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K. J. Eskola

Publications and source records attributed to K. J. Eskola.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Nuclear Quark and Gluon Distributions in Coordinate Space

In coordinate space, quark and gluon distributions of the nucleon are defined as correlation functions involving two field operators separated by a light-cone distance $y^+ = 2l$. We study the nuclear modifications of these distributions. The largest effect is a strong depletion of parton distributions (shadowing) at large longitudinal distances, which starts for all parton species at $l=2$ fm, i.e. at the average nucleon-nucleon separation in nuclei. On the other hand, the nuclear radius does not play a significant role. At $l \lsim 1$ fm, nuclear modifications of parton distributions are small. The intrinsic structure of individual nucleons is evidently not very much affected by nuclear binding. In particular, there is no evidence for a significant increase of the quark or gluon correlation length in bound nucleons.

hep-ph↗

The scale dependent nuclear effects in parton distributions for practical applications

The scale dependence of the ratios of parton distributions in a proton of a nucleus $A$ and in the free proton, $R_i^A(x,Q^2)=f_{i/A}(x,Q^2)/f_i(x,Q^2)$, is studied within the framework of the lowest order leading-twist DGLAP evolution. By evolving the initial nuclear distributions obtained with the GRV-LO and CTEQ4L sets at a scale $Q_0^2$, we show that the ratios $R_i^A(x,Q^2)$ are only moderately sensitive to the choice of a specific modern set of free parton distributions. We propose that to a good first approximation, this parton distribution set-dependence of the nuclear ratios $R_i^A(x,Q^2)$ can be neglected in practical applications. With this result, we offer a numerical parametrization of $R_i^A(x,Q^2)$ for all parton flavours $i$ in any $A>2$, and at any $10^{-6}\le x \le 1$ and any $Q^2\ge 2.25$ GeV$^2$ for computing cross sections of hard processes in nuclear collisions.

hep-ph↗

Scale evolution of nuclear parton distributions

Using the NMC and E665 nuclear structure function ratios $F_2^A/F_2^D$ and $F_2^A/F_2^{C}$ from deep inelastic lepton-nucleus collisions, and the E772 Drell--Yan dilepton cross sections from proton-nucleus collisions, and incorporating baryon number and momentum sum rules, we determine nuclear parton distributions at an initial scale $Q_0^2$. With these distributions, we study QCD scale evolution of nuclear parton densities. The emphasis is on small values of $x$, especially on scale dependence of nuclear shadowing. As the main result, we show that a consistent picture can be obtained within the leading twist DGLAP evolution, and in particular, that the calculated $Q^2$ dependence of $F_2^{Sn}/F_2^{C}$ agrees very well with the recent NMC data.

hep-ph↗

Hydrodynamics of nuclear collisions with initial conditions from perturbative QCD

We compute the longitudinal hydrodynamic flow in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5500 GeV by using boost non-invariant initial conditions following from perturbative QCD. The transfer of entropy and energy from the central region to larger rapidities caused by boost non-invariance is determined and the associated decrease in the lifetime of the system is estimated.

nucl-th↗

Minijets in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions at RHIC and LHC

Recent results on minijet production in nuclear collisions at the RHIC and LHC energies are reviewed. Initial conditions of the QGP at $τ=0.1$ fm$/c$, especially parton chemistry, thermalization and net baryon number-to-entropy ratio are discussed. Also, contribution of minijets from a hard BFKL-pomeron ladder will be estimated.

hep-ph↗

Baryon-to-entropy ratio in very high energy nuclear collisions

We compute as a function of rapidity $y$ the baryon number carried by quarks and antiquarks with $p_T > p_0 \approx$ 2 GeV produced in Pb+Pb collisions at TeV energies. The computation is carried out in lowest order QCD perturbation theory using structure functions compatible with HERA results. At $p_0=2$ GeV the initial gluon density is both transversally saturated and thermalised in the sense that the energy/gluon equals to that of an ideal gas with the same energy density. Even at these high energies the initial net baryon number density at $y=0$ at $τ=0.1$ fm will be more than the normal nuclear matter density but the baryon-to-entropy ratio is only $(B-\bar B)/S\sim 1/5000$. Further evolution of the system is discussed and the final baryon-to-entropy ratio is estimated.

nucl-th↗

Minijet and Transverse Energy Production in the BFKL Regime

Minijet production in hadronic and nuclear collisions through a BFKL pomeron ladder is studied for the energies of the future LHC heavy-ion collisions. We use unintegrated gluon densities compatible with the small-$x$ increase of parton distributions observed at HERA. We show that at LHC energies the BFKL minijet and transverse energy production is at most of the same order of magnitude as that in the collinear factorization approach.

hep-ph↗

Screening of initial parton production in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions

