arXiv subjects

M. Finger

Publications and source records attributed to M. Finger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Elliptic flow of $π^0$ mesons in Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV and U$+$U at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV

The second-order azimuthal anisotropy coefficients ($v_2$) of neutral $π$ mesons ($π^0$) have been measured as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_T$) and centrality of Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV and U$+$U at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The analysis used experimental data collected by the PHENIX experiment at midrapidity $|η|<0.35$ over a broad $p_T$ range up to $\approx10$~GeV/$c$, and the obtained results are compared with previous PHENIX measurements in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV. In all three collision systems, the $π^0$~$v_2$ values follow the scaling with the second-order participant eccentricity and the cube root of the number of participating nucleons ($\varepsilon_2 N_{\rm part}^{1/3}$) up to $\approx4$~GeV/$c$. Furthermore, the behavior of the azimuthal-dependent $π^0$ nuclear-modification factors and associated fractional parton-energy losses are evaluated from measured nonzero $v_2$ values of $π^0$ at $p_T>5$ GeV/$c$ and found to be approximately the same for similar values of $N_{\rm part}^{1/3}$ in these collision systems. These findings demonstrate that the mechanism of $π^0$ $v_2$ generation exhibits a high degree of universality across different initial geometries of heavy-ion collisions.

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arXiv2026

First Observation of an Exotic Reggeon

We present new \compass high-statistics measurements of the peripheral production of $ηπ^-$ and $η^\prime π^-$ pairs in the reactions $π^- p \to η^{(\prime)}π^- p$. For the first time, we perform an unbinned analysis of the high-mass region of the $ηπ^-$ and $η^\primeπ^-$ systems, which allows us to disentangle the exchange mechanisms governing their production. We report the first observation in high-energy scattering of an exotic Reggeon with high significance exceeding $5\,σ$ for both channels, which is, most likely, related to the exotic $π_1(1600)$.8

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arXiv2025

Dihadron Transverse-Spin Asymmetries in Muon-Deuteron Deep-Inelastic Scattering

In 2022, the COMPASS collaboration performed semi-inclusive measurements of deep-inelastic muon-scattering on a transversely polarised deuteron (6LiD) target. From these data, transverse-spin-dependent dihadron asymmetries are extracted using pairs of oppositely charged hadrons. These asymmetries are directly sensitive to the quark transversity distributions and provide an independent handle on these fundamental quantities with respect to the Collins asymmetries measured in single-hadron production. The present results significantly improve upon the previous COMPASS deuteron measurements, which were the only available deuteron data worldwide, and reach a statistical precision comparable to that of the existing proton results from COMPASS. A small but nonzero asymmetry is observed at large Bjorken-x, consistent with theoretical expectations. A point-by-point extraction of the valence-quark transversity distributions yields, in particular, a substantially improved determination of the d-quark transversity. These measurements represent a major step towards a complete flavour mapping of the transverse-spin structure of the nucleon.

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arXiv2025

Transverse single-spin asymmetry of forward $η$ mesons in $p^{\uparrow}+ p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV

Utilizing the 2012 transversely polarized proton data from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the forward $η$-meson transverse single-spin asymmetry ($A_N$) was measured for $p^{\uparrow}+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV as a function of Feynman-x ($x_F$) for $0.2<|x_F|<0.8$ and transverse momentum ($p_T$) for $1.0 =0.086 \pm 0.019$), agreeing well with previous measurements of $π^{0}$ and $η$ $A_N$, but with reach to higher $x_F$ and $p_T$. The contribution of initial-state spin-momentum correlations to the asymmetry, as calculated in the collinear twist-3 framework, appears insufficient to describe the data and suggests a significant impact on the asymmetry from fragmentation.

