In high-energy heavy-ion collisions, the correlations between the emitted particles can be used as a probe to gain insight into the charge creation mechanisms. In this Letter, we report the first results of such studies using the electric charge balance function in the relative pseudorapidity ($\Delta\eta$) and azimuthal angle ($\Delta\varphi$) in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The width of the balance function decreases with growing centrality (i.e. for more central collisions) in both projections. This centrality dependence is not reproduced by HIJING, while AMPT, a model which incorporates strings and parton rescattering, exhibits qualitative agreement with the measured correlations in $\Delta\varphi$ but fails to describe the correlations in $\Delta\eta$. A thermal blast-wave model incorporating local charge conservation and tuned to describe the $p_{\rm T}$ spectra and v$_2$ measurements reported by ALICE, is used to fit the centrality dependence of the width of the balance function and to extract the average separation of balancing charges at freeze-out. The comparison of our results with measurements at lower energies reveals an ordering with $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$: the balance functions become narrower with increasing energy for all centralities. This is consistent with the effect of larger radial flow at the LHC energies but also with the late stage creation scenario of balancing charges. However, the relative decrease of the balance function widths in $\Delta\eta$ and $\Delta\varphi$ with centrality from the highest SPS to the LHC energy exhibits only small differences. This observation cannot be interpreted solely within the framework where the majority of the charge is produced at a later stage in the evolution of the heavy--ion collision.
The Balance Function as a function of the relative pseudorapidity of two charged particles for the centrality class 0-5%. Also shown in the second column is the result from the mixed data set.
The Balance Function as a function of the relative pseudorapidity of two charged particles for the centrality class 30-40%.
The Balance Function as a function of the relative pseudorapidity of two charged particles for the centrality class 70-80%.
The elliptic, $v_2$, triangular, $v_3$, and quadrangular, $v_4$, azimuthal anisotropic flow coefficients are measured for unidentified charged particles, pions and (anti-)protons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Results obtained with the event plane and four-particle cumulant methods are reported for the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta|<0.8$ at different collision centralities and as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, out to $p_{\rm T}=20$ GeV/$c$. The observed non-zero elliptic and triangular flow depends only weakly on transverse momentum for $p_{\rm T}>8$ GeV/$c$. The small $p_{\rm T}$ dependence of the difference between elliptic flow results obtained from the event plane and four-particle cumulant methods suggests a common origin of flow fluctuations up to $p_{\rm T}=8$ GeV/$c$. The magnitude of the (anti-)proton elliptic and triangular flow is larger than that of pions out to at least $p_{\rm T}=8$ GeV/$c$ indicating that the particle type dependence persists out to high $p_{\rm T}$.
Elliptic flow (v2) estimated with Event Plane method (with eta gap of 2.0) measured for unidentified charged particles as a function of transverse momentum for various centrality classes.
Elliptic flow (v2) estimated with four-particle cumulants measured for unidentified charged particles as a function of transverse momentum for various centrality classes.
Triangular flow (v3) estimated with Event Plane method (with eta gap of 2.0) measured for unidentified charged particles as a function of transverse momentum for various centrality classes.
We report the first measurement of the net-charge fluctuations in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV, measured with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The dynamical fluctuations per unit entropy are observed to decrease when going from peripheral to central collisions. An additional reduction in the amount of fluctuations is seen in comparison to the results from lower energies. We examine the dependence of fluctuations on the pseudorapidity interval, which may account for the dilution of fluctuations during the evolution of the system. We find that the fluctuations at LHC are smaller compared to the measurements at the Relativistic heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), and as such, closer to what has been theoretically predicted for the formation of Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP).
The measured NU(+-DYN) as a function of the centrality of the collisions, expressed as the number of participating nucleons, for two values of midrapidity range.
NU(+-DYN), corrected for charge conservation and finite acceptance effects, as a function of the centrality of the collisions, expressed as the number of participating nucleons, for two values of midrapidity range.
The measured and corrected NU(+-DYN) in P P collisions for two values of midrapidity range.
Measurements of the anisotropy parameter v_2 of identified hadrons (pions, kaons, and protons) as a function of centrality, transverse momentum p_T, and transverse kinetic energy KE_T at midrapidity (|\eta|<0.35) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV are presented. Pions and protons are identified up to p_T = 6 GeV/c, and kaons up to p_T = 4 GeV/c, by combining information from time-of-flight and aerogel Cherenkov detectors in the PHENIX Experiment. The scaling of v_2 with the number of valence quarks (n_q) has been studied in different centrality bins as a function of transverse momentum and transverse kinetic energy. A deviation from previously observed quark-number scaling is observed at large values of KE_T/n_q in noncentral Au+Au collisions (20--60%), but this scaling remains valid in central collisions (0--10%).
Identified hadron $v_2$ in central (0–20% centrality, left panels) Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Panels (a) and (b) show $v_2$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$. The $v_2$ of all species for centrality 0–20% has been scaled up by a factor of 1.6 for better comparison with results of 20–60% centrality. The error bars (shaded boxes) represent the statistical (systematic) uncertainties. The systematic uncertainties shown are type A and B only.
Identified hadron $v_2$ in central (0–20% centrality, left panels) Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Panels (a) and (b) show $v_2$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$. The $v_2$ of all species for centrality 0–20% has been scaled up by a factor of 1.6 for better comparison with results of 20–60% centrality. The error bars (shaded boxes) represent the statistical (systematic) uncertainties. The systematic uncertainties shown are type A and B only.
