arXiv subjects

J. Alexander

Publications and source records attributed to J. Alexander.

125 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Elliptic and hexadecapole flow of charged hadrons in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

Differential measurements of the elliptic (v_2) and hexadecapole (v_4) Fourier flow coefficients are reported for charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum (p_T) and collision centrality or the number of participant nucleons (N_part) for Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The v_{2,4} measurements at pseudorapidity |η|<=0.35 obtained with four separate reaction plane detectors positioned in the range 1.0<|η|<3.9 show good agreement, indicating the absence of significant η-dependent nonflow perturbations. Sizable values for v_4(p_T) are observed with a ratio v_4(p_T,N_part)/v_2^2(p_T,N_part)~0.8 for 50 200 this ratio increases up to 1.7 in the most central collisions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Measurement of neutral mesons in p+p collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV and scaling properties of hadron production

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured the invariant differential cross section for production of K^0_S , ω, ηprime, and ϕmesons in p + p collisions at = 200 GeV. Measurements ωand ϕproduction in different decay channels give consistent results. New results for the ϕare in agreement with previously published data and extend the measured pT coverage. The spectral shapes of all hadron transverse momentum distributions measured by PHENIX are well described by a Tsallis distribution functional form with only two parameters, n and T, determining the high-pT and characterizing the low-pT regions of the spectra, respectively. The values of these parameters are very similar for all analyzed meson spectra, but with a lower parameter T extracted for protons. The integrated invariant cross sections calculated from the fitted distributions are found to be consistent with existing measurements and with statistical model predictions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2010

Heavy Quark Production in p+p and Energy Loss and Flow of Heavy Quarks in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV

Transverse momentum (p^e_T) spectra of electrons from semileptonic weak decays of heavy flavor mesons in the range of 0.3 < p^e_T < 9.0 GeV/c have been measured at mid-rapidity (|eta| < 0.35) by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider in p+p and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The nuclear modification factor R_AA with respect to p+p collisions indicates substantial energy loss of heavy quarks in the produced medium. In addition, the azimuthal anisotropy parameter v_2 has been measured for 0.3 < p^e_T < 5.0 GeV/c in Au+Au collisions. Comparisons of R_AA and v_2 are made to various model calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Nuclear modification factors of phi mesons in d+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(S_NN)=200 GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has performed systematic measurements of phi meson production in the K+K- decay channel at midrapidity in p+p, d+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(S_NN)=200 GeV. Results are presented on the phi invariant yield and the nuclear modification factor R_AA for Au+Au and Cu+Cu, and R_dA for d+Au collisions, studied as a function of transverse momentum (1<p_T<7 GeV/c) and centrality. In central and mid-central Au+Au collisions, the R_AA of phi exhibits a suppression relative to expectations from binary scaled p+p results. The amount of suppression is smaller than that of the neutral pion and the eta meson in the intermediate p_T range (2--5 GeV/c); whereas at higher p_T the phi, pi^0, and eta show similar suppression. The baryon (protons and anti-protons) excess observed in central Au+Au collisions at intermediate p_T is not observed for the phi meson despite the similar mass of the proton and the phi. This suggests that the excess is linked to the number of constituent quarks rather than the hadron mass. The difference gradually disappears with decreasing centrality and for peripheral collisions the R_AA values for both particles are consistent with binary scaling. Cu+Cu collisions show the same yield and suppression as Au+Au collisions for the same number of N_part. The R_dA of phi shows no evidence for cold nuclear effects within uncertainties.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Trends in Yield and Azimuthal Shape Modification in Dihadron Correlations in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

Fast parton probes produced by hard scattering and embedded within collisions of large nuclei have shown that partons suffer large energy loss and that the produced medium may respond collectively to the lost energy. We present measurements of neutral pion trigger particles at transverse momenta p^t_T = 4-12 GeV/c and associated charged hadrons (p^a_T = 0.5-7 GeV/c) as a function of relative azimuthal angle Delta Phi at midrapidity in Au+Au and p+p collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. These data lead to two major observations. First, the relative angular distribution of low momentum hadrons, whose shape modification has been interpreted as a medium response to parton energy loss, is found to be modified only for p^t_T < 7 GeV/c. At higher p^t_T, the data are consistent with unmodified or very weakly modified shapes, even for the lowest measured p^a_T. This observation presents a quantitative challenge to medium response scenarios. Second, the associated yield of hadrons opposite to the trigger particle in Au+Au relative to that in p+p (I_AA) is found to be suppressed at large momentum (IAA ~ 0.35-0.5), but less than the single particle nuclear modification factor (R_AA ~0.2).

