Azimuthal anisotropy measurements of strange and multi-strange hadrons in U+U collisions at psNN = 193 GeV at RHIC
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Here, we report a systematic measurement of cumulants, C n , for net-proton, proton, and antiproton multiplicity distributions, and correlation functions, κ n , for proton and antiproton multiplicity distributions up to the fourth order in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 54.4, 62.4, and 200 GeV. The C n and κ n are presented as a function of collision energy, centrality and kinematic acceptance in rapidity, y, and transverse momentum, p T . The data were taken during the first phase of the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program (2010–2017) at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) facility. The measurements are carried out at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) and transverse momentum 0.4 < p T < 2.0 GeV/c, using the STAR detector at RHIC. We observe a nonmonotonic energy dependence ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7–62.4 GeV) of the net-proton C 4 /C 2 with the significance of 3.1σ for the 0–5% central Au+Au collisions. This is consistent with the expectations of critical fluctuations in a QCD-inspired model. Thermal and transport model calculations show a monotonic variation with $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$. For the multiparticle correlation functions, we observe significant negative values for a two-particle correlation function, κ 2 , of protons and antiprotons, which are mainly due to the effects of baryon number conservation. Furthermore, it is found that the four-particle correlation function, κ 4 , of protons plays a role in determining the energy dependence of proton C 4 /C 1 below 19.6 GeV, which cannot be understood by the effect of baryon number conservation.
Global hyperon polarization, $\overline{P}$ H , in Au + Au collisions over a large range of collision energy, $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$, was recently measured and successfully reproduced by hydrodynamic and transport models with intense fluid vorticity of the quark-gluon plasma. While na¨ıve extrapolation of data trends suggests a large $\overline{P}$ H as the collision energy is reduced, the behavior of $\overline{P}$ H at small $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ < 7.7 GeV is unknown. Operating the STAR experiment in fixed-target mode, we measured the polarization of Λ hyperons along the direction of global angular momentum in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 3 GeV. As a result, the observation of substantial polarization of 4.91 ± 0.81 (stat.) ± 0.15 (syst.) % in these collisions may require a reexamination of the viscosity of any fluid created in the collision, of the thermalization timescale of rotational modes, and of hadronic mechanisms to produce global polarization.
The chiral magnetic effect (CME) is predicted to occur as a consequence of a local violation of P and CP symmetries of the strong interaction amidst a strong electro-magnetic field generated in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Experimental manifestation of the CME involves a separation of positively and negatively charged hadrons along the direction of the magnetic field. Previous measurements of the CME-sensitive charge-separation observables remain inconclusive because of large background contributions. In order to better control the influence of signal and backgrounds, the STAR Collaboration performed a blind analysis of a large data sample of approximately 3.8 billion isobar collisions of $^{96}_{44}$Ru + $^{96}_{44}$Ru and $^{96}_{40}$Zr + $^{96}_{40}$Zr at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Prior to the blind analysis, the CME signatures are predefined as a significant excess of the CME-sensitive observables in Ru + Ru collisions over those in Zr + Zr collisions, owing to a larger magnetic field in the former. Here, a precision down to 0.4% is achieved, as anticipated, in the relative magnitudes of the pertinent observables between the two isobar systems. Observed differences in the multiplicity and flow harmonics at the matching centrality indicate that the magnitude of the CME background is different between the two species. No CME signature that satisfies the predefined criteria has been observed in isobar collisions in this blind analysis.
Here we present high-precision measurements of elliptic, triangular, and quadrangular flow v 2 , v 3 , and v 4 , respectively, at midrapidity for identified hadrons π, p, K, φ, K s , Λ as a function of centrality and transverse momentum in Au+Au collisions at the center-of-mass energy √ s NN = 200 GeV. We observe similar v n trends between light and strange mesons which indicates that the heavier strange quarks flow as strongly as the lighter up and down quarks. The number-of-constituent-quark scaling for v 2 , v 3 , and v 4 is found to hold within statistical uncertainty for 0–10%, 10–40%, and 40–80% collision centrality intervals. The results are compared to several viscous hydrodynamic calculations with varying initial conditions, and could serve as an additional constraint to the development of hydrodynamic models.
Quark interactions with topological gluon configurations can induce local chirality imbalance and parity violation in quantum chromodynamics, which can lead to the chiral magnetic effect (CME)-an electric charge separation along the strong magnetic field in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The CME-sensitive azimuthal correlator observable (Delta gamma) is contaminated by background arising, in part, from resonance decays coupled with elliptic anisotropy (v(2)). We report here differential measurements of the correlator as a function of the pair invariant mass (m(inv)) in 20-50% centrality Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV by the STAR experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Strong resonance background contributions to Delta gamma. are observed. At large m(inv) where this background is significantly reduced, the Delta gamma. value is found to be significantly smaller. An event-shape-engineering technique is deployed to determine the v(2) background shape as a function of m(inv). We extract a v(2)-independent and m(inv)-averaged signal Delta gamma(sig) = (0.03 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.08) x 10(-4), or (2 +/- 4 +/- 5)% of the inclusive Delta gamma (m(inv) > 0.4 GeV/c(2)) = (1.58 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.02) x 10(-4), within pion p(T) = 0.2-0.8 GeV/c and averaged over pseudorapidity ranges of -1 < eta < -0.05 and 0.05 < eta < 1. This represents an upper limit of 0.23 x 10(-4), or 15% of the inclusive result, at 95% confidence level for the m(inv)-integrated CME contribution.
