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The STAR Collaboration

Publications and source records attributed to The STAR Collaboration.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Precision measurement of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry for dijet production at intermediate pseudorapidity in polarized $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV

The STAR Collaboration reports precise measurements of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry, $A_{LL}$, for dijet production with at least one jet at intermediate pseudorapidity $0.8 < η_{\rm jet} < 1.8$ in polarized proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. This study explores partons scattered with a longitudinal momentum fraction ($x$) from 0.01 to 0.5, which are predominantly characterized by interactions between high-$x$ valence quarks and low-$x$ gluons. The results are in good agreement with previous measurements at 200 GeV with improved precision and are found to be consistent with the predictions of global analyses that find the gluon polarization to be positive. In contrast, the negative gluon polarization solution from the JAM Collaboration is found to be strongly disfavored.

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arXiv2025

Charge Separation Measurements in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 7.7--200 GeV in Search of the Chiral Magnetic Effect

The chiral magnetic effect in heavy-ion collisions predicts a charge separation signal along a magnetic field, which indicates local $P$ and $CP$ violations in the quark-gluon plasma. We report measurements of electric charge separation signals perpendicular to the spectator event plane in Au+Au collisions using high-statistics data from RHIC Beam Energy Scan II and top-energy runs. A novel event shape selection method is employed to suppress the flow-induced background. The residual charge separation signals near the zero-flow limit are positive in Au+Au collisions within the 20\%--50\% centrality range, with significance levels of $2.6σ$, $3.1σ$, and $3.3σ$ at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 11.5, 14.6, and 19.6 GeV, respectively. At other beam energies, the signals are either statistically limited or consistent with zero.

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arXiv2025

Hyperon global polarization in isobar Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

The polarization of Lambda, Anti-Lambda, Xi, and Anti-Xi hyperons along the angular momentum of the system has been measured in isobar collisions of Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV with the STAR detector at RHIC. The polarization dependence on collision centrality is explored and found to show an increasing trend in more peripheral collisions. Dependencies on transverse momentum and pseudorapidity are investigated for Lambda and Anti-Lambda hyperons, but no significant dependence has been observed. The polarization measurements for Lambda and Anti-Lambda are consistent with each other, indicating little contribution of the spin-magnetic coupling in the observed polarization. The results for Lambda hyperons measurements are qualitatively consistent with hydrodynamic calculations incorporating effects from shear-induced polarization and thermal vorticity, and show no obvious system size dependence in comparison with previous results in Au+Au collisions. For the first time, the dependence of the polarization on the hyperon's emission azimuthal angle with respect to the second harmonic event plane is extracted and shows stronger polarization for the in-plane emitted hyperons at the level of 2.4$σ$ significance in 20-50% centrality. The measurements of Xi hyperons polarization via the polarization transfer analysis exhibit a finite positive polarization, 2.9$σ$ significance in 20-50% centrality, slightly enhanced compared to the inclusive Lambda polarization.

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arXiv2025

Light Nuclei Femtoscopy and Baryon Interactions in 3 GeV Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the measurements of proton-deuteron ($p$-$d$) and deuteron-deuteron ($d$-$d$) correlation functions in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 3 GeV using fixed-target mode with the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). For the first time, the source size ($R_{G}$), scattering length ($f_{0}$), and effective range ($d_{0}$) are extracted from the measured correlation functions with a simultaneous fit. The spin-averaged $f_0$ for $p$-$d$ and $d$-$d$ interactions are determined to be -5.28 $\pm$ 0.11(stat.) $\pm$ 0.82(syst.) fm and -2.62 $\pm$ 0.02(stat.) $\pm$ 0.24(syst.) fm, respectively. The measured $p$-$d$ interaction is consistent with theoretical calculations and low-energy scattering experiment results, demonstrating the feasibility of extracting interaction parameters using the femtoscopy technique. The reasonable agreement between the experimental data and the calculations from the transport model indicates that deuteron production in these collisions is primarily governed by nucleon coalescence.

