst.)$, which is less than unity, the Poisson baseline. The hadronic transport UrQMD model reproduces our $C_4/C_2$ in the measured acceptance. Compared to higher energy results and the transport model calculations, the suppression in $C_4/C_2$ is consistent with fluctuations driven by baryon number conservation and indicates an energy regime dominated by hadronic interactions. These data imply that the QCD critical region, if created in heavy-ion collisions, could only exist at energies higher than 3\,GeV.

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arXiv2022

Longitudinal double-spin asymmetry for inclusive jet and dijet production in polarized proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV

We report measurements of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry, $A_{LL}$, for inclusive jet and dijet production in polarized proton-proton collisions at midrapidity and center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 510 GeV, using the high luminosity data sample collected by the STAR experiment in 2013. These measurements complement and improve the precision of previous STAR measurements at the same center-of-mass energy that probe the polarized gluon distribution function at partonic momentum fraction 0.015 $\lesssim x \lesssim$ 0.25. The dijet asymmetries are separated into four jet-pair topologies, which provide further constraints on the $x$ dependence of the polarized gluon distribution function. These measurements are in agreement with previous STAR measurements and with predictions from current next-to-leading order global analyses. They provide more precise data at low dijet invariant mass that will better constraint the shape of the polarized gluon distribution function of the proton.

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arXiv2022

Measurements of ${}^3_Λ\rm{H}$ and ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$ Lifetimes and Yields in Au+Au Collisions in the High Baryon Density Region

We report precision measurements of hypernuclei ${}^3_Λ\rm{H}$ and ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$ lifetimes obtained from Au+Au collisions at \snn = 3.0\,GeV and 7.2\,GeV collected by the STAR experiment at RHIC, and the first measurement of ${}^3_Λ\rm{H}$ and ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$ mid-rapidity yields in Au+Au collisions at \snn = 3.0\,GeV. ${}^3_Λ\rm{H}$ and ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$, being the two simplest bound states composed of hyperons and nucleons, are cornerstones in the field of hypernuclear physics. Their lifetimes are measured to be $221\pm15(\rm stat.)\pm19(\rm syst.)$\,ps for ${}^3_Λ\rm{H}$ and $218\pm6(\rm stat.)\pm13(\rm syst.)$\,ps for ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$. The $p_T$-integrated yields of ${}^3_Λ\rm{H}$ and ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$ are presented in different centrality and rapidity intervals. It is observed that the shape of the rapidity distribution of ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$ is different for 0--10\% and 10--50\% centrality collisions. Thermal model calculations, using the canonical ensemble for strangeness, describes the ${}^3_Λ\rm{H}$ yield well, while underestimating the ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$ yield. Transport models, combining baryonic mean-field and coalescence (JAM) or utilizing dynamical cluster formation via baryonic interactions (PHQMD) for light nuclei and hypernuclei production, approximately describe the measured ${}^3_Λ\rm{H}$ and ${}^4_Λ\rm{H}$ yields. Our measurements provide means to precisely assess our understanding of the fundamental baryonic interactions with strange quarks, which can impact our understanding of more complicated systems involving hyperons, such as the interior of neutron stars or exotic hypernuclei.

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arXiv2022

Differential measurements of jet substructure and partonic energy loss in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}} =200$ GeV

The STAR collaboration presents jet substructure measurements related to both the momentum fraction and the opening angle within jets in \pp and \AuAu collisions at \sqrtsn $= 200$ GeV. The substructure observables include SoftDrop groomed momentum fraction (\zg), groomed jet radius (\rg), and subjet momentum fraction (\zsj) and opening angle (\tsj). The latter observable is introduced for the first time. Fully corrected subjet measurements are presented for \pp collisions and are compared to leading order Monte Carlo models. The subjet \tsj~distributions reflect the jets leading opening angle and are utilized as a proxy for the resolution scale of the medium in \AuAu collisions. We compare data from \AuAu collisions to those from \pp which are embedded in minimum-bias \AuAu events in order to include the effects of detector smearing and the heavy-ion collision underlying event. The subjet observables are shown to be more robust to the background than \zg~and \rg. We observe no significant modifications of the subjet observables within the two highest-energy, back-to-back jets, resulting in a distribution of opening angles and the splittings that are vacuum-like. We also report measurements of the differential di-jet momentum imbalance ($A_{\rm{J}}$) for jets of varying \tsj. We find no qualitative differences in energy loss signatures for varying angular scales in the range $0.1 < $ \tsj $ < 0.3$, leading to the possible interpretation that energy loss in this population of high momentum di-jet pairs, is due to soft medium-induced gluon radiation from a single color-charge as it traverses the medium.

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arXiv2022

Two-particle correlations on transverse rapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ GeV at STAR

Two-particle correlation measurements projected onto two-dimensional, transverse rapidity coordinates ($y_{T1},y_{T2}$), allow access to dynamical properties of the QCD medium produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions that angular correlation measurements are not sensitive to. We report non-identified charged-particle correlations for Au + Au minimum-bias collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV taken by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). Correlations are presented as 2D functions of transverse rapidity for like-sign, unlike-sign and all charged-particle pairs, as well as for particle pairs whose relative azimuthal angles lie on the near-side, the away-side, or at all relative azimuth. The correlations are constructed using charged particles with transverse momentum $p_T \geq 0.15$ GeV/$c$, pseudorapidity from $-$1 to 1, and azimuthal angles from $-π$ to $π$. The significant correlation structures that are observed evolve smoothly with collision centrality. The major correlation features include a saddle shape plus a broad peak with maximum near $y_T \approx 3$, corresponding to $p_T \approx$ 1.5 GeV/$c$. The broad peak is observed in both like- and unlike-sign charge combinations and in near- and away-side relative azimuthal angles. The all-charge, all-azimuth correlation measurements are compared with the theoretical predictions of {\sc hijing} and {\sc epos}. The results indicate that the correlations for peripheral to mid-central collisions can be approximately described as a superposition of nucleon + nucleon collisions with minimal effects from the QCD medium. Strong medium effects are indicated in mid- to most-central collisions.

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arXiv2022

Tomography of Ultra-relativistic Nuclei with Polarized Photon-gluon Collisions

A linearly polarized photon can be quantized from the Lorentz-boosted electromagnetic field of a nucleus traveling at ultra-relativistic speed. When two relativistic heavy nuclei pass one another at a distance of a few nuclear radii, the photon from one nucleus may interact through a virtual quark-antiquark pair with gluons from the other nucleus forming a short-lived vector meson (e.g. ${ρ^0}$). In this experiment, the polarization was utilized in diffractive photoproduction to observe a unique spin interference pattern in the angular distribution of ${ρ^0\rightarrowπ^+π^-}$ decays. The observed interference is a result of an overlap of two wave functions at a distance an order of magnitude larger than the ${ρ^0}$ travel distance within its lifetime. The strong-interaction nuclear radii were extracted from these diffractive interactions, and found to be $6.53\pm 0.06$ fm ($^{197} {\rm Au }$) and $7.29\pm 0.08$ fm ($^{238} {\rm U}$), larger than the nuclear charge radii. The observable is demonstrated to be sensitive to the nuclear geometry and quantum interference of non-identical particles.

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