arXiv subjects

M. M. Aggarwal

Publications and source records attributed to M. M. Aggarwal.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Longitudinal and transverse spin asymmetries for inclusive jet production at mid-rapidity in polarized p+p collisions at sqrt{s}=200 GeV

We report STAR measurements of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry A_LL, the transverse single-spin asymmetry A_N, and the transverse double-spin asymmetries A_Sigma and A_TT for inclusive jet production at mid-rapidity in polarized p+p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt{s} = 200 GeV. The data represent integrated luminosities of 7.6 /pb with longitudinal polarization and 1.8 /pb with transverse polarization, with 50-55% beam polarization, and were recorded in 2005 and 2006. No evidence is found for the existence of statistically significant jet A_N, A_Sigma, or A_TT at mid-rapidity. Recent model calculations indicate the A_N results may provide new limits on the gluon Sivers distribution in the proton. The asymmetry A_LL significantly improves the knowledge of gluon polarization in the nucleon.

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arXiv2012

Strangeness Enhancement in Cu+Cu and Au+Au Collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV

We report new STAR measurements of mid-rapidity yields for the $Λ$, $\barΛ$, $K^{0}_{S}$, $Ξ^{-}$, $\barΞ^{+}$, $Ω^{-}$, $\barΩ^{+}$ particles in Cu+Cu collisions at \sNN{200}, and mid-rapidity yields for the $Λ$, $\barΛ$, $K^{0}_{S}$ particles in Au+Au at \sNN{200}. We show that at a given number of participating nucleons, the production of strange hadrons is higher in Cu+Cu collisions than in Au+Au collisions at the same center-of-mass energy. We find that aspects of the enhancement factors for all particles can be described by a parameterization based on the fraction of participants that undergo multiple collisions.

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arXiv2011

Measurement of the $W \to e ν$ and $Z/γ^* \to e^+e^-$ Production Cross Sections at Mid-rapidity in Proton-Proton Collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 500 GeV

We report measurements of the charge-separated $W^{+(-)} \to e^{+(-)} + ν_e(\barν_e)$ and $Z/γ^* \to e^+e^-$ production cross sections at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 500 GeV. These results are based on 13.2 pb$^{-1}$ of data recorded in 2009 by the STAR detector at RHIC. Production cross sections for W bosons that decay via the $e ν$ channel were measured to be $σ(pp \to W^+ X) \cdot BR(W^+ \to e^+ ν_e)$ = 117.3 \pm 5.9(stat) \pm 6.2(syst) \pm 15.2(lumi) pb, and $σ(pp \to W^- X) \cdot BR(W^- \to e^- \barν_e)$ = 43.3 \pm 4.6(stat) \pm 3.4(syst) \pm 5.6(lumi) pb. For $Z/γ^*$ production, $σ(pp \to Z/γ^* X) \cdot BR(Z/γ^* \to e^+ e^-)$ = 7.7 \pm 2.1(stat) $^{+0.5}_{-0.9}$(syst) \pm 1.0(lumi) pb for di-lepton invariant masses $m_{e^+e^-}$ between 70 and 110 GeV/$c^2$. First measurements of the W cross section ratio, $σ(pp \to W^+ X) / σ(pp \to W^- X)$, at $\sqrt{s}$ = 500 GeV are also reported. Theoretical predictions, calculated using recent parton distribution functions, are found to agree with the measured cross sections.

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arXiv2011

Directed and elliptic flow of charged particles in Cu+Cu collisions at $\sqrt{\bm {s_{NN}}} =$ 22.4 GeV

This paper reports results for directed flow $v_{1}$ and elliptic flow $v_{2}$ of charged particles in Cu+Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 22.4 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The measurements are for the 0-60% most central collisions, using charged particles observed in the STAR detector. Our measurements extend to 22.4 GeV Cu+Cu collisions the prior observation that $v_1$ is independent of the system size at 62.4 and 200 GeV, and also extend the scaling of $v_1$ with $η/y_{\rm beam}$ to this system. The measured $v_2(p_T)$ in Cu+Cu collisions is similar for $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 22.4-200$ GeV. We also report a comparison with results from transport model (UrQMD and AMPT) calculations. The model results do not agree quantitatively with the measured $v_1(η), v_2(p_T)$ and $v_2(η)$.