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arXiv2025

Semi-inclusive direct photon+jet and $π^{0}$+jet correlations measured in $p+p$ and central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 200$ GeV

The STAR experiment at RHIC reports new measurements of jet quenching based on the semi-inclusive distribution of charged-particle jets recoiling from direct photon ($γ_{\rm dir}$) and neutral pion ($π^{0}$) triggers in pp and central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ GeV, for triggers in the range $9<E_{\rm T}^{\rm trig}<20$ GeV. The datasets have integrated luminosities of 3.9$ {\rm nb}^{-1}$ for Au+Au and 23$ {\rm pb}^{-1}$ for pp collisions. Jets are reconstructed using the anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm with resolution parameters $R$=0.2 and 0.5. The large uncorrelated jet background in central Au+Au collisions is corrected using a mixed-event approach, which enables precise charged-particle jet measurements at low transverse momentum $p_{\rm T,jet}^{\rm ch}$ and large $R$. Recoil-jet distributions are reported in the range $p_{\rm T,jet}^{\rm ch}<25$ \gev. Comparison of the distributions measured in pp and Au+Au collisions reveals strong medium-induced jet yield suppression for $R=0.2$, with markedly less suppression for $R=0.5$. Comparison is also made to theoretical models incorporating jet quenching. These data provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying jet quenching and the angular dependence of medium-induced jet-energy transport, and provide new constraints on modelling such effects.

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arXiv2025

Precision Measurement of (Net-)proton Number Fluctuations in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report precision measurements on cumulants ($C_{n}$) and factorial cumulants ($κ_{n}$) of (net-)proton number distributions up to fourth-order in Au+Au collisions from phase II of the Beam Energy Scan program at RHIC. (Anti-)protons are selected at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) within a transverse momentum range of $0.4 < p_T < 2.0$ GeV/$c$. The collision energy and centrality dependence of these cumulants are studied over center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7 -- 27 GeV. Relative to various non-critical-point model calculations and peripheral collision 70-80\% data, the net-proton $C_4/C_2$ measurement in 0-5\% collisions shows a minimum around 19.6 GeV for significance of deviation at $\sim2$ -- $5σ$. In addition, deviations from non-critical baselines around the same collision energy region are also seen in proton factorial cumulant ratios, especially in $κ_2/κ_1$ and $κ_3/κ_1$. Dynamical model calculations including a critical point are called for in order to understand these precision measurements.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of Two-Point Energy Correlators Within Jets in $p$+$p$ Collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV

Hard-scattered partons ejected from high-energy proton-proton collisions undergo parton shower and hadronization, resulting in collimated collections of particles that are clustered into jets. A substructure observable that highlights the transition between the perturbative and non-perturbative regimes of jet evolution in terms of the angle between two particles is the two-point energy correlator (EEC). In this letter, the first measurement of the EEC at RHIC is presented, using data taken from 200 GeV $p$+$p$ collisions by the STAR experiment. The EEC is measured both for all the pairs of particles in jets and separately for pairs with like and opposite electric charges. These measurements demonstrate that the transition between perturbative and non-perturbative effects occurs within an angular region that is consistent with expectations of a universal hadronization regime that scales with jet momentum. Additionally, a deviation from Monte-Carlo predictions at small angles in the charge-selected sample could result from mechanics of hadronization not fully captured by current models.

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arXiv2025

Measurements of $\varUpsilon$ States Production in $\textit{p+p}$ Collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 500\:\mathrm{GeV}$ with STAR: Cross Sections, Ratios, and Multiplicity Dependence

We report measurements of $\varUpsilon(1S)$, $\varUpsilon(2S)$ and $\varUpsilon(3S)$ production in $\textit{p+p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500\:\mathrm{GeV}$ by the STAR experiment in year 2011, corresponding to an integrated luminosity $\mathcal{L}_{int}=13\:\mathrm{pb^{-1}}$. The results provide precise cross sections, transverse momentum ($p_{T}$) and rapidity ($y$) spectra, as well as cross section ratios for $p_{\mathrm{T}}<10\:\mathrm{GeV/c}$ and $|y|<1$. The dependence of the $\varUpsilon$ yield on charged particle multiplicity has also been measured, offering new insights into the mechanisms of quarkonium production. The data are compared to various theoretical models: the Color Evaporation Model (CEM) accurately describes the $\varUpsilon(1S)$ production, while the Color Glass Condensate + Non-relativistic Quantum Chromodynamics (CGC+NRQCD) model overestimates the data, particularly at low $p_{T}$. Conversely, the Color Singlet Model (CSM) underestimates the rapidity dependence. These discrepancies highlight the need for further development in understanding the production dynamics of heavy quarkonia in high-energy hadronic collisions. The trend in the multiplicity dependence is consistent with CGC/Saturation and String Percolation models or $\varUpsilon$ production happening in multiple parton interactions modeled by PYTHIA8.