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arXiv2025

Measurements at forward rapidity of elliptic flow of charged hadrons and open-heavy-flavor muons in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

We present the first forward-rapidity measurements of elliptic anisotropy of open-heavy-flavor muons at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The measurements are based on data samples of Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV collected by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 and 2016 with integrated luminosity of 14.5~nb$^{-1}$. The measurements are performed in the pseudorapidity range $1.2<|η|<2$ and cover transverse momenta $1<p_T<4$~GeV/$c$. The elliptic flow of charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum is also measured in the same kinematic range. We observe significant elliptic flow for both charged hadrons and heavy-flavor muons. The results show clear mass ordering of elliptic flow of light- and heavy-flavor particles. The magnitude of the measured $v_2$ is comparable to that in the midrapidity region. This indicates that there is no strong longitudinal dependence in the quark-gluon-plasma evolution between midrapidity and the rapidity range of this measurement at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV.

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arXiv2025

Low-mass vector-meson production at forward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$ and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~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 $(1.2<|\mbox{y}|<2.2)$ in $p$$+$$p$ and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV. The low-mass vector-meson yield and nuclear-modification factor were measured as a function of the average number of participating nucleons, $\langle N_{\rm part}\rangle$, and the transverse momentum $p_T$. These results were compared with those obtained via the kaon decay channel in a similar $p_T$ range at midrapidity. The nuclear-modification factors in both rapidity regions are consistent within the uncertainties. A comparison of the $ω+ρ$ and $J/ψ$ mesons reveals that the light and heavy flavors are consistently suppressed across both $p_T$ and ${\langle}N_{\rm part}\rangle$. In contrast, the $ϕ$ meson displays a nuclear-modification factor consistent with unity, suggesting strangeness enhancement in the medium formed.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of inclusive jet cross section and substructure in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

The jet cross-section and jet-substructure observables in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV were measured by the PHENIX Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Jets are reconstructed from charged-particle tracks and electromagnetic-calorimeter clusters using the anti-$k_{t}$ algorithm with a jet radius $R=0.3$ for jets with transverse momentum within $8.0<p_T<40.0$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|η|<0.15$. Measurements include the jet cross section, as well as distributions of SoftDrop-groomed momentum fraction ($z_g$), charged-particle transverse momentum with respect to jet axis ($j_T$), and radial distributions of charged particles within jets ($r$). Also meaureed was the distribution of $ξ=-ln(z)$, where $z$ is the fraction of the jet momentum carried by the charged particle. The measurements are compared to theoretical next-to and next-to-next-to-leading-order calculatios, PYTHIA event generator, and to other existing experimental results. Indicated from these meaurements is a lower particle multiplicity in jets at RHIC energies when compared to models. Also noted are implications for future jet measurements with sPHENIX at RHIC as well as at the future Electron-Ion Collider.

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arXiv2025

Spectroscopy of Strange Mesons and First Observation of a Strange Crypto-Exotic State with $J^P=0^-$

We measured the strange-meson spectrum in the scattering reaction $K^{-}+p \rightarrow K^{-}π^{-}π^{-}+p$ with the COMPASS spectrometer at CERN. Using the world's largest sample of this reaction, we performed a comprehensive partial-wave analysis of the mesonic final state. It substantially extends the strange-meson spectrum covering twelve states with masses up to 2.4 GeV/$c^2$. We observe the first candidate for a crypto-exotic strange meson with $J^{P}=0^{-}$ and find $K_3$ and $K_4$ states consistent with predictions for the ground states.

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arXiv2025

Azimuthal anisotropy of direct photons in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider measured the second Fourier component $v_2$ of the direct-photon azimuthal anisotropy at midrapidity in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. The results are presented in 10\% wide bins of collision centrality and cover the transverse-momentum range of $1<p_T<20$ GeV/$c$, and are in quantitative agreement with findings published earlier, but provide better granularity and higher $p_T$ reach. Above a $p_T$ of 8--10 GeV/$c$, where hard scattering dominates the direct-photon production, $v_2$ is consistent with zero. Below that in each centrality bin $v_2$ as a function of $p_T$ is comparable to the $π^0$ anisotropy albeit with a tendency of being somewhat smaller. The results are compared to recent theory calculations that include, in addition to thermal radiation from the quark-gluon plasma and hadron gas, sources of photons from pre-equilibrium, strong magnetic fields, or radiative hadronization. While the newer theoretical calculations describe the data better than previous models, none of them alone can fully explain the results, particularly in the region of $p_T=4$--8 GeV/$c$.

