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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
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DOE OSTI2022

General balance functions of identified charged hadron pairs of (π, Κ, ρ) in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV

First measurements of balance functions (BFs) of all combinations of identified charged hadron (π, Κ, ρ) pairs in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV recorded by the ALICE detector are presented. The BF measurements are carried out as two-dimensional differential correlators versus the relative rapidity (Δy) and azimuthal angle (Δφ) of hadron pairs, and studied as a function of collision centrality. The Δφ dependence of BFs is expected to be sensitive to the light quark diffusivity in the quark–gluon plasma. While the BF azimuthal widths of all pairs substantially decrease from peripheral to central collisions, the longitudinal widths exhibit mixed behaviors: BFs of ππ and cross-species pairs narrow significantly in more central collisions, whereas those of KK and pp are found to be independent of collision centrality. This dichotomy is qualitatively consistent with the presence of strong radial flow effects and the existence of two stages of quark production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Finally, the first measurements of the collision centrality evolution of BF integrals are presented, with the observation that charge balancing fractions are nearly independent of collision centrality in Pb–Pb collisions. Overall, the results presented provide new and challenging constraints for theoretical models of hadron production and transport in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Measurements of the suppression and correlations of dijets in Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

Studies of the correlations of the two highest transverse momentum (leading) jets in individual Pb+Pb collision events can provide information about the mechanism of jet quenching by the hot and dense matter created in such collisions. In Pb+Pb and $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, measurements of the leading dijet transverse momentum ($p_T$) correlations are presented. Additionally, measurements in Pb+Pb collisions of the dijet pair nuclear modification factors projected along leading and subleading jet $p_T$ are made. The measurements are performed using the ATLAS detector at the LHC with 260 pb –1 of pp data collected in 2017 and 2.2 nb –1 of Pb+Pb data collected in 2015 and 2018. An unfolding procedure is applied to the two-dimensional leading and subleading jet $p_T$ distributions to account for experimental effects in the measurement of both jets. Results are provided for dijets with leading jet $p_T$ greater than 100 GeV. Measurements of the dijet-yield-normalized $x_{J}$ distributions in Pb+Pb collisions show an increased fraction of imbalanced jets compared to pp collisions; these measurements are in agreement with previous measurements of the same quantity at 2.76 TeV in the overlapping kinematic range. Measurements of the absolutely normalized dijet rate in Pb+Pb and pp collisions are also presented, and show that balanced dijets are significantly more suppressed than imbalanced dijets in Pb+Pb collisions. It is observed in the measurements of the pair nuclear modification factors that the subleading jets are significantly suppressed relative to leading jets with $p_T$ between 100 and 316 GeV for all centralities in Pb+Pb collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

First measurement of Λ c + production down to p T = 0 in p p and p -Pb collisions at s N N = 5.02 TeV

The production of prompt $Λ_{c}^{+}$ baryons has been measured at midrapidity in the transverse momentum interval 0 < p T < 1 GeV/c for the first time, in pp and p–Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV . The measurement was performed in the decay channel $Λ_{c}^{+}$ → p$K_{S}^{0}$ by applying new decay reconstruction techniques using a Kalman-Filter vertexing algorithm and adopting a machine-learning approach for the candidate selection. The p T -integrated $Λ_{c}^{+}$ production cross sections in both collision systems were determined and used along with the measured yields in Pb–Pb collisions to compute the p T -integrated nuclear modification factors R pPb and R AA of $Λ_{c}^{+}$ baryons, which are compared to model calculations that consider nuclear modification of the parton distribution functions. The $Λ_{c}^{+}$/D 0 baryon-to-meson yield ratio is reported for pp and p–Pb collisions. Comparisons with models that include modified hadronization processes are presented, and the implications of the results on the understanding of charm hadronization in hadronic collisions are discussed. A significant (3.7σ) modification of the mean transverse momentum of $Λ_{c}^{+}$ baryons is seen in p –Pb collisions with respect to pp collisions, while the p T -integrated $Λ_{c}^{+}$/D 0 yield ratio was found to be consistent between the two collision systems within the uncertainties.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Strong Constraints on Jet Quenching in Centrality-Dependent p + Pb Collisions at 5.02 TeV from ATLAS