Two-particle correlation measurements projected onto two-dimensional, transverse rapidity coordinates (y T1 ,y T2 ), allow access to dynamical properties of the QCD medium produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions that angular correlation measurements are not sensitive to. Here, we report non-identified charged-particle correlations for Au + Au minimum-bias collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV taken by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). Correlations are presented as 2D functions of transverse rapidity for like-sign, unlike-sign and all charged-particle pairs, as well as for particle pairs whose relative azimuthal angles lie on the near-side, the away-side, or at all relative azimuth. The correlations are constructed using charged particles with transverse momentum p T ≥ 0.15 GeV/c, pseudorapidity from –1 to 1, and azimuthal angles from –π to π. The significant correlation structures that are observed evolve smoothly with collision centrality. The major correlation features include a saddle shape plus a broad peak with maximum near y T ≈ 3, corresponding to p T ≈ 1.5 GeV/c. The broad peak is observed in both like- and unlike-sign charge combinations and in near- and away-side relative azimuthal angles. The all-charge, all-azimuth correlation measurements are compared with the theoretical predictions of HIJING and EPOS. The results indicate that the correlations for peripheral to mid-central collisions can be approximately described as a superposition of nucleon + nucleon collisions with minimal effects from the QCD medium. Strong medium effects are indicated in mid- to most-central collisions.
We present the first measurements of transverse momentum spectra of $π^±, K^±, p(\overline{p})$ at midrapidity ($|y|$ < 0.1) in $\cup + \cup$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 193$ GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The centrality dependence of particle yields, average transverse momenta, particle ratios and kinetic freezeout parameters are discussed. The results are compared with the published results from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV in STAR. The results are also compared to those from A Multi Phase Transport (AMPT) model.
Here, we report a measurement of cumulants and correlation functions of event-by-event proton multiplicity distributions from fixed-target Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\text{NN}}$ = 3 GeV measured by the STAR experiment. Protons are identified within the rapidity (y) and transverse momentum ($p_T$) region –0:9 < $\textit{y}$ < 0 and 0:4 < pT < 2:0 GeV/c in the center-of-mass frame. A systematic analysis of the proton cumulants and correlation functions up to sixth-order as well as the corresponding ratios as a function of the collision centrality, $p_T$, and $\textit{y}$ are presented. The effect of pileup and initial volume fluctuations on these observables and the respective corrections are discussed in detail. The results are compared to calculations from the hadronic transport UrQMD model as well as a hydrodynamic model. In the most central 5% collisions, the value of proton cumulant ratio $C_4 = C_2$ is negative, drastically different from the values observed in Au+Au collisions at higher energies. Compared to model calculations including Lattice QCD, a hadronic transport model, and a hydrodynamic model, the strong suppression in the ratio of $C_4/C_2$ at 3 GeV Au+Au collisions indicates an energy regime dominated by hadronic interactions.
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We report the measurement of K *0 meson at midrapidity (|y|< 1.0) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27 and 39 GeV collected by the STAR experiment during the RHIC beam energy scan (BES) program. The transverse momentum spectra, yield, and average transverse momentum of K *0 are presented as functions of collision centrality and beam energy. The K *0 /K yield ratios are presented for different collision centrality intervals and beam energies. The K *0 /K ratio in heavy-ion collisions are observed to be smaller than that in small system collisions (e+e and p+p). The K *0 /K ratio follows a similar centrality dependence to that observed in previous RHIC and LHC measurements. The data favor the scenario of the dominance of hadronic re-scattering over regeneration for K *0 production in the hadronic phase of the medium.
We report systematic measurements of dielectron (e + e – ) invariant-mass M ee spectra at midrapidity in Au + Au collisions at s N N = 27 = 27, 39, and 62.4 GeV taken with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. For all energies studied, a significant excess yield of dielectrons is observed in the low-mass region ( 0.40 < M ee < 0.75 MeV / c 2 ) compared to hadronic cocktail simulations at freeze-out. Models that include an in-medium broadening of the ρ -meson spectral function consistently describe the observed excess. In addition, we report acceptance-corrected dielectron-excess spectra for Au + Au collisions at midrapidity ( |y ee | < 1) in the 0–80% centrality bin for each collision energy. The integrated excess yields for 0.4 < M ee < 0.75 GeV / c 2 , normalized by the charged particle multiplicity at midrapidity, are compared with previously published measurements for Au + Au at s N N = 27 = 19.6 and 200 GeV. Models that include an in-medium broadening of the ρ -meson spectral function consistently describe the observed excess. Furthermore, the normalized excess yields in the low-mass region show no significant collision energy dependence. The data, however, are consistent with model calculations that demonstrate a modest energy dependence.