Identified hadron $v_2$ in central (0–20% centrality, left panels) Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Panels (a) and (b) show $v_2$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$. The $v_2$ of all species for centrality 0–20% has been scaled up by a factor of 1.6 for better comparison with results of 20–60% centrality. The error bars (shaded boxes) represent the statistical (systematic) uncertainties. The systematic uncertainties shown are type A and B only.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 14, 408 (1965)
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One of the primary goals of nuclear physics is to understand the force between nucleons, which is a necessary step for understanding the structure of nuclei and how nuclei interact with each other. Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus in 1911, and the large body of knowledge about the nuclear force since acquired was derived from studies made on nucleons or nuclei. Although antinuclei up to antihelium-4 have been discovered and their masses measured, we have no direct knowledge of the nuclear force between antinucleons. Here, we study antiproton pair correlations among data taken by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and show that the force between two antiprotons is attractive. In addition, we report two key parameters that characterize the corresponding strong interaction: namely, the scattering length (f0) and effective range (d0). As direct information on the interaction between two antiprotons, one of the simplest systems of antinucleons, our result provides a fundamental ingredient for understanding the structure of more complex antinuclei and their properties.
Correlation function for proton-proton pairs (top), antiproton-antiproton pairs (middle), and the ratio of the former to the latter (bottom).
Collisions between prolate uranium nuclei are used to study how particle production and azimuthal anisotropies depend on initial geometry in heavy-ion collisions. We report the two- and four-particle cumulants, $v_2\{2\}$ and $v_2\{4\}$, for charged hadrons from U+U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 193 GeV and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Nearly fully overlapping collisions are selected based on the amount of energy deposited by spectators in the STAR Zero Degree Calorimeters (ZDCs). Within this sample, the observed dependence of $v_2\{2\}$ on multiplicity demonstrates that ZDC information combined with multiplicity can preferentially select different overlap configurations in U+U collisions. An initial-state model with gluon saturation describes the slope of $v_2\{2\}$ as a function of multiplicity in central collisions better than one based on Glauber with a two-component multiplicity model.
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Dihadron angular correlations in $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ GeV are reported as a function of the measured zero-degree calorimeter neutral energy and the forward charged hadron multiplicity in the Au-beam direction. A finite correlated yield is observed at large relative pseudorapidity ($\Delta\eta$) on the near side (i.e. relative azimuth $\Delta\phi\sim0$). This correlated yield as a function of $\Delta\eta$ appears to scale with the dominant, primarily jet-related, away-side ($\Delta\phi\sim\pi$) yield. The Fourier coefficients of the $\Delta\phi$ correlation, $V_{n}=\langle\cos n\Delta\phi\rangle$, have a strong $\Delta\eta$ dependence. In addition, it is found that $V_{1}$ is approximately inversely proportional to the mid-rapidity event multiplicity, while $V_{2}$ is independent of it with similar magnitude in the forward ($d$-going) and backward (Au-going) directions.
Correlated dihadron yield, per radian per unit of pseudorapidity, as a function of $\Delta\phi$ for 1.2 < $|\Delta\eta|$ < 1.8 in d+Au collisions, for low ZDC-Au activity data. Both the trigger and associated particles have 1 < $p_T$ < 3 GeV/c.
Correlated dihadron yield, per radian per unit of pseudorapidity, as a function of $\Delta\phi$ for 1.2 < $|\Delta\eta|$ < 1.8 in d+Au collisions, for high ZDC-Au activity data. Both the trigger and associated particles have 1 < $p_T$ < 3 GeV/c.
Correlated dihadron yield, per radian per unit of pseudorapidity, as a function of $\Delta\phi$ for -4.5 < $\Delta\eta$ < -2 in d+Au collisions, for low ZDC-Au activity data. Both the trigger and associated particles have 1 < $p_T$ < 3 GeV/c.
Quark interactions with topological gluon configurations can induce chirality imbalance and local parity violation in quantum chromodynamics. This can lead to electric charge separation along the strong magnetic field in relativistic heavy-ion collisions -- the chiral magnetic effect (CME). We report measurements by the STAR collaboration of a CME-sensitive observable in $p$+Au and $d$+Au collisions at 200 GeV, where the CME is not expected, using charge-dependent pair correlations relative to a third particle. We observe strong charge-dependent correlations similar to those measured in heavy-ion collisions. This bears important implications for the interpretation of the heavy-ion data.
The $\gamma_{OS}$ correlators in p+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV at RHIC as a function of multiplicity.
The $\gamma_{SS}$ correlators in p+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV at RHIC as a function of multiplicity.
The $\gamma_{OS}$ correlators in d+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV at RHIC as a function of multiplicity.
We present three-particle mixed-harmonic correlations $\la \cos (m\phi_a + n\phi_b - (m+n) \phi_c)\ra$ for harmonics $m,n=1-3$ for charged particles in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. These measurements provide information on the three-dimensional structure of the initial collision zone and are important for constraining models of a subsequent low-viscosity quark-gluon plasma expansion phase. We investigate correlations between the first, second and third harmonics predicted as a consequence of fluctuations in the initial state. The dependence of the correlations on the pseudorapidity separation between particles show hints of a breaking of longitudinal invariance. We compare our results to a number of state-of-the art hydrodynamic calculations with different initial states and temperature dependent viscosities. These measurements provide important steps towards constraining the temperature dependent transport and the longitudinal structure of the initial state at RHIC.
Dependence of mixed harmonic correlators $C_{1,2,3}$ and $C_{2,2,4}$ on relative pseudorapidity.
Centrality dependence of mixed harmonic correlators $C_{m,n,m+n}$.