Jet quenching is the process of color-charged partons losing energy via interactions with quark-gluon plasma droplets created in heavy-ion collisions. The collective expansion of such droplets is well described by viscous hydrodynamics. Similar evidence of collectivity is consistently observed in smaller collision systems, including p p and p + Pb collisions. In contrast, while jet quenching is observed in Pb + Pb collisions, no evidence has been found in these small systems to date, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the system created in these collisions. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider has measured the yield of charged hadrons correlated with reconstructed jets in 0.36 nb -1 of p + Pb and 3.6 pb -1 of pp collisions at 5.02 TeV. The yields of charged hadrons with ${p}^{ch}_{T}$ > 0.5 GeV near and opposite in azimuth to jets with ${p}^{jet}_{T}$ > 30 or 60 GeV, and the ratios of these yields between p + Pb and pp collisions, I pPb , are reported. The collision centrality of p + Pb events is categorized by the energy deposited by forward neutrons from the struck nucleus. The I pPb values are consistent with unity within a few percent for hadrons with ${p}^{ch}_{T}$ > 4 GeV at all centralities. These data provide new, strong constraints that preclude almost any parton energy loss in central p + Pb collisions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Measurement of inclusive $J/ψ$ production in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 54.4 GeV at STAR

This article presents measurements of inclusive J/ψ production at midrapidity (|y| < 1.0) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 54.4 GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. A suppression of the J/ψ yield, quantified using the nuclear modification factors (R AA , R CP ), is observed with respect to the scaled production p + p in collisions. The dependence of R AA on collision centrality and J/ψ transverse momentum is measured with improved precision compared to previous measurements at 39 and 62.4 GeV, while the centrality dependence of R CP is measured and compared to the same results at 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV. In central collisions, no significant collision energy dependence of R AA is found within uncertainties for collision energies between 17.3 and 200 GeV. Two transport model calculations that include dissociation and regeneration contributions are consistent with the experimental results within uncertainties. Although no significant collision energy dependence of the J/ψ suppression in high energy heavy-ion collisions up to $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV is observed within uncertainties, the newly measured results at 54.4 GeV Au+Au collisions provide additional constraints on theoretical calculations of the hot medium evolution and cold nuclear matter effects.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles in pp($\bar p$), p(d)A and AA collisions using Tsallis thermodynamics

The pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles measured in p + p($\overline{\text{p}}$) collisions for energies ranging from $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{N}}}=23.6$ GeV to 13 TeV and A + A collisions at RHIC and LHC are investigated in the fireball model with Tsallis thermodynamics. We assume that the rapidity axis is populated with fireballs following q-Gaussian distribution and the charged particles follow the Tsallis distribution in the fireball. We also extend the fireball model to asymmetric collision systems, i.e. d + Au collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{N}}}=200$ GeV and p + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{N}}}=5.02$ TeV, by taking into account the asymmetric geometry configuration. The model can fit the experimental data well for all the collision systems and centralities investigated. The collision energy and centrality dependence of the model parameters for the symmetric (asymmetric) collision system, i.e. the central position y 0 (y 0a , y 0A ) and its width σ (σ a , σ A ) of the fireball distribution, are also investigated and discussed. Furthermore, our results suggest that the fireball model with Tsallis thermodynamics can be used as a universal framework for the pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles in high energy collisions at RHIC and LHC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Production of neutron-rich heavy nuclei in deep-inelastic 208 Pb + 208 Pb collisions within the stochastic mean-field theory