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arXiv2025

Disentangling centrality bias and final-state effects in the production of high-$p_T$ $π^0$ using direct $γ$ in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

PHENIX presents a simultaneous measurement of the production of direct $γ$ and $π^0$ in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV over a $p_T$ range of 7.5 to 18 GeV/$c$ for different event samples selected by event activity, i.e. charged-particle multiplicity detected at forward rapidity. Direct-photon yields are used to empirically estimate the contribution of hard-scattering processes in the different event samples. Using this estimate, the average nuclear-modification factor $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{γ^{\rm dir}}$ is $0.925{\pm}0.023({\rm stat}){\pm}0.15^{\rm (scale)}$, consistent with unity for minimum-bias (MB) $d$$+$Au events. For event classes with moderate event activity, $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{γ^{\rm dir}}$ is consistent with the MB value within 5\% uncertainty. These results confirm that the previously observed enhancement of high-$p_T$ $π^0$ production found in small-system collisions with low event activity is a result of a bias in interpreting event activity within the Glauber framework. In contrast, for the top 5\% of events with the highest event activity, $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{γ^{\rm dir}}$ is suppressed by 20\% relative to the MB value with a significance of $4.5σ$, which may be due to final-state effects.

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arXiv2024

Measurement of the hard exclusive $π^{0}$ muoproduction cross section at COMPASS

A new and detailed measurement of the cross section for hard exclusive neutral-pion muoproduction on the proton was performed in a wide kinematic region, with the photon virtuality $Q^2$ ranging from 1 to 8 (GeV/$c$)$^{\rm\, 2}$ and the Bjorken variable $x_{\rm Bj}$ ranging from 0.02 to 0.45. The data were collected at COMPASS at CERN using 160 GeV/$c$ longitudinally polarised $μ^+$ and $μ^-$ beams scattering off a 2.5 m long liquid hydrogen target. From the average of the measured $μ^+$ and $μ^-$ cross sections, the virtual-photon--proton cross section is determined as a function of the squared four-momentum transfer between the initial and final state proton in the range 0.08 (GeV/$c$)$^{\rm\, 2}$ $< |t| <$ 0.64 (GeV/$c$)$^{\rm\, 2}$. From its angular distribution, the combined contribution of transversely and longitudinally polarised photons are determined, as well as transverse--transverse and longitudinal--transverse interference contributions. They are studied as functions of four-momentum transfer $|t|$, photon virtuality $Q^2$ and virtual-photon energy $ν$. The longitudinal--transverse interference contribution is found to be compatible with zero. The significant transverse--transverse interference contribution reveals the existence of a dominant contribution by transversely polarized photons. This provides clear experimental evidence for the chiral-odd GPD $\overline{E}_T$. In addition, the existence of a non-negligible contribution of longitudinally polarized photons is suggested by the $|t|$-dependence of the cross section at $x_{\rm Bj} < $ 0.1 . Altogether, these results provide valuable input for future modelling of GPDs and thus of cross sections for exclusive pseudo-scalar meson production. Furthermore, they can be expected to facilitate the study of next-to-leading order corrections and higher-twist contributions.

