The extreme temperatures and energy densities generated by ultra-relativistic collisions between heavy nuclei produce a state of matter with surprising fluid properties. Non-central collisions have angular momentum on the order of 1000$\hbar$, and the resulting fluid may have a strong vortical structure that must be understood to properly describe the fluid. It is also of particular interest because the restoration of fundamental symmetries of quantum chromodynamics is expected to produce novel physical effects in the presence of strong vorticity. However, no experimental indications of fluid vorticity in heavy ion collisions have so far been found. Here we present the first measurement of an alignment between the angular momentum of a non-central collision and the spin of emitted particles, revealing that the fluid produced in heavy ion collisions is by far the most vortical system ever observed. We find that $\Lambda$ and $\overline{\Lambda}$ hyperons show a positive polarization of the order of a few percent, consistent with some hydrodynamic predictions. A previous measurement that reported a null result at higher collision energies is seen to be consistent with the trend of our new observations, though with larger statistical uncertainties. These data provide the first experimental access to the vortical structure of the "perfect fluid" created in a heavy ion collision. They should prove valuable in the development of hydrodynamic models that quantitatively connect observations to the theory of the Strong Force. Our results extend the recent discovery of hydrodynamic spin alignment to the subatomic realm.
Lambda and AntiLambda polarization as a function of collision energy. A 0.8% error on the alpha value used in the paper is corrected in this table. Systematic error bars include those associated with particle identification (negligible), uncertainty in the value of the hyperon decay parameter (2%) and reaction plane resolution (2%) and detector efficiency corrections (4%). The dominant systematic error comes from statistical fluctuations of the estimated combinatoric background under the (anti-)$\Lambda$ mass peak.
Lambda and AntiLambda polarization as a function of collision energy calculated using the new $\alpha_\Lambda=0.732$ updated on PDG2020. Systematic error bars include those associated with particle identification (negligible), uncertainty in the value of the hyperon decay parameter (2%) and reaction plane resolution (2%) and detector efficiency corrections (4%). The dominant systematic error comes from statistical fluctuations of the estimated combinatoric background under the (anti-)$\Lambda$ mass peak.
Global hyperon polarization, $\overline{P}_\mathrm{H}$, in Au+Au collisions over a large range of collision energy, $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$, was recently measured and successfully reproduced by hydrodynamic and transport models with intense fluid vorticity of the quark-gluon plasma. While naïve extrapolation of data trends suggests a large $\overline{P}_\mathrm{H}$ as the collision energy is reduced, the behavior of $\overline{P}_\mathrm{H}$ at small $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}<7.7$ GeV is unknown. Operating the STAR experiment in fixed-target mode, we measured the polarization of $\Lambda$ hyperons along the direction of global angular momentum in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=3$ GeV. The observation of substantial polarization of $4.91\pm0.81(\rm stat.)\pm0.15(\rm syst.)$% 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 measured invariant-mass distributions of two classes of $\Lambda$-hyperon decays. The decay classes are defined using the scalar triple product $\left(\vec{p}_\Lambda\times\vec{p}_p^*\right)\cdot \vec{B}_{\rm STAR}$, which is positive for right decays and negative for left decays. The right decay class has a notably sharper invariant-mass distribution than the left decay class, and this is due to the effects of daughter tracks crossing in the STAR TPC with the STAR magnetic field anti-parallel to the lab frame's z direction. The opposite pattern is obtained by flipping the sign of the STAR magnetic field or by reconstructing $\bar{\Lambda}$ hyperons.
The signal polarizations extracted according to the restricted invariant-mass method as a function of $\phi_\Lambda - \phi_p^*$, for positive-rapidity $\Lambda$ hyperons. The sinusoidal behavior is driven by non-zero net $v_1$. The vertical shift corresponds to the vorticity-driven polarization; in collider mode, where the net $v_1$ is zero, this dependence on $\phi_\Lambda - \phi_p^*$ does not exist.
The integrated Global $\Lambda$-hyperon Polarization in mid-central collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=3$ GeV. The trend of increasing $\overline{P}_{\rm H}$ with decreasing $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ is maintained at this low collision energy. Previous experimental results are scaled by the updated $\Lambda$-hyperon decay parameter $\alpha_\Lambda=0.732$ for comparison with this result. Recent model calculations extended to low collision energy show disagreement between our data and AMPT and rough agreement with the 3-Fluid Dynamics (3FD) model. Previous measurements shown alongside our data can be found at: https://www.hepdata.net/record/ins750410?version=2; https://www.hepdata.net/record/ins1510474?version=1; https://www.hepdata.net/record/ins1672785?version=2; https://www.hepdata.net/record/ins1752507?version=2.