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arXiv2011

Energy and system-size dependence of two- and four-particle $v_2$ measurements in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and their implications on flow fluctuations and nonflow

We present STAR measurements of azimuthal anisotropy by means of the two- and four-particle cumulants $v_2$ ($v_2\{2\}$ and $v_2\{4\}$) for Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at center of mass energies $\sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}} = 62.4$ and 200 GeV. The difference between $v_2\{2\}^2$ and $v_2\{4\}^2$ is related to $v_{2}$ fluctuations ($σ_{v_2}$) and nonflow $(δ_{2})$. We present an upper limit to $σ_{v_2}/v_{2}$. Following the assumption that eccentricity fluctuations $σ_ε$ dominate $v_2$ fluctuations $\frac{σ_{v_2}}{v_2} \approx \frac{σ_ε}ε$ we deduce the nonflow implied for several models of eccentricity fluctuations that would be required for consistency with $v_2\{2\}$ and $v_2\{4\}$. We also present results on the ratio of $v_2$ to eccentricity.

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arXiv2011

System size and energy dependence of near-side di-hadron correlations

Two-particle azimuthal ($Δϕ$) and pseudorapidity ($Δη$) correlations using a trigger particle with large transverse momentum ($p_T$) in $d$+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV and 200~GeV from the STAR experiment at RHIC are presented. The \ns correlation is separated into a jet-like component, narrow in both $Δϕ$ and $Δη$, and the ridge, narrow in $Δϕ$ but broad in $Δη$. Both components are studied as a function of collision centrality, and the jet-like correlation is studied as a function of the trigger and associated $p_T$. The behavior of the jet-like component is remarkably consistent for different collision systems, suggesting it is produced by fragmentation. The width of the jet-like correlation is found to increase with the system size. The ridge, previously observed in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV, is also found in Cu+Cu collisions and in collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV, but is found to be substantially smaller at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV than at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV for the same average number of participants ($ \langle N_{\mathrm{part}}\rangle$). Measurements of the ridge are compared to models.

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arXiv2011

Pion femtoscopy in p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV

The STAR Collaboration at RHIC has measured two-pion correlation functions from p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. Spatial scales are extracted via a femtoscopic analysis of the correlations, though this analysis is complicated by the presence of strong non-femtoscopic effects. Our results are put into the context of the world dataset of femtoscopy in hadron-hadron collisions. We present the first direct comparison of femtoscopy in p+p and heavy ion collisions, under identical analysis and detector conditions.

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arXiv2011

Studies of di-jet survival and surface emission bias in Au+Au collisions via angular correlations with respect to back-to-back leading hadrons

We report first results from an analysis based on a new multi-hadron correlation technique, exploring jet-medium interactions and di-jet surface emission bias at RHIC. Pairs of back-to-back high transverse momentum hadrons are used for triggers to study associated hadron distributions. In contrast with two- and three-particle correlations with a single trigger with similar kinematic selections, the associated hadron distribution of both trigger sides reveals no modification in either relative pseudo-rapidity or relative azimuthal angle from d+Au to central Au+Au collisions. We determine associated hadron yields and spectra as well as production rates for such correlated back-to-back triggers to gain additional insights on medium properties.

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arXiv2010

Measurement of the Bottom contribution to non-photonic electron production in $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} $=200 GeV

The contribution of $B$ meson decays to non-photonic electrons, which are mainly produced by the semi-leptonic decays of heavy flavor mesons, in $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 200 GeV has been measured using azimuthal correlations between non-photonic electrons and hadrons. The extracted $B$ decay contribution is approximately 50% at a transverse momentum of $p_{T} \geq 5$ GeV/$c$. These measurements constrain the nuclear modification factor for electrons from $B$ and $D$ meson decays. The result indicates that $B$ meson production in heavy ion collisions is also suppressed at high $p_{T}$.