In deep-inelastic collisions of heavy nuclei, reaction products with a wide range of mass and charge are produced. Such collisions been considered as a possible way to produce superheavy nuclei, as an alternative to fusion reactions. To provide reliable theoretical predictions, it is desired to develop microscopic approaches that correctly and accurately describe nucleon transfer processes in dissipative collisions of heavy nuclei. The purpose of the present work is (1) to investigate the mechanism of nucleon transfers in dissipative collisions of two heavy nuclei, and (2) to explore possible pathways to produce neutron-rich heavy nuclei, through detailed theoretical analyses of fluctuations and correlations in nucleon transfers in 208 Pb + 208 Pb reactions. Three-dimensional time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) calculations are performed for the collisions of 208 Pb + 208 Pb at 𝐸 c.m. = 832, 936, and 1040 MeV, using the Skyrme SLy4d energy density functional. To calculate fluctuations and correlations in nucleon transfers, we employ the stochastic mean-field (SMF) theory, and the results are compared with another theoretical framework currently available, the time-dependent random phase approximation (TDRPA). Primary and secondary production cross sections are calculated with the SMF theory combined with a statistical model, GEMINI ++ . Using information of nucleon flow across a neck of colliding nuclei in TDHF calculations, we solve quantal diffusion equations for fluctuations and correlations in nucleon transfers based on the SMF theory. From the SMF calculations, we obtain the time evolution of diffusion coefficients as well as fluctuations and correlations in nucleon transfers for a range of initial orbital angular momenta. We compare the results of the SMF calculations with those of TDRPA, showing that TDRPA tends to predict substantially larger fluctuations and correlations in strongly damped collisions of heavy nuclei, which exhibit complex initial angular momentum dependence, while the SMF results provide almost constant (stable) values. Using the obtained fluctuations and correlations, we calculate primary and secondary production cross sections for the 208 Pb + 208 Pb collisions. From the results, we find that both lighter and heavier reaction products as compared to 208 Pb are produced for a wide region in the 𝑁−𝑍 plane as primary products, thanks to the quantal diffusion mechanism in the dissipative collisions. However, we show that cross sections for production of heavy nuclei with 𝑍 ≳ 90 or 𝑁 ≳ 135 are washed out due to secondary particle evaporation and/or fission processes. On the other hand, we find that there remain sizable cross sections for production of neutron-rich nuclei along 𝑁 = 126 with 𝑍< 82, even after secondary disintegration processes. We demonstrate that the secondary production cross sections depend weakly on incident energies, but lower (higher) energy is slightly preferred for production of nuclei with smaller (larger) atomic numbers as compared to 𝑍 = 82. Here, based on the microscopic SMF calculations, it has been shown that deep-inelastic collisions of heavy nuclei, such as 208 Pb + 208 Pb examined in this study, can be a promising means to produce neutron-rich heavy nuclei along 𝑁=126. Discrepancies between the SMF and TDRPA approaches are left unsolved for future investigations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ultracentral Collisions of Small and Deformed Systems at RHIC

We study a range of collision systems involving deformed ions and compare the elliptic and triangular flow harmonics produced in a hydrodynamics scenario versus a color glass condensate (CGC) scenario. For the hydrodynamics scenario, we generate initial conditions using TRENTO and work within a linear response approximation to obtain the final flow harmonics. For the CGC scenario, we use the explicit calculation of two-gluon correlations taken in the high-p T “(semi)dilute-(semi)dilute” regime to express the flow harmonics in terms of the density profile of the collision. Here, we consider ultracentral collisions of deformed ions as a testbed for these comparisons because the difference between tip-on-tip and side-on-side collisions modifies the multiplicity dependence in both scenarios, even at zero impact parameter. We find significant qualitative differences in the multiplicity dependence obtained in the initial conditions+hydrodynamics scenario and the CGC scenario, allowing these collisions of deformed ions to be used as a powerful discriminator between models. We also find that sub-nucleonic fluctuations have a systematic effect on the elliptic and triangular flow harmonics which are most discriminating in 0–1% ultracentral symmetric collisions of small deformed ions and in 0–10% d197Au collisions. The collision systems we consider are 238 U 238 U, d 197 Au, 9 Be 197 Au, 9 Be 9 Be, 3 He 3 He, and 3 He 197 Au.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Examination of the universal behavior of the η-to-π 0 ratio in heavy-ion collisions

We demonstrate that the pT dependence of the η/π 0 ratio at midrapidity is universal within a few percent for high-energy p+p, p+A, and d+A collisions, over a broad range of collision energies. The η/π 0 ratio increases with p T up to 4 to 5 GeV/c where it saturates at a nearly constant value of 0.487±0.024. Above p T =5 GeV/c, the same constant value is also observed in A+A collisions independent of collision system, energy, and centrality. At lower p T , where accurate η/π 0 data are absent for A+A collisions, we estimate possible deviations from the universal behavior, which could arise due to the rapid radial hydrodynamic expansion of the A+A collision system. For A+A collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider we find that possible deviations are limited to the p T range from 0.4 to 3 GeV/c and remain less than 20% for the most central collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Systematic study of nuclear effects in p + Al , p + Au , d + Au , and He 3 + Au collisions at s N N = 200 GeV using π 0 production