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arXiv2024

Energy Dependence of Polarized $\mathbf{γγ\rightarrow e^{+}e^{-}}$ in Peripheral Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the differential yields at mid-rapidity of the Breit-Wheeler process ($γγ\rightarrow e^{+}e^{-}$) in peripheral Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}} = $ 54.4 GeV and 200 GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC, as a function of energy $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}}$, $e^{+}e^{-}$ transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$, $p_{\rm T}^{2}$, invariant mass $M_{ee}$ and azimuthal angle. In the invariant mass range of 0.4 $<$ $M_{ee}$ $<$ 2.6 GeV/$c^{2}$ at low transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$ $ < $0.15 GeV/$c$), the yields increase while the pair $\sqrt{\langle p_{\rm T}^{2} \rangle}$ decreases with increasing $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}}$, a feature is correctly predicted by the QED calculation. The energy dependencies of the measured quantities are sensitive to the nuclear form factor, infrared divergence and photon polarization. The data are compiled and used to extract the charge radius of the Au nucleus.

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arXiv2024

Strangeness Production in $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=3$ GeV Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report multi-differential measurements of strange hadron production ranging from mid- to target-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at a center-of-momentum energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=3$ GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC. $K^0_S$ meson and $Λ$ hyperon yields are measured via their weak decay channels. Collision centrality and rapidity dependences of the transverse momentum spectra and particle ratios are presented. Particle mass and centrality dependence of the average transverse momenta of $Λ$ and $K^0_S$ are compared with other strange particles, providing evidence of the development of hadronic rescattering in such collisions. The 4$π$ yields of each of these strange hadrons show a consistent centrality dependence. Discussions on radial flow, the strange hadron production mechanism, and properties of the medium created in such collisions are presented together with results from hadronic transport and thermal model calculations.

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arXiv2023

Global polarization of $Λ$ and $\barΛ$ hyperons in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=19.6$ and $27$ GeV

In relativistic heavy-ion collisions, a global spin polarization, $P_\mathrm{H}$, of $Λ$ and $\barΛ$ hyperons along the direction of the system angular momentum was discovered and measured across a broad range of collision energies and demonstrated a trend of increasing $P_\mathrm{H}$ with decreasing $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$. A splitting between $Λ$ and $\barΛ$ polarization may be possible due to their different magnetic moments in a late-stage magnetic field sustained by the quark-gluon plasma which is formed in the collision. The results presented in this study find no significant splitting at the collision energies of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=19.6$ and $27$ GeV in the RHIC Beam Energy Scan Phase II using the STAR detector, with an upper limit of $P_{\barΛ}-P_Λ<0.24$% and $P_{\barΛ}-P_Λ<0.35$%, respectively, at a 95% confidence level. We derive an upper limit on the naïve extraction of the late-stage magnetic field of $B<9.4\cdot10^{12}$ T and $B<1.4\cdot10^{13}$ T at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=19.6$ and $27$ GeV, respectively, although more thorough derivations are needed. Differential measurements of $P_\mathrm{H}$ were performed with respect to collision centrality, transverse momentum, and rapidity. With our current acceptance of $|y|<1$ and uncertainties, we observe no dependence on transverse momentum and rapidity in this analysis. These results challenge multiple existing model calculations following a variety of different assumptions which have each predicted a strong dependence on rapidity in this collision-energy range.

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arXiv2022

Search for the chiral magnetic wave using anisotropic flow of identified particles at RHIC

The chiral magnetic wave (CMW) has been theorized to propagate in the deconfined nuclear medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions, and to cause a difference in elliptic flow ($v_{2}$) between negatively and positively charged hadrons. Experimental data consistent with the CMW have been reported by the STAR Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), based on the charge asymmetry dependence of the pion $v_{2}$ from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 27 to 200 GeV. In this comprehensive study, we present the STAR measurements of elliptic flow and triangular flow of charged pions, along with the $v_{2}$ of charged kaons and protons, as a function of charge asymmetry in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV. The slope parameters extracted from the linear dependence of the $v_2$ difference on charge asymmetry for different particle species are reported and compared in different centrality intervals. In addition, the slopes of $v_{2}$ for charged pions in small systems, \textit{i.e.}, $p$+Au and $d$+Au at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV, are also presented and compared with those in large systems, \textit{i.e.}, Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV and U+U at 193 GeV. Our results provide new insights for the possible existence of the CMW, and further constrain the background contributions in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC energies.

