arXiv subjects

P. Levai

Publications and source records attributed to P. Levai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

Precision Dijet Acoplanarity Tomography of the Chromo Structure of Perfect QCD Fluids

Dijet acoplanarity is dominated by vacuum (Sudakov) pQCD radiation even in Pb+Pb collisions, but future higher precision measurements of the tails of the acoplanarity distributions can help to resolve {\em separately} the medium opacity, $χ=L/λ$, and the color screening scale $μ^2$ from the path averaged BDMS saturation scale $Q_s^2[χ,μ]=\int dL\; \hat{q}(E,T(L))\propto μ^2 L/λ$, that is already well constrained by nuclear modification factor data on $R_{AA}(p_T)$. We compare Gaussian (BDMS) and non-Gaussian (GLV) models of medium broadening of vacuum (Sudakov) induced acoplanarity distributions in A+A. With few percent accuracy on the ratio of A+A to p+p distributions, experiments can easily identify non-Gaussian Landau and Rutherford tails due to multiple collisions. However, we find that sub-percent precision will be required to constrain $χ$ and $μ$ separately from $Q_s$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Predictions for $p+$Pb Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5$ TeV: Comparison with Data

Predictions made in Albacete {\it et al} prior to the LHC $p+$Pb run at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5$ TeV are compared to currently available data. Some predictions shown here have been updated by including the same experimental cuts as the data. Some additional predictions are also presented, especially for quarkonia, that were provided to the experiments before the data were made public but were too late for the original publication are also shown here.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Non-Abelian Bremsstrahlung and Azimuthal Asymmetries in High Energy p+A Reactions

We apply the GLV reaction operator solution to the Vitev-Gunion-Bertsch (VGB) boundary conditions to compute the all-order in nuclear opacity non-abelian gluon bremsstrahlung of event-by-event fluctuating beam jets in nuclear collisions. We evaluate analytically azimuthal Fourier moments of single gluon, $v_n^M\{1\}$, and even number $2\ell$ gluon, $v_n^M\{2\ell\}$ inclusive distributions in high energy p+A reactions as a function of harmonic $n$, %independent target recoil cluster number, $M$, and gluon number, $2\ell$, at RHIC and LHC. Multiple resolved clusters of recoiling target beam jets together with the projectile beam jet form Color Scintillation Antenna (CSA) arrays that lead to characteristic boost non-invariant trapezoidal rapidity distributions in asymmetric $B+A$ nuclear collisions. The scaling of intrinsically azimuthally anisotropic and long range in $η$ nature of the non-abelian \br leads to $v_n$ moments that are similar to results from hydrodynamic models, but due entirely to non-abelian wave interference phenomena sourced by the fluctuating CSA. Our analytic non-flow solutions are similar to recent numerical saturation model predictions but differ by predicting a simple power-law hierarchy of both even and odd $v_n$ without invoking $k_T$ factorization. A test of CSA mechanism is the predicted nearly linear $η$ rapidity dependence of the $v_n(k_T,η)$. Non-abelian beam jet \br may thus provide a simple analytic solution to Beam Energy Scan (BES) puzzle of the near $\sqrt{s}$ independence of $v_n(p_T)$ moments observed down to 10 AGeV where large $x$ valence quark beam jets dominate inelastic dynamics. Recoil \br from multiple independent CSA clusters could also provide a partial explanation for the unexpected similarity of $v_n$ in $p(D)+A$ and non-central $A+A$ at same $dN/dη$ multiplicity as observed at RHIC and LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

A Very High Momentum Particle Identification Detector

The construction of a new detector is proposed to extend the capabilities of ALICE in the high transverse momentum (pT) region. This Very High Momentum Particle Identification Detector (VHMPID) performs charged hadron identification on a track-by-track basis in the 5 GeV/c < p < 25 GeV/c momentum range and provides ALICE with new opportunities to study parton-medium interactions at LHC energies. The VHMPID covers up to 30% of the ALICE central barrel and presents sufficient acceptance for triggered- and tagged-jet studies, allowing for the first time identified charged hadron measurements in jets. This Letter of Intent summarizes the physics motivations for such a detector as well as its layout and integration into ALICE.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2013

Predictions for $p+$Pb Collisions at sqrt s_NN = 5 TeV

Predictions for charged hadron, identified light hadron, quarkonium, photon, jet and gauge bosons in p+Pb collisions at sqrt s_NN = 5 TeV are compiled and compared. When test run data are available, they are compared to the model predictions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