The PHENIX Collaboration presents a systematic study of inclusive π 0 production from p + p , p + Al , p + Au , d + Au , and He 3 + Au collisions at s N N = 200 GeV . Measurements were performed with different centrality selections as well as the total inelastic, 0–100%, selection for all collision systems. For 0–100% collisions, the nuclear-modification factors, R x A , are consistent with unity for p T above 8 GeV / c , but exhibit an enhancement in peripheral collisions and a suppression in central collisions. The enhancement and suppression characteristics are similar for all systems for the same centrality class. It is shown that for high- p T - π 0 production, the nucleons in the d and He 3 interact mostly independently with the Au nucleus and that the counterintuitive centrality dependence is likely due to a physical correlation between multiplicity and the presence of a hard scattering process. These observations disfavor models where parton energy loss has a significant contribution to nuclear modifications in small systems. Nuclear modifications at lower p T resemble the Cronin effect—an increase followed by a peak in central or inelastic collisions and a plateau in peripheral collisions. The peak height has a characteristic ordering by system size as p + Au > d + Au > He 3 + Au > p + Al . For collisions with Au ions, current calculations based on initial-state cold nuclear matter effects result in the opposite order, suggesting the presence of other contributions to nuclear modifications, in particular at lower p T .

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Femtoscopic correlations of identical charged pions and kaons in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with event-shape selection

Collective behavior has been observed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions for several decades. Collectivity is driven by the high particle multiplicities that are produced in these collisions. At the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), features of collectivity have also been seen in high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions that can attain particle multiplicities comparable to peripheral Pb-Pb collisions. One of the possible signatures of collective behavior is the decrease of femtoscopic radii extracted from pion and kaon pairs emitted from high-multiplicity collisions with increasing pair transverse momentum. This decrease can be described in terms of an approximate transverse mass scaling. In the present work, femtoscopic analyses are carried out by the ALICE Collaboration on charged pion and kaon pairs produced in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=13TeV from the LHC to study possible collectivity in pp collisions. The event-shape analysis method based on transverse sphericity is used to select for spherical versus jetlike events, and the effects of this selection on the femtoscopic radii for both charged pion and kaon pairs are studied. This is the first time this selection method has been applied to charged kaon pairs. An approximate transverse-mass scaling of the radii is found in all multiplicity ranges studied when the difference in the Lorentz boost for pions and kaons is taken into account. This observation does not support the hypothesis of collective expansion of hot and dense matter that should only occur in high-multiplicity events. A possible alternate explanation of the present results is based on a scenario of common emission conditions for pions and kaons in pp collisions for the multiplicity ranges studied.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A generalized analytical energy balance model for evaluating agglomeration from a binary collision of wet particles

Agglomeration of wet particles, i.e., particles coated with a thin liquid layer, is a common phenomenon in many processes like fluidized bed combustion of low rank fuels. The availability of an agglomeration model that can evaluate the outcome of a binary collision between wet particles differing in solid particle properties, liquid layer thicknesses, and initial collision (impact) speeds is essential for obtaining a comprehensive understanding on the existing processes experiencing wet particle agglomeration or for a successful development of new processes with high chances of wet particle agglomeration. This study presents a generalized agglomeration model on the basis of energy conservation before and after collision when colliding wet particles may differ in solid particle properties, liquid layer thicknesses, and impact speeds. The model was established based on the approximate values of energy losses that may happen during the collision. It incorporates body forces, solid-solid contacting, liquid capillary, and viscous contributions, as well as the liquid bridge volume effect. Predictions of the new model for collision outcomes of identical wet particles were like those from an analytical energy balance model developed recently by the group for identical wet particles. We also validated the new model by experimental data from literature. The results of a collision direction analysis indicated that the direction often has a minimal effect on the collision outcome in many practical scenarios. The results of Monte Carlo uncertainty analyses with the new model revealed that proper estimations of impact speed, under capillary limiting conditions, and thickness of coating layers and asperity heights, under viscous limiting conditions, are critical for the realistic prediction of collision outcomes at impact speeds close to critical impact speed, i.e., the minimum particle speed required for the particles to rebound.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Measurement of cold nuclear matter effects for inclusive J / ψ in p +Au collisions at s NN = 200 GeV