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2009

Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph (TPF-C) Flight Baseline Concept

The Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph (TPF-C) mission presented here is an existence proof for a flagship-class internal coronagraph space mission capable of detecting and characterizing Earth-like planets and planetary systems at visible wavelengths around nearby stars, using an existing launch vehicle. TPF-C will use spectroscopy to measure key properties of exoplanets including the presence of atmospheric water or oxygen, powerful signatures in the search for habitable worlds.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2008

Absolute Measurement of Hadronic Branching Fractions of the D_s^+ Meson

The branching fractions of D_s meson decays serve to normalize many measurements of processes involving charm quarks. Using 298 /pb of e+ e- collisions recorded at a center of mass energy of 4.17 GeV, we determine absolute branching fractions for eight D_s decays with a double tag technique. In particular we determine the branching fraction B(D_s -> K- K+ pi+) = (5.50 +- 0.23 +- 0.16)%, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic respectively. We also provide partial branching fractions for kinematic subsets of the K- K+ pi+ decay mode.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2005

Testing Cosmology at the ILC

We investigate the capabilities for the LHC and the ILC to perform measurements of new physics parameters relevant for the calculation of the cosmological relic abundance of the lightest neutralino in supersymmetry. Specifically, we delineate the range of values for the cold dark matter relic abundance $Ω_χ h^2$, which will be consistent with the expected precision measurements at the LHC, and, subsequently, at the ILC. We illustrate our approach with a toy study of an "updated benchmark" point B'. We then show some preliminary results of a similar analysis along those lines of the LCC2 benchmark point in the focus point region.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Measuring Mass and Cross Section Parameters at a Focus Point Region

The purpose of this study is to determine the experimental uncertainties in measuring mass and cross section parameters of SUSY particles at a 500 GeV Linear Collider. In this study SUSY is a point in the focus point region of mSUGRA parameter space that is compatible with WMAP constraints on dark matter relic density. At this study point the masses of the squarks and sleptons are very heavy, and the only SUSY particles accessible at the Linear Collider would be the three lightest neutralinos, and the two lightest charginos: nino1, nino2, nino3, cino1+, cino2+, where nino1 is the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). The charginos or neutralinos may be pair produced, and the subsequent decay cascades to the LSP allow us to measure the SUSY couplings and mass spectrum. We find that by looking for the signature 2 jets plus 2 leptons plus missing energy we can determine the mass of the LSP to within 1 GeV uncertainty and that the mass differences of nino2 and nino3 with the LSP mass can be determined to better than 0.5 GeV.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2002

H2O Masers and Supersonic Turbulence

We use unpublished and published VLBI results to investigate the geometry and the statistical properties of the velocity field traced by H2O masers in five galactic regions of star formation -- Sgr B2(M), W49N, W51(MAIN), W51N, and W3(OH). In all sources the angular distribution of the H2O hot spots demonstrates approximate self-similarity (fractality) over almost four orders of magnitude in scale, with the calculated fractal dimension d between (approximately) 0.2 and 1.0. In all sources, the lower order structure functions for the line-of-sight component of the velocity field are satisfactorily approximated by power laws, with the exponents near their classic Kolmogorov values for the high-Reynolds-number incompressible turbulence. These two facts, as well as the observed significant excess of large deviations of the two-point velocity increments from their mean values, strongly suggest that the H2O masers in regions of star formation trace turbulence. We propose a new conceptual model of these masers in which maser hot spots originate at the sites of ultimate dissipation of highly supersonic turbulence produced in the ambient gas by the intensive gas outflow from a newly-born star. Due to the high brightness and small angular sizes of masing hot spots and the possibility of measuring their positions and velocities with high precision, they become a unique probe of supersonic turbulence.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

First Observation of B -> D(*) rho', rho' -> omega pi-

We report on the observation of B-> D(*) pi+ pi- pi- pi^o decays. The branching ratios for D*+ and D*o are (1.72+/-0.14+/-0.24)% and (1.80+/-0.24+/-0.27)%, respectively. Each final state has a D* omega pi- component, with branching ratios (0.29+/-0.03+/-0.04)% and (0.45+/-0.10+/-0.07)% for the D*+ and D*o modes, respectively. We also observe B -> D omega pi- decays. The branching ratios for D+ and Do are (0.28+/-0.05+/-0.04)% and (0.41+/-0.07+/-0.06)%, respectively. A spin parity analysis of the D omega pi- final state prefers a wide 1^- resonance. A fit to the omega pi- mass spectrum finds a central mass of (1349+/-25^{+10}_{-5}) MeV and width of (547+/-86^{+46}_{-45}) MeV. We identify this object as the rho(1450) or the ρ'.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2000