The exclusive electroproduction of J/psi mesons, ep->epJ/psi, has been studied with the ZEUS detector at HERA for virtualities of the exchanged photon in the ranges 0.15<Q^2<0.8 GeV^2 and 2<Q^2<100 GeV^2 using integrated luminosities of 69 pb^-1 and 83 pb^-1, respectively.The photon-proton centre-of-mass energy was in the range 30<W<220 GeV and the squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex |t|<1.The cross sections and decay angular distributions are presented as functions of Q^2, W and t. The effective parameters of the Pomeron trajectory are in agreement with those found in J/psi photoproduction. The spin-density matrix elements, calculated from the decay angular distributions, are consistent with the hypothesis of s-channel helicity conservation. The ratio of the longitudinal to transverse cross sections, sigma_L/sigma_T, grows with Q^2, whilst no dependence on W or t is observed. The results are in agreement with perturbative QCD calculations and exhibit a strong sensitivity to the gluon distribution in the proton.
Cross sections for exclusive J/PSI production as a function of W in the Q**2 region 0.15 to 0.18 GeV**2.
Cross sections for exclusive J/PSI production as a function of W in the Q**2 region 2 to 5 GeV**2.
Cross sections for exclusive J/PSI production as a function of W in the Q**2 region 5 to 10 GeV**2.
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The spin-spin correlation parameter C NN at 50° and 90° c.m. for elastic pp-scattering has been obtained in the energy range 0.69–0.95 GeV. It was found that the parameter C NN (90°) shows resonance-like structure at energies near 700 MeV. Its energy dependence does not agree with Hoshizaki's phase-shift analysis predictions. C NN (50°) agrees well with these predictions and does not show any structure within the accuracy of the measurements.
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THE ERRORS INCLUDE THE 10 PCT ERROR IN THE EFFECTIVE PHOTON POLARIZATION.
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The results on measuring polarization in charge exchange reaction π−+p→π0+n at 40 GeV/c are presented for the 4-momentum transfer range from 0 up to 2 (GeV/c)2. At |t|≦0.4 (GeV/c)2 the polarization has a positive sign. In the “crossover” region of π± elastic scattering a possible minimum in the polarization behaviour has been seen for the first time. the polarization is zero within the statistical accuracy near this point. In the “deep” region of the charge-exchange differential cross-section the polarization has a negative sign. The presented data are not in agreement with the modern theoretical models.
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Single-spin asymmetries for hadrons have been measured in collisions of transversely-polarized 40 GeV/c proton beam with an unpolarized liquid hydrogen target. The asymmetries were measured for pi+-, K+-, protons and antiprotons, produced in the central region (0.02 < Xf < 0.10 and 0.7 < Pt < 3.4 GeV/c). Asymmetries for pi+-, K+- and antiprotons show within measurement errors the linear dependence on Xt and change a sign near 0.37. For protons negative asymmetry, independent of Xt has been found. The results are compared with those of other experiments and SU(6) model predictions.
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TheA-dependence of the polarization ofΛ0,s produced inclusively in neutron-nucleus interactions at a mean neutron momentum of about 40 GeV/c has been measured in an experiment performed using the BIS-2 spectrometer at the Serpukhov accelerator. Carbon, Aluminium and Copper targets were used. TheΛ0,s were produced in the kinematical region of 0.6<pT<1.3 GeV/c and 0.2<xF<0.9. Describing the polarization of theΛ0,s by ℘=a·A a value of (−0.15+0.07/−0.60) was obtained by a fit to our data.
POLARIZATION IS DESCRIBED BY A POWER LOW: POL = C*A**B, WHERE C = -1.1, +0.4, -0.3 , A- ATOMIC NUMBER AND B = -0.15, +0.07, -0.6.
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The polarization parameter in the reactions π−p→ηn and π−p→η′n at 40 GeV/c with −t ranging from 0 to 2.6 (GeV/c)2 and 1.0 (GeV/c)2, respectively, was measured in experiments using a propanediol polarized target. Only gamma particles from the neutral meson decay were detected. The polarization parameter of the first reaction turns out to be negative in a widet interval (0.05<−t<1.6 (GeV/c)2) and probably changes its sign at larger values oft. The average value of the polarization parameter of the second reaction is equal to −17±8)% in the region 0.05<−t<0.5 (GeV/c)2.
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