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 $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 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 $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV. The slope parameters extracted from the linear dependence of the v2 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, i.e., p+Au and d+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV, are also presented and compared with those in large systems, i.e., Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 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.
Global polarizations (P) of Λ (Λ¯) hyperons have been observed in non-central heavy-ion collisions. The strong magnetic field primarily created by the spectator protons in such collisions would split the Λ and Λ¯ global polarizations (ΔP=P Λ –P Λ ¯<0). Additionally, quantum chromodynamics (QCD) predicts topological charge fluctuations in vacuum, resulting in a chirality imbalance or parity violation in a local domain. This would give rise to an imbalance (Δn = N L –N R /< N L +N R > ≠0) between left- and right-handed Λ (Λ¯) as well as a charge separation along the magnetic field, referred to as the chiral magnetic effect (CME). This charge separation can be characterized by the parity-even azimuthal correlator (Δγ) and parity-odd azimuthal harmonic observable (Δa 1 ). Measurements of ΔP, Δγ, and Δa 1 have not led to definitive conclusions concerning the CME or the magnetic field, and Δn has not been measured previously. Correlations among these observables may reveal new insights. Furthermore, this paper reports measurements of correlation between Δn and Δa 1 , which is sensitive to chirality fluctuations, and correlation between ΔP and Δγ sensitive to magnetic field in Au+Au collisions at 27 GeV. For both measurements, no correlations have been observed beyond statistical fluctuations.
In relativistic heavy-ion collisions, a global spin polarization, 𝑃 H , of Λ and $\overline{Λ}$ 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 H with decreasing $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$. A splitting between Λ and $\overline{Λ}$ 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 $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 19.6 and 27 GeV in the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions Beam Energy Scan Phase II using the STAR detector, with an upper limit of 𝑃 $\overline{Λ}$ – 𝑃 Λ < 0.24% and 𝑃 $\overline{Λ}$ – 𝑃 Λ < 0.35%, respectively, at a 95% confidence level. We derive an upper limit on the naive extraction of the late-stage magnetic field of 𝐵 < 9.4 × 10 12 T and 𝐵 < 1.4 × 10 13 T at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 19.6 and 27 GeV, respectively, although more thorough derivations are needed. Differential measurements of 𝑃 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. Furthermore, 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.
Angular distributions of charged particles relative to jet axes are studied in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions as a function of the jet orientation with respect to the event plane. This differential study tests the expected path-length dependence of energy loss experienced by a hard-scattered parton as it traverses the hot and dense medium formed in heavy-ion collisions. A second-order event plane is used in the analysis as an experimental estimate of the reaction plane formed by the collision impact parameter and the beam direction. Charged-particle jets with 15 < 𝑝 T,jet < 20 and 20 < 𝑝 T,jet < 40 GeV/𝑐 were reconstructed with the anti-𝑘 T algorithm with radius parameter setting of 𝑅 = 0.4 in the 20–50% centrality bin to maximize the initial-state eccentricity of the interaction region. The reaction plane fit method is implemented to remove the flow-modulated background with better precision than prior methods. Yields and widths of jet-associated charged-hadron distributions are extracted in three angular bins between the jet axis and the event plane. The event-plane (EP) dependence is further quantified by ratios of the associated yields in different EP bins. No dependence on orientation of the jet axis with respect to the event plane is seen within the uncertainties in the kinematic regime studied. This finding is consistent with a similar experimental observation by ALICE in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collision data.
Here, we measure triangular flow relative to the reaction plane at 3 GeV center-of-mass energy in Au + Au collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. A significant v 3 signal for protons is observed, which increases for higher rapidity, higher transverse momentum, and more peripheral collisions. The triangular flow is essentially rapidity-odd with a slope at midrapidity, dv 3 /dy| (y=0) , opposite in sign compared to the slope for directed flow. No significant v 3 signal is observed for charged pions and kaons. Comparisons with models suggest that a mean field potential is required to describe these results, and that the triangular shape of the participant nucleons is the result of stopping and nuclear geometry.
For the search of the chiral magnetic effect (CME), STAR previously presented the results from isobar collisions ($^{96}_{44}$Ru + $^{96}_{44}$Ru, $^{96}_{40}$Zr + $^{96}_{40}$Zr) obtained through a blind analysis. The ratio of results in Ru+Ru to Zr+Zr collisions for the CME-sensitive charge-dependent azimuthal correlator (Δ𝛾), normalized by elliptic anisotropy (𝑣2), was observed to be close to but systematically larger than the inverse multiplicity ratio. The background baseline for the isobar ratio, 𝑌= (Δ𝛾/𝑣2) Ru /(Δ𝛾/𝑣2) Zr , is naively expected to be (1/𝑁) Ru /(1/𝑁) Zr ; however, genuine two- and three-particle correlations are expected to alter it. We estimate the contributions to 𝑌 from those correlations, utilizing both the isobar data and hijing simulations. After including those contributions, we arrive at a final background baseline for 𝑌, which is consistent with the isobar data. Here, we extract an upper limit for the CME fraction in the Δ𝛾 measurement of approximately 10% at a 95% confidence level on in isobar collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$=200 GeV, with an expected 15% difference in their squared magnetic fields.