Predictions for p+Pb at 5.02A TeV to test initial state nuclear shadowing at the Large Hadron Collider

Collinear factorized perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) model predictions are compared for $p+{\rm Pb}$ at 5.02$A$ TeV to test nuclear shadowing of parton distribution at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The pseudorapidity distribution the nuclear modification factor (NMF), $R_{p{\rm Pb}}(y=0,p_T<20\;{\rm GeV}/{\it c}) = dn_{p{\rm Pb}} /(N_{\rm coll}(b)dn_{pp})$ and the pseudorapidity asymmetry $Y_{asym}^{h}(p_T)=R^h_{pPb}(p_T, η<0)/R^h_{pPb}(p_T,η>0)$ are computed using {\small HIJING/BB v2.0 model} and a pQCD improved parton model kTpQCD\_v2.0 which embedded generalized parton distribution functions (PDFs). These results are updated calculations of those presented in Phys. Rev. C {\bf 85}, 024903 (2012).

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

Predictions for p+Pb at 4.4A TeV to Test Initial State Nuclear Shadowing at energies available at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

Collinear factorized perturbative QCD model predictions are compared for p+Pb at 4.4A TeV to test nuclear shadowing of parton distribution at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The nuclear modification factor (NMF), R_{pPb}(y=0,p_T<20 GeV/c) = dn_{p Pb} /(N_{coll}(b)dn_{pp}), is computed with electron-nucleus (e+A) global fit with different nuclear shadow distributions and compared to fixed Q^2 shadow ansatz used in Monte Carlo Heavy Ion Jet Interacting Generator (HIJING) type models. Due to rapid DGLAP reduction of shadowing with increasing Q^2 used in e+A global fit, our results confirm that no significant initial state suppression is expected (R_{pPb} (p_T) = 1 \pm 0.1) in the p_T range 5 to 20 GeV/ c. In contrast, the fixed Q^2 shadowing models assumed in HIJING type models predict in the above p_T range a sizable suppression, R_{pPb} (p_T) = 0.6-0.7 at mid-pseudorapidity that is similar to the color glass condensate (CGC) model predictions. For central (N_{coll} = 12) p+ Pb collisions and at forward pseudorapidity (η= 6) the HIJING type models predict smaller values of nuclear modification factors (R_{pPb}(p_T)) than in minimum bias events at mid-pseudorapidity (η= 0). Observation of R_{pPb}(p_T= 5-20 GeV/c) less than 0.6 for minimum bias p+A collisions would pose a serious difficulty for separating initial from final state interactions in Pb+Pb collisions at LHC energies.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Contributions from weak-interaction channels to inclusive hadron spectra at TeV energies

At the FERMILAB TEVATRON and CERN LHC accelerators partonic processes reach such a high energy region, where the weak interactions could enter into consideration in the hadron yields through the opening of resonant W and Z exchange diagrams. We investigate these contributions to inclusive charged hadron production in p+p and p+{\bar p} reactions at a few TeV energies, and compare our results to existing CDF and CMS data. We perform a leading order perturbative QCD calculation and include electroweak channels to estimate the order of magnitude of charged hadron excess. The energy dependence of hadron production and the fine structure of transverse momentum distributions are investigated. As expected, in p+ {\bar p} collisions electroweak channels yield much larger contribution, than in p+p collisions. However, these types of contributions remains close to be negligible at the available accelerator energies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Enhanced heavy quark-pair production in strong SU(2) color field

Non-perturbative charm and bottom quark-pair production is investigated in the early stage of heavy ion collisions. Following our earlier works, the time-dependent study is based on a kinetic description of fermion-pair production in strong non-Abelian fields. We introduce time-dependent chromo-electric external field with a pulse-like time evolution, which simulates the overlap of two colliding heavy ions. The calculations is performed in a SU(2) color model with finite current quark masses. Yields of heavy quark-pairs are compared to the ones of light and strange quark-pairs. We show that the small inverse duration time of the field pulse determines the efficiency of the quark-pair production. Thus we do not see the expected suppression for heavy quark production, as follows from the Schwinger formula for constant field, but rather an enhanced heavy quark production at ultrarelativistic energies. We convert pulse duration time-dependent results into collisional energy dependence and introduce flavour-dependent energy string tensions, which can be used in string based model calculations at RHIC and LHC energies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Near-thermal equilibrium with Tsallis distributions in heavy ion collisions