Screening of initial parton production due to the presence of on-shell partons in high-energy heavy-ion collisions is discussed. It is shown that the divergent cross sections in the calculation of parton production can be regulated self-consistently without an {\it ad hoc} cut-off, and that the resultant parton production and transverse energy production rate are finite. Consequences on the energy density estimates are discussed.

hep-ph↗

Formation and Evolution of Quark-Gluon Plasma at RHIC and LHC

Initial conditions for quark-gluon plasma formation at $τ=0.1\fm$ are considered in lowest order perturbative QCD. Chemical composition, thermalization of the formed semihard quark-gluon system and especially implications of the new HERA parton distributions with the enhancement at small $x$ are studied. The plasma at $τ=0.1\fm$ is shown to be strongly gluon dominated both at RHIC and LHC, and a possibility for rapid thermalization of gluons at LHC is pointed out. Uncertainties in the calculations, particularly shadowing corrections to the parton distributions, are discussed. Free streaming and ideal hydro limits for the evolution of the gluonic plasma with the calculated minijet initial conditions are demonstrated, and a lower limit for final multiplicities obtained for the LHC nuclear collisions.

hep-ph↗

Higher Twist Effects in the Drell-Yan Angular Distribution

We study the Drell-Yan process $πN \rightarrow μ^+ μ^- X$ at large $x_F$ using perturbative QCD. A higher-twist mechanism suggested by Berger and Brodsky is known to qualitatively explain the observed $x_F$ dependence of the muon angular distribution, but the predicted large $x_F$ behavior differs quantitatively from observations. We have repeated the model calculation taking into account the effects of nonasymptotic kinematics. At fixed-target energies we find important corrections which improve the agreement with data. The asymptotic result of Berger and Brodsky is recovered only at much higher energies. We discuss the generic reasons for the large corrections at high $x_F$. A proper understanding of the $x_F \to 1$ data would give important information on the pion distribution amplitude and exclusive form factor.

hep-ph↗

Multiplicities for LHC Nuclear Collisions Using HERA Structure Functions

We compute in QCD perturbation theory the transverse energy carried by gluons, quarks and antiquarks with $p_T\ge p_0\approx 2$ GeV in Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s}=5500$ $A$GeV by using structure functions compatible with the small-$x$ increase observed at HERA. This gives a perturbative estimate for the energy and entropy density of the bulk system at times $τ\sim 0.1$ fm. The predicted initial gluon entropy density gives a lower limit of about 2200...3400 for the final charged multiplicity. Sources of further entropy increase are discussed.

hep-ph↗

Minijet-associated Dilepton Production in Ultrarelativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

Dilepton production associated with minijets is calculated in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions using the first order approximation of the dilepton fragmentation functions of quarks and gluons. The full QCD evolution of the fragmentation functions is also studied. We find that the dilepton pairs from the fragmentation of minijets are comparable to direct Drell-Yan at $\sqrt{s}=200$ AGeV for small dilepton invariant mass $M\sim$ 1-2 GeV/c$^2$ while dominant over a large range of mass at $\sqrt{s}=6400$ AGeV.

nucl-th↗

Calculating Dilepton Rates from Monte Carlo Simulations of Parton Production

To calculate dilepton rates in a Monte Carlo simulation of ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions, one usually scales the number of similar QCD processes by a ratio of the corresponding differential probabilities. We derive the formula for such a ratio especially for dilepton bremsstrahlung processes. We also discuss the non-triviality of including higher order corrections to direct Drell-Yan process. The resultant mass spectra from our Monte Carlo simulation are consistent with the semi-analytical calculation using dilepton fragmentation functions.

nucl-th↗

Perturbative Gluon Shadowing in Heavy Nuclei

We study how much gluon shadowing can be perturbatively generated through the modified QCD evolution in heavy nuclei. The evolution of small-$x$ gluons is investigated within the semiclassical approximation. The method of characteristics is used to evaluate the shadowed distributions in low-$Q$ and small-$x$ region. In solving the modified evolution equation, we model in simultaneously fusions from independent constituents and from the same constituent, both in a proton and in a large loosely bound nucleus of $A\sim 200$. In addition to the actual distributions at small $x$, we study the ratios of the distributions at an initial scale $Q_0 = 2$ GeV, and show that a strong nuclear shadowing can follow from the modified QCD evolution.

nucl-th↗

Space-time Structure of Initial Parton Production in Ultrarelativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

The space and time evolution of initial parton production in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions is investigated within the framework of perturbative QCD which includes both initial and final state radiations. Uncertainty principle is used to relate the life time of a radiating parton to its virtuality and momentum. The interaction time of each hard or semihard parton scattering is also taken into account. For central $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV, most of the partons are found to be produced within 0.5 fm/c after the total overlap of the two colliding nuclei. The local momentum distribution is approximately isotropical at that time. The implication on how to treat correctly the the secondary scattering in an ultimate parton cascading model is also discussed.

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