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arXiv2010

Strange and Multi-strange Particle Production in Au+Au Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 62.4 GeV

We present results on strange and multi-strange particle production in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4$ GeV as measured with the STAR detector at RHIC. Mid-rapidity transverse momentum spectra and integrated yields of $K^{0}_{S}$, $Λ$, $Ξ$, $Ω$ and their anti-particles are presented for different centrality classes. The particle yields and ratios follow a smooth energy dependence. Chemical freeze-out parameters, temperature, baryon chemical potential and strangeness saturation factor obtained from the particle yields are presented. Intermediate transverse momentum ($p_T$) phenomena are discussed based on the ratio of the measured baryon-to-meson spectra and nuclear modification factor. The centrality dependence of various measurements presented show a similar behavior as seen in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.

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arXiv2010

Measurement of the parity-violating longitudinal single-spin asymmetry for $W^{\pm}$ boson production in polarized proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 500 $GeV

We report the first measurement of the parity violating single-spin asymmetries for midrapidity decay positrons and electrons from $W^{+}$ and $W^{-}$ boson production in longitudinally polarized proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500 $GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The measured asymmetries, $A^{W^+}_{L}=-0.27\pm 0.10\;({\rm stat.})\pm 0.02\;({\rm syst.}) \pm 0.03\;({\rm norm.})$ and $A^{W^-}_{L}=0.14\pm 0.19\;({\rm stat.})\pm 0.02 \;({\rm syst.})\pm 0.01\;({\rm norm.})$, are consistent with theory predictions, which are large and of opposite sign. These predictions are based on polarized quark and antiquark distribution functions constrained by polarized DIS measurements.

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arXiv2010

Scaling properties at freeze-out in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Identified charged pion, kaon, and proton spectra are used to explore the system size dependence of bulk freeze-out properties in Cu+Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 and 62.4 GeV. The data are studied with hydrodynamically-motivated Blast-wave and statistical model frameworks in order to characterize the freeze-out properties of the system. The dependence of freeze-out parameters on beam energy and collision centrality is discussed. Using the existing results from Au+Au and $pp$ collisions, the dependence of freeze-out parameters on the system size is also explored. This multi-dimensional systematic study furthers our understanding of the QCD phase diagram revealing the importance of the initial geometrical overlap of the colliding ions. The analysis of Cu+Cu collisions, which expands the system size dependence studies from Au+Au data with detailed measurements in the smaller system, shows that the bulk freeze-out properties of charged particles studied here scale with the total charged particle multiplicity at mid-rapidity, suggesting the relevance of initial state effects.

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arXiv2010

Azimuthal di-hadron correlations in d+Au and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV from STAR

Yields, correlation shapes, and mean transverse momenta \pt{} of charged particles associated with intermediate to high-\pt{} trigger particles ($2.5 < \pt < 10$ \GeVc) in d+Au and Au+Au collisions at $\snn=200$ GeV are presented. For associated particles at higher $\pt \gtrsim 2.5$ \GeVc, narrow correlation peaks are seen in d+Au and Au+Au, indicating that the main production mechanism is jet fragmentation. At lower associated particle $\pt < 2$ \GeVc, a large enhancement of the near- ($\dphi \sim 0$) and away-side ($\dphi \sim π$) associated yields is found, together with a strong broadening of the away-side azimuthal distributions in Au+Au collisions compared to d+Au measurements, suggesting that other particle production mechanisms play a role. This is further supported by the observed significant softening of the away-side associated particle yield distribution at $\dphi \sim π$ in central Au+Au collisions.

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arXiv2010

An Experimental Exploration of the QCD Phase Diagram: The Search for the Critical Point and the Onset of De-confinement

The QCD phase diagram lies at the heart of what the RHIC Physics Program is all about. While RHIC has been operating very successfully at or close to its maximum energy for almost a decade, it has become clear that this collider can also be operated at lower energies down to 5 GeV without extensive upgrades. An exploration of the full region of beam energies available at the RHIC facility is imperative. The STAR detector, due to its large uniform acceptance and excellent particle identification capabilities, is uniquely positioned to carry out this program in depth and detail. The first exploratory beam energy scan (BES) run at RHIC took place in 2010 (Run 10), since several STAR upgrades, most importantly a full barrel Time of Flight detector, are now completed which add new capabilities important for the interesting physics at BES energies. In this document we discuss current proposed measurements, with estimations of the accuracy of the measurements given an assumed event count at each beam energy.