Sideward Flow in Au + Au Collisions Between 2A GeV and 8A GeV

Using the large acceptance Time Projection Chamber of experiment E895 at Brookhaven, measurements of collective sideward flow in Au + Au collisions at beam energies of 2, 4, 6 and 8A GeV are presented in the form of in-plane transverse momentum and the first Fourier coefficient of azimuthal anisotropy v_1. These measurements indicate a smooth variation of sideward flow as a function of beam energy. The data are compared with four nuclear transport models which have an orientation towards this energy range. All four exhibit some qualitative trends similar to those found in the data, although none shows a consistent pattern of agreement within experimental uncertainties.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2000

An Assympotic Vanishing Theorem for Generic Unions of Multiple Points

In this revised form, the proof of the principal lemma has been simplified and the main theorem has been extended to all characteristics for those varieties which are smooth in codimension one. This principal theorem essentially says the following : given an ample line bundle O(1) on a projective variety X and a fixed upper bound M on the multiplicities, there exists a lower bound D such that any generic union of multiple points of multiplicity at most M imposes independent conditions on the sections of O(d) for d>D. Here a multiple point is the closed subscheme defined by a power m of the ideal of a smooth point in X and m is its multiplicity.

alg-geom↗

arXiv1998

The Hadronic Transitions $Upsilon(2S)\to Upsilon(1S)$

Using a data sample of $Υ(2S)$ events collected with the CLEO II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we have investigated the hadronic transitions between the $Υ(2S)$ and the $Υ(1S)$. The charged dipion transition $Υ(2S)\to Υ(1S)π^+π^-$ was studied using two different analysis techniques. Selecting events in which $Υ(1S)$ decays into a $μμ$ or $ee$ lepton pair(``exclusive'' analysis), we measured the branching fraction of B=0.189+-0.004+-0.009, while using a method allowing $Υ(1S)$ to decay into anything (``inclusive'' analysis) we found B=0.0196+-0.002+-0.010. The appropriate average of the two measurements gives B=0.0192+-0.002+-0.010. Combining the exclusive and inclusive results we derive the $Υ(1S)$ leptonic branching ratios B_{ee}=0.0229+-0.0008+-0.0011 and B_{μμ}=0.0249+-0.0008+-0.0013 We also studied $Υ(2S)\to Υ(1S)π^0π^0$ and obtained the branching fraction of B=0.092+-0.006+-0.007. Parameters of the $ππ$ system (dipion invariant mass spectra, angular distributions) were analyzed and found to be consistent with current theoretical models. Lastly, we searched for the $η$ and single $π^0$ transitions and obtained the upper limits of 0.0028 and 0.0011 respectively.

hep-ex↗

arXiv1997

Nebular Abundance Errors

The errors inherent to the use of the standard "ionization correction factor" ("i_CF") method of calculating nebular conditions and relative abundances of H, He, N, O, Ne, S, and Ar in emission line nebulae have been investigated under conditions typical for planetary nebulae. The photoionization code CLOUDY was used to construct a series of model nebulae with properties spanning the range typical of PNe. Its radial "profiles" of bright, frequently observed optical emission lines were then summed over a variety of "apertures" to generate sets of emission line measurements. These resulting line ratios were processed using the i_CF method to "derive" nebular conditions and abundances. We find that for lines which are summed over the entire nebula the i_CF-derived abundances differ from the input abundances by less than 5% for He and O up to 25% or more for Ne, S, and Ar. For resolved observations, however, the discrepancies are often much larger and are systematically variable with radius. This effect is especially pronounced in low-ionization zones where nitrogen and oxygen are neutral or once-ionized such as in FLIERs, ansae and ionization fronts. We argue that the reports of stellar-enriched N in the FLIERs of several PNe are probably specious.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Interpolation on Jets

We show that for any finite generic union of pairs $(x_i,L_i)_i$ where $x_i\in L_i$ is a point of the line $L_i$ in projective $n$-space, the divisors $m_ix_i$ on the $L_i$ have maximal rank with respect to homogeneous $d$ forms for all $d\geq 0$ and all $m_i\geq 0$ modulo the expected numerical restrictions.

alg-geom↗

arXiv1997

Generic Hypersurface Singularities

We give a new differential proof of our result on the maximal rank of generic unions of points of multiplicity two in projective space in degrees greater than five. This simplifies somewhat our proof of the Waring conjecture.

alg-geom↗