Measurement by the STAR experiment at RHIC of the cold nuclear matter (CNM) effects experienced by inclusive J / ψ at mid-rapidity in 0-100% p +Au collisions at s NN = 200 GeV is presented. Such effects are quantified utilizing the nuclear modification factor, R p Au , obtained by taking a ratio of J / ψ yield in p +Au collisions to that in p + p collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. The differential J / ψ yield in both p + p and p +Au collisions is measured through the dimuon decay channel, taking advantage of the trigger capability provided by the Muon Telescope Detector in the RHIC 2015 run. Consequently, the J / ψ R p Au is derived within the transverse momentum ( p T ) range of 0 to 10 GeV/ c . A suppression of approximately 30% is observed for p T < 2 GeV/ c , while J / ψ R p Au becomes compatible with unity for p T greater than 3 GeV/ c , indicating the J / ψ yield is minimally affected by the CNM effects at high p T . Comparison to a similar measurement from 0-20% central Au+Au collisions reveals that the observed strong J / ψ suppression above 3 GeV/ c is mostly due to the hot medium effects, providing strong evidence for the formation of the quark-gluon plasma in these collisions. Several model calculations show qualitative agreement with the measured J / ψ R p Au , while their agreement with the J / ψ yields in p + p and p +Au collisions is worse.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Pseudorapidity distributions of charged hadrons in lead-lead collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 5.36 TeV

The pseudorapidity (η) distributions of charged hadrons are measured using data collected at the highest ever nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 5.36 TeV for collisions of lead-lead ions. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2022 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 0.30 ± 0.03 μb -1 . Using the CMS silicon pixel detector, the yields of primary charged hadrons produced in the range |η| < 2.6 are reported. The evolution of the midrapidity particle density as a function of collision centrality is also reported. In the 5% most central collisions, the charged-hadron η density in the range |η| < 0.5 is found to be 2032 ± 91(syst), with negligible statistical uncertainty. This result is consistent with an extrapolation from nucleus-nucleus collision data at lower center-of-mass energies. Comparisons are made to various Monte Carlo event generators and to previous measurements of lead-lead and xenon-xenon collisions at similar collision energies. These new data detail the dependence of particle production on the collision energy, initial collision geometry, and the size of the colliding nuclei.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Collisional Losses from a Magnetic Mirror Using the Lenard-Bernstein Collision Operator

Collisions are crucial in governing particle and energy transport in plasmas confined in a magnetic mirror trap. Modern gyrokinetic codes model transport in magnetic mirrors, but some utilize approximate model collision operators. This study focuses on a Pastukhov-style method of images calculation of particle and energy confinement times using a Lenard-Bernstein model collision operator. Prior work on parallel particle and energy balances used a different Fokker-Planck plasma collision operator. The method must be extended in non-trivial ways to study the Lenard-Bernstein operator. To assess the effectiveness of our approach, we compare our results with a modern finite element solver. Our findings reveal that the particle confinement time scales like a exp( a 2 ) using the Lenard-Bernstein operator, in contrast to the more accurate scaling that the Coulomb collision operator would yield a 2 exp( a 2 ), where a 2 is approximately proportional to the ambipolar potential. We propose that codes solving for collisional losses in magnetic mirrors utilizing the Lenard-Bernstein or Dougherty collision operator scale their collision frequency of any electrostatically confined species. This study illuminates the collision operator’s intricate role in the Pastukhov-style method of images calculation of collisional confinement.

fusion plasma↗
DOE OSTI2026

Inverse Mapping of the Collision Kernel and Wall Flux Scaling in a Tall Convection‐Cloud Chamber Using Local Sensors and Knowledge‐Informed Deep Learning