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arXiv2010

Higher Moments of Net-proton Multiplicity Distributions at RHIC

We report the first measurements of the kurtosis (κ), skewness (S) and variance (σ^2) of net-proton multiplicity (N_p - N_pbar) distributions at midrapidity for Au+Au collisions at \sqrt(s_NN) = 19.6, 62.4, and 200 GeV corresponding to baryon chemical potentials (μ_B) between 200 - 20 MeV. Our measurements of the products κσ^2 and S σ, which can be related to theoretical calculations sensitive to baryon number susceptibilities and long range correlations, are constant as functions of collision centrality. We compare these products with results from lattice QCD and various models without a critical point and study the \sqrt(s_NN) dependence of κσ^2. From the measurements at the three beam energies, we find no evidence for a critical point in the QCD phase diagram for μ_B below 200 MeV.

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arXiv2010

K*0 production in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at \sqrt{s_NN} = 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV

We report on K*0 production at mid-rapidity in Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}} = 62.4 and 200 GeV collected by the Solenoid Tracker at RHIC (STAR) detector. The K*0 is reconstructed via the hadronic decays K*0 \to K+ pi- and \bar{K*0} \to K-pi+. Transverse momentum, pT, spectra are measured over a range of pT extending from 0.2 GeV/c to 5 GeV/c. The center of mass energy and system size dependence of the rapidity density, dN/dy, and the average transverse momentum, , are presented. The measured N(K*0)/N(K) and N(ϕ)/N(K*0) ratios favor the dominance of re-scattering of decay daughters of K*0 over the hadronic regeneration for the K*0 production. In the intermediate pT region (2.0 < pT < 4.0 GeV/c), the elliptic flow parameter, v2, and the nuclear modification factor, RCP, agree with the expectations from the quark coalescence model of particle production.

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arXiv2010

Balance Functions from Au+Au, d+Au, and p+p Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

Balance functions have been measured for charged particle pairs, identified charged pion pairs, and identified charged kaon pairs in Au+Au, d+Au, and p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider using the STAR detector. These balance functions are presented in terms of relative pseudorapidity, $Δη$, relative rapidity, $Δy$, relative azimuthal angle, $Δϕ$, and invariant relative momentum, $q_{\rm inv}$. In addition, balance functions are shown in terms of the three components of $q_{\rm inv}$: $q_{\rm long}$, $q_{\rm out}$, and $q_{\rm side}$. For charged particle pairs, the width of the balance function in terms of $Δη$ scales smoothly with the number of participating nucleons, while HIJING and UrQMD model calculations show no dependence on centrality or system size. For charged particle and charged pion pairs, the balance functions widths in terms of $Δη$ and $Δy$ are narrower in central Au+Au collisions than in peripheral collisions. The width for central collisions is consistent with thermal blast-wave models where the balancing charges are highly correlated in coordinate space at breakup. This strong correlation might be explained either by delayed hadronization or by limited diffusion during the reaction. Furthermore, the narrowing trend is consistent with the lower kinetic temperatures inherent to more central collisions. In contrast, the width of the balance function for charged kaon pairs in terms of $Δy$ shows little centrality dependence, which may signal a different production mechanism for kaons. The widths of the balance functions for charged pions and kaons in terms of $q_{\rm inv}$ narrow in central collisions compared to peripheral collisions, which may be driven by the change in the kinetic temperature.

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arXiv2010

Upsilon cross section in p+p collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV

We report on a measurement of the Upsilon(1S+2S+3S) -> e+e- cross section at midrapidity in p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. We find the cross section to be 114 +/- 38 (stat.) +23,-24 (syst.) pb. Perturbative QCD calculations at next-to-leading order in the Color Evaporation Model are in agreement with our measurement, while calculations in the Color Singlet Model underestimate it by 2 sigma. Our result is consistent with the trend seen in world data as a function of the center-of-mass energy of the collision and extends the availability of Upsilon data to RHIC energies. The dielectron continuum in the invariant mass range near the Upsilon is also studied to obtain a combined cross section of Drell-Yan plus (b b-bar) -> e+e-.

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