Hadron yields in high energy heavy ion collisions have been fitted and reproduced by thermal models using standard statistical distributions. These models give insight into the freeze-out conditions at varying beam energies. In this paper we investigate changes to this analysis when the statistical distributions are replaced by Tsallis distributions for hadrons. We investigate the appearance of near-thermal equilibrium state at SPS and RHIC energies. We obtain better fits with smaller chi^2 for the same hadron data, as applied earlier in the thermal fits for SPS energies but not for RHIC energies. This result indicates that at RHIC energies the final state is very well described by a single freeze-out temperature with very little room for fluctuations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Energy dependence of phi meson production in central Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt(s_nn) = 6 to 17 GeV

Phi meson production is studied by the NA49 Collaboration in central Pb+Pb collisions at 20A, 30A, 40A, 80A and 158A GeV beam energy. The data are compared with measurements at lower and higher energies and to microscopic and thermal models. The energy dependence of yields and spectral distributions is compatible with the assumption that partonic degrees of freedom set in at low SPS energies.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2008

Pion production in d+Au collisions at RHIC energy

We present our results on neutral pion pi0 production in pp and dAu collisions at RHIC energy. Pion spectra are calculated in a next-to-leading order (NLO) perturbative QCD-based model. The model includes the transverse component of the initial parton distribution (``intrinsic kT''). We compare our results to the available experimental data from RHIC, and fit the data with high precision. The calculation tuned this way is repeated for the dAu collision, and used to investigate the interplay of shadowing and multiple scattering at RHIC. The centrality dependence of the nuclear modification factor shows a measurable difference between different shadowing parameterizations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2008

Where Does the Energy Loss Lose Strength?

Nuclear modification factors for pion production in AuAu and CuCu collisions are analyzed at very high transverse momenta. At p_T > 10 GeV/c, the R_{AA}(p_T) is determined mostly by the initial state nuclear modifications (e.g. EMC effect) and the non-Abelian jet-energy loss in the final state. At high momenta these effects together are strong enough to suppress R_{AA}(p_T) to below 1 at RHIC energies. We display results using HKN shadowing in our pQCD improved parton model. Result of a similar calculation at LHC energies for PbPb collisions are also displayed. Based on dN/dy estimates, a larger opacity value, L/λ_g = 10 +/- 2, is used for the produced partonic matter in central collisions at the LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Strange hadron yields and ratios in heavy ion collisions at RHIC energy

Recent experimental data support the presence of quark coalescence in heavy ion collisions at RHIC energies. Hadronization of quark matter and hadron formation in heavy ion collisions can be described by the coalescence process, and measured data are reproduced successfully. On the other hand, the theoretical coalescence calculations are based on a non-relativistic description. Here we investigate the robustness of the coalescence description, using different wave-function overlap during hadron formation.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2007

Is Strangeness Still Strange at the LHC?

Strangeness production is calculated in a pQCD-based model (including nuclear effects) in the high transverse momentum sector, where pQCD is expected to work well. We investigate pion, kaon, proton and lambda production in pp and heavy-ion collisions. Parton energy loss in AA collisions is taken into account. We compare strange-to-non-strange meson and baryon ratios to data at RHIC, and make predictions for the LHC. We find that these ratios significantly deviate from unity not only at RHIC but also at the LHC, indicating the special role of strangeness at both energies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Kaon and Pion Ratio Probes of Jet Quenching in Nuclear Collisions

Non-abelian energy loss in quark gluon plasmas is shown to lead to novel hadron ratio suppression patterns in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions. We apply GLV estimates for the gluon radiative energy loss. The K^-/K^+ and K^+/π^+ ratios are found to be most sensitive to the initial density of the plasma.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2007

Particle Ratios at High p_T at LHC Energies

Hadron production has been calculated in a pQCD improved parton model for pp, dA and heavy ion collisions. We applied KKP and AKK fragmentation functions. Our jet fragmentation study shows, that hadron ratios at high p_T depend on quark contribution mostly and less on the gluonic one. This finding can be seen in jet-energy loss calculations, also. We display the suppression pattern on different hadron ratios in PbPb collisions at LHC energies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Searching Extra Dimensions in Compact Stars

The electro-magnetic and particle radiation detected from the direction of Cygnus X3 raise the question of the existence of special long-lived, neutral particles. We investigate the origin of these particles in a special approach: the source object may contain compactified extra dimension and these particles are messengers of this state. We describe hyperon stars in 3+1 dimension and introduce the description of a compact stars in 3+1_c+1 dimensional space-time.

astro-ph↗