Droplet collision–coalescence is a crucial process in cloud physics, but accurately representing this process under different dynamical conditions remains challenging. A proposed future convective‐cloud chamber aims to investigate this key process, but the method for observing it remains unclear, even though it is theoretically established that collision‐coalescence will occur. This study serves as a proof‐of‐concept demonstration of how knowledge‐informed deep learning, combined with measurement data from local sensors in the chamber, can be used to estimate the collision kernels, which determine how the droplet size distribution evolves during collision‐coalescence. In addition to estimating the collision kernel, we also address wall fluxes, another uncertain but important process that acts as a source of heat and moisture in the chamber. Ensemble runs of large‐eddy simulations are conducted by scaling the wall fluxes and the collision kernel, while the measured flow and cloud properties are used as inputs for a neural network. Results indicate that this approach successfully maps the scaling of wall fluxes and the collision kernel with biases of approximately 1% or less relative to the range of the target data. This proof‐of‐concept lays the groundwork for future applications; when the real measurements are available, real sensor data combined with the trained model presented in this work will enable estimation of the actual wall fluxes and collision kernel.

cloud chamber↗
DOE OSTI2022

Shock wave formation from head-on collision of two subsonic vortex rings

Vortex ring collisions have attracted intense interest in both water and air studies (Baird in Proc R Soc Lond Ser Math Phys Sci 409:59–65, 1987, Poudel et al. in Phys Fluids 33:096105, 2021, Lim and Nickels in Nature 357:225, 1992, New et al. in Exp Fluids 57:109, 2016, Suzuki et al. in Geophys Res Lett 34, 2007, Yan et al. in J Fluids Eng 140:054502, 2018, New et al. in J Fluid Mech 899, 2020, Cheng et al. in Phys Fluids 31:067107, 2019, Hernández and Reyes in 29:103604, 2017, Mishra et al. in Phys Rev Fluids, 2021, Zednikova et al. in Chem Eng Technol 42:843–850, 2019, Kwon et al. in Nature 600:64–69, 2021). These toroidal structures spin around a central axis and travel in the original direction of impulse while spinning around the core until inertial forces become predominant causing the vortex flow to spontaneously decay to turbulence (Vortex Rings, https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/smrlab/vortex-rings). Previous studies have shown the collision of subsonic vortex rings resulting in reconnected vortex rings, but the production of a shock wave from the collision has not been demonstrated visibly (Lim and Nickels in Nature 357:225, 1992, Cheng et al. in Phys Fluids 31:067107, 2019). Here we present the formation of a shock wave due to the collision of explosively formed subsonic vortex rings. As the vortex rings travel at Mach 0.66 toward the collision point, they begin to trap high pressure air between them. Upon collision, high pressure air was imploded and released radially away from the axis of the collision, generating a visible shock wave traveling through and away from the colliding vortices at Mach 1.22. Our results demonstrate a pressure gradient with high pressure release creating a shock wave. We anticipate our study to be a starting point for more explosively formed vortex collisions. For example, explosives with different velocities of detonation could be tested to produce vortex rings of varying velocities.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Measurements of $\pi^-$ production in $^7$Be+$^9$Be collisions at beam momenta from 19$A$ to 150$A$GeV/$c$ in the NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS

The NA61/SHINE collaboration studies at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) the onset of deconfinement in hadronic matter by the measurement of particle production in collisions of nuclei with various sizes at a set of energies covering the SPS energy range. This paper presents results on inclusive double-differential spectra and mean multiplicities of $\pi^{-}$ mesons produced in the 5% most central $^7$Be + $^9$Be collisions at beam momenta of 19$A$, 30$A$, 40$A$, 75$A$ and 150$A$ GeV/$c$ obtained by the so-called $h^-$ method which does not require any particle identification. The shape of the transverse mass spectra differs from the shapes measured in central Pb + Pb collisions and inelastic p + p interactions. The normalized width of the rapidity distribution decreases with increasing collision energy and is in between the results for inelastic nucleon-nucleon and central Pb + Pb collisions. The mean multiplicity of pions per wounded nucleon in central $^7$Be + $^9$Be collisions is close to that in central Pb + Pb collisions up to 75$A$GeV/$c$. However, at the top SPS energy the result is close to the one for inelastic nucleon-nucleon interactions. The results are discussed in the context of predictions for the onset of deconfinement at the CERN SPS collision energies.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