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arXiv2024

Centrality dependence of Lévy-stable two-pion Bose-Einstein correlations in $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV Au$+$Au collisions

The PHENIX experiment measured the centrality dependence of two-pion Bose-Einstein correlation functions in $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV Au$+$Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The data are well represented by Lévy-stable source distributions. The extracted source parameters are the correlation-strength parameter $λ$, the Lévy index of stability $α$, and the Lévy-scale parameter $R$ as a function of transverse mass $m_T$ and centrality. The $λ(m_T)$ parameter is constant at larger values of $m_T$, but decreases as $m_T$ decreases. The Lévy scale parameter $R(m_T)$ decreases with $m_T$ and exhibits proportionality to the length scale of the nuclear overlap region. The Lévy exponent $α(m_T)$ is independent of $m_T$ within uncertainties in each investigated centrality bin, but shows a clear centrality dependence. At all centralities, the Lévy exponent $α$ is significantly different from that of Gaussian ($α=2$) or Cauchy ($α=1$) source distributions. Comparisons to the predictions of Monte-Carlo simulations of resonance-decay chains show that in all but the most peripheral centrality class (50%-60%), the obtained results are inconsistent with the measurements, unless a significant reduction of the in-medium mass of the $η'$ meson is included. In each centrality class, the best value of the in-medium $η'$ mass is compared to the mass of the $η$ meson, as well as to several theoretical predictions that consider restoration of $U_A(1)$ symmetry in hot hadronic matter.

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arXiv2024

Multiplicities of positive and negative pions, kaons and unidentified hadrons from deep-inelastic scattering of muons off a liquid hydrogen target

The multiplicities of positive and negative pions, kaons and unidentified hadrons produced in deep-inelastic scattering are measured in bins of the Bjorken scaling variable $x$, the relative virtual-photon energy $y$ and the fraction of the virtual-photon energy transferred to the final-state hadron $z$. Data were obtained by the COMPASS Collaboration using a 160 GeV muon beam of both electric charges and a liquid hydrogen target. These measurements cover the kinematic domain with photon virtuality $Q^2 > 1$ (GeV/$c)^2$, $0.004 < x < 0.4$, $0.1 < y < 0.7$ and $0.2 < z < 0.85$, in accordance with the kinematic domain used in earlier published COMPASS multiplicity measurements with an isoscalar target. The calculation of radiative corrections was improved by using the Monte Carlo generator DJANGOH, which results in up to 12\% larger corrections in the low-$x$ region.

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arXiv2024

Measurement of elliptic flow of J$/ψ$ in $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV Au$+$Au collisions at forward rapidity

We report the first measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy of J$/ψ$ at forward rapidity ($1.2<|η|<2.2$) in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The data were collected by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 and 2016 with integrated luminosity of 14.5~nb$^{-1}$. The second Fourier coefficient ($v_2$) of the azimuthal distribution of $J/ψ$ is determined as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_T$) using the event-plane method. The measurements were performed for several selections of collision centrality: 0\%--50\%, 10\%--60\%, and 10\%-40\%. We find that in all cases the values of $v_2(p_T)$, which quantify the elliptic flow of J$/ψ$, are consistent with zero. The results are consistent with measurements at midrapidity, indicating no significant elliptic flow of the J$/ψ$ within the quark-gluon-plasma medium at collision energies of $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV.

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arXiv2024

Multiplicity dependent $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ production at forward and backward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV

The $J/ψ$ and $ψ(2S)$ charmonium states, composed of $c\bar{c}$ quark pairs and known since the 1970s, are widely believed to serve as ideal probes to test quantum chromodynamics in high-energy hadronic interactions. However, there is not yet a complete understanding of the charmonium-production mechanism. Recent measurements of $J/ψ$ production as a function of event charged-particle multiplicity at the collision energies of both the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) show enhanced $J/ψ$ production yields with increasing multiplicity. One potential explanation for this type of dependence is multiparton interactions (MPI). We carry out the first measurements of self-normalized $J/ψ$ yields and the $ψ(2S)$ to $J/ψ$ ratio at both forward and backward rapidities as a function of self-normalized charged-particle multiplicity in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV. In addition, detailed {\sc pythia} studies tuned to RHIC energies were performed to investigate the MPI impacts. We find that the PHENIX data at RHIC are consistent with recent LHC measurements and can only be described by {\sc pythia} calculations that include MPI effects. The forward and backward $ψ(2S)$ to $J/ψ$ ratio, which serves as a unique and powerful approach to study final-state effects on charmonium production, is found to be less dependent on the charged-particle multiplicity.