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arXiv2018

The Proton-$Ω$ correlation function in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV

We present the first measurement of the proton-$Ω$ correlation function in heavy-ion collisions for central (0-40$\%$) and peripheral (40-80$\%$) Au+Au collisions at \sqrtsNN\,\,=200 GeV by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). Predictions for the ratio of peripheral collisions to central collisions for the proton-$Ω$ correlation function are sensitive to the presence of a nucleon-$Ω$ bound state. These predictions are based on the proton-$Ω$ interaction extracted from (2+1)-flavor lattice QCD calculations at the physical point. The measured ratio of proton-$Ω$ correlation function from peripheral (small system) to central (large system) collisions is less than unity for relative momentum smaller than 40 MeV/c. Comparison of our measured correlation ratio with the theoretical calculation slightly favors a proton-$Ω$ bound system with a binding energy of $\sim$ 27~MeV.

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arXiv2017

Measurement of hyper triton lifetime in Au + Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider

A precise measurement of the hypertriton lifetime is presented. In this letter, the mesonic decay modes $\mathrm{{^3_Λ}H \rightarrow ^3He + π^-}$ and $\mathrm{{^3_Λ}H \rightarrow d + p + π^-}$ are used to reconstruct the hypertriton from Au+Au collision data collected by the STAR collaboration at RHIC. A minimum $χ^2$ estimation is used to determine the lifetime of $τ= 142^{+24}_{-21}\,{\rm (stat.)} {\pm} 31\,{\rm (syst.)}$ ps. This lifetime is about 50\% shorter than the lifetime $τ= 263\pm2$ ps of a free $Λ$, indicating strong hyperon-nucleon interaction in the hypernucleus system. The branching ratios of the mesonic decay channels are also determined to satisfy B.R.$_{(^3{\rm He}+π^-)}/$(B.R.$_{(^3{\rm He}+π^-)}+$B.R.$_{(d+p+π^-)})$ = $0.32\rm{\pm}0.05\,{\rm (stat.)}\pm 0.08\,{\rm (syst.)}$. Our ratio result favors the assignment $J(\mathrm{^{3}_ΛH})$ = $\frac{1}{2}$ over $J(\mathrm{^{3}_ΛH})$ = $\frac{3}{2}$. These measurements will help to constrain models of hyperon-baryon interactions.

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arXiv2016

Physics Program for the STAR/CBM eTOF Upgrade

The STAR Collaboration and the CBM Collaboration institutions: Heidelberg, Darmstadt, CCNU, Tsinghua, and USTC propose to install an end-cap time-of-flight upgrade (eTOF) to the STAR detector for the RHIC beam energy scan phase II (BES-II) program in 2019 and 2020. BES-II will cover the collision energy range 3.0 to 19.6 GeV. This is the region of interest in the search for a critical point and first-order phase transition, identified by the results from BES-I and by model calculations. For the collider-mode portion of the energy scan, 7.7 to 19.6 GeV, eTOF will extend particle identification (PID) for pions, kaons, and protons to a rapidity of 1.2, complementing the inner Time Projection Chamber (iTPC) upgrade to the forward tracking. The rapidity coverage for PID would extend to only 0.8 without the eTOF upgrade. The eTOF upgrade will enable precision studies of the key bulk property observables, essential to the BES-II search. An internal fixed-target program will allow the energy scan to cover 3.0 to 7.7 GeV. The eTOF upgrade will provide essential mid-rapidity PID for the 4.5 to 7.7 GeV portion of the scan in fixed-target mode. Otherwise there would be a large energy gap in the middle of the BES-II program. A full description of the physics provided by the eTOF upgrade to STAR is presented in this note.

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arXiv2012

Transverse Single-Spin Asymmetry and Cross-Section for pi0 and eta Mesons at Large Feynman-x in Polarized p+p Collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV

Measurements of the differential cross-section and the transverse single-spin asymmetry, A_N, vs. x_F for pi0 and eta mesons are reported for 0.4 < x_F < 0.75 at an average pseudorapidity of 3.68. A data sample of approximately 6.3 pb^{-1} was analyzed, which was recorded during p+p collisions at sqrt{s} = 200 GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The average transverse beam polarization was 56%. The cross-section for pi0 is consistent with a perturbative QCD prediction, and the eta/pi0 cross-section ratio agrees with previous mid-rapidity measurements. For 0.55 < x_F < 0.75, A_N for eta (0.210 +- 0.056) is 2.2 standard deviations larger than A_N for pi0 (0.081 +- 0.016).

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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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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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