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arXiv2024

Design of the ECCE Detector for the Electron Ion Collider

The EIC Comprehensive Chromodynamics Experiment (ECCE) detector has been designed to address the full scope of the proposed Electron Ion Collider (EIC) physics program as presented by the National Academy of Science and provide a deeper understanding of the quark-gluon structure of matter. To accomplish this, the ECCE detector offers nearly acceptance and energy coverage along with excellent tracking and particle identification. The ECCE detector was designed to be built within the budget envelope set out by the EIC project while simultaneously managing cost and schedule risks. This detector concept has been selected to be the basis for the EIC project detector.

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arXiv2024

Identified charged-hadron production in $p$$+$Al, $^3$He$+$Au, and Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV and in U$+$U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV

The PHENIX experiment has performed a systematic study of identified charged-hadron ($π^\pm$, $K^\pm$, $p$, $\bar{p}$) production at midrapidity in $p$$+$Al, $^3$He$+$Au, Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV and U$+$U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV. Identified charged-hadron invariant transverse-momentum ($p_T$) and transverse-mass ($m_T$) spectra are presented and interpreted in terms of radially expanding thermalized systems. The particle ratios of $K/π$ and $p/π$ have been measured in different centrality ranges of large (Cu$+$Au, U$+$U) and small ($p$$+$Al, $^3$He$+$Au) collision systems. The values of $K/π$ ratios measured in all considered collision systems were found to be consistent with those measured in $p$$+$$p$ collisions. However the values of $p/π$ ratios measured in large collision systems reach the values of $\approx0.6$, which is $\approx2$ times larger than in $p$$+$$p$ collisions. These results can be qualitatively understood in terms of the baryon enhancement expected from hadronization by recombination. Identified charged-hadron nuclear-modification factors ($R_{AB}$) are also presented. Enhancement of proton $R_{AB}$ values over meson $R_{AB}$ values was observed in central $^3$He$+$Au, Cu$+$Au, and U$+$U collisions. The proton $R_{AB}$ values measured in $p$$+$Al collision system were found to be consistent with $R_{AB}$ values of $ϕ$, $π^\pm$, $K^\pm$, and $π^0$ mesons, which may indicate that the size of the system produced in $p$$+$Al collisions is too small for recombination to cause a noticeable increase in proton production.

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arXiv2024

Nonprompt direct-photon production in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

The measurement of the direct-photon spectrum from Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV is presented by the PHENIX collaboration using the external-photon-conversion technique for 0\%--93\% central collisions in a transverse-momentum ($p_T$) range of 0.8--10 GeV/$c$. An excess of direct photons, above prompt-photon production from hard-scattering processes, is observed for $p_T<6$ GeV/$c$. Nonprompt direct photons are measured by subtracting the prompt component, which is estimated as $N_{\rm coll}$-scaled direct photons from $p$$+$$p$ collisions at 200 GeV, from the direct-photon spectrum. Results are obtained for $0.8<p_T<6.0$ GeV/$c$ and suggest that the spectrum has an increasing inverse slope from ${\approx}0.2$ to 0.4 GeV/$c$ with increasing $p_T$, which indicates a possible sensitivity of the measurement to photons from earlier stages of the evolution of the collision. In addition, like the direct-photon production, the $p_T$-integrated nonprompt direct-photon yields also follow a power-law scaling behavior as a function of collision-system size. The exponent, $α$, for the nonprompt component is found to be consistent with 1.1 with no apparent $p_T$ dependence.

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