The chiral magnetic effect (CME) is predicted to occur as a consequence of a local violation of $\cal P$ and $\cal CP$ 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 $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ 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. 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.
fig2_left_low_isobarpaper_star_blue_case2_zrzr_nonzeros.
fig2_left_low_isobarpaper_star_grey_data_zrzr_nonzeros.
fig2_left_low_isobarpaper_star_red_case3_zrzr_nonzeros.
The target asymmetry T, recoil asymmetry P, and beam-target double polarization observable H were determined in exclusive $\pi ^0$ and $\eta $ photoproduction off quasi-free protons and, for the first time, off quasi-free neutrons. The experiment was performed at the electron stretcher accelerator ELSA in Bonn, Germany, with the Crystal Barrel/TAPS detector setup, using a linearly polarized photon beam and a transversely polarized deuterated butanol target. Effects from the Fermi motion of the nucleons within deuterium were removed by a full kinematic reconstruction of the final state invariant mass. A comparison of the data obtained on the proton and on the neutron provides new insight into the isospin structure of the electromagnetic excitation of the nucleon. Earlier measurements of polarization observables in the $\gamma p \rightarrow \pi ^0 p$ and $\gamma p \rightarrow \eta p$ reactions are confirmed. The data obtained on the neutron are of particular relevance for clarifying the origin of the narrow structure in the $\eta n$ system at $W = 1.68\ \textrm{GeV}$. A comparison with recent partial wave analyses favors the interpretation of this structure as arising from interference of the $S_{11}(1535)$ and $S_{11}(1650)$ resonances within the $S_{11}$-partial wave.
Target asymmetry T, recoil asymmetry P, and polarization observable H for $\gamma p \to \pi^0 p$ as a function of the polar center-of-mass angle for bins at the given centroid c.m. energies.
Target asymmetry T, recoil asymmetry P, and polarization observable H for $\gamma n \to \pi^0 n$ as a function of the polar center-of-mass angle for bins at the given centroid c.m. energies.
Target asymmetry T, recoil asymmetry P, and polarization observable H for $\gamma p \to \eta p$ as a function of the polar center-of-mass angle for bins at the given centroid c.m. energies.
We report a measurement of cumulants and correlation functions of event-by-event proton multiplicity distributions from fixed-target Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV measured by the STAR experiment. Protons are identified within the rapidity ($y$) and transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) region $-0.9 < y<0$ and $0.4 < p_{\rm T} <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, $p_{\rm T}$, and $y$ 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.
The uncorrected number of charged particles except protons ($N_{\rm ch}$) within the pseudorapidity $−2<\eta<0$ used for the centrality selection for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV. The centrality classes are expressed in % of the total cross section. The lower boundary of the particle multiplicity ($N_{\rm ch}$) is included for each centrality class. Values are provided for the average number of participants ($\langle N_{\rm part}\rangle$) and pileup fraction. The fraction of pileup for each centrality bin is also shown in the last column. The averaged pileup fraction from the minimum biased collisions is determined to be 0.46%. Values in the parentheses are systematic uncertainty.
The centrality definition determined by $N_{\rm part}$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV from the UrQMD model. The centrality definition is only used in the UrQMD calculation.
Main contributors to systematic uncertainty to the proton cumulant ratios: $C_2/C_1$, $C_3/C_2$,and $C_4/C_2$ from 0–5% central 3 GeV Au+Au collisions. The first row shows the values and statistical uncertainties of those ratios. The corresponding values of these ratios along with the statistical uncertainties are listed in the table. The final total value is the quadratic sum of uncertainties from centrality, pileup, and the dominant contribution from TPC hits, DCA, TOF $m^2$, and detector efficiency. Clearly, this analysis is systematically dominant.
The quasifree $\overrightarrow{\gamma} d\to\pi^0n(p)$ photon beam asymmetry, $\Sigma$, has been measured at photon energies, $E_\gamma$, from 390 to 610 MeV, corresponding to center of mass energy from 1.271 to 1.424 GeV, for the first time. The data were collected in the A2 hall of the MAMI electron beam facility with the Crystal Ball and TAPS calorimeters covering pion center-of-mass angles from 49 to 148$^\circ$. In this kinematic region, polarization observables are sensitive to contributions from the $\Delta (1232)$ and $N(1440)$ resonances. The extracted values of $\Sigma$ have been compared to predictions based on partial-wave analyses (PWAs) of the existing pion photoproduction database. Our comparison includes the SAID, MAID, and Bonn-Gatchina analyses; while a revised SAID fit, including the new $\Sigma$ measurements, has also been performed. In addition, isospin symmetry is examined as a way to predict $\pi^0n$ photoproduction observables, based on fits to published data in the channels $\pi^0p$, $\pi^+n$, and $\pi^-p$.
Photon beam asymmetry Sigma at W= 1.2711 GeV
Photon beam asymmetry Sigma at W= 1.2858 GeV
Photon beam asymmetry Sigma at W= 1.3003 GeV
A linearly polarized photon can be quantized from the Lorentz-boosted electromagnetic field of a nucleus traveling at ultra-relativistic speed. When two relativistic heavy nuclei pass one another at a distance of a few nuclear radii, the photon from one nucleus may interact through a virtual quark-antiquark pair with gluons from the other nucleus forming a short-lived vector meson (e.g. ${\rho^0}$). In this experiment, the polarization was utilized in diffractive photoproduction to observe a unique spin interference pattern in the angular distribution of ${\rho^0\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-}$ decays. The observed interference is a result of an overlap of two wave functions at a distance an order of magnitude larger than the ${\rho^0}$ travel distance within its lifetime. The strong-interaction nuclear radii were extracted from these diffractive interactions, and found to be $6.53\pm 0.06$ fm ($^{197} {\rm Au }$) and $7.29\pm 0.08$ fm ($^{238} {\rm U}$), larger than the nuclear charge radii. The observable is demonstrated to be sensitive to the nuclear geometry and quantum interference of non-identical particles.
The invariant mass distribution of pi+pi- pairs collected from Au+Au and U+U collisions.
Two-dimensional $\rho^0$ momentum distribution from Au+Au collisions.
Two-dimensional $\rho^0$ momentum distribution from Au+Au collisions.
The first ($v_1^{\text{even}}$), second ($v_2$) and third ($v_3$) harmonic coefficients of the azimuthal particle distribution at mid-rapidity, are extracted for charged hadrons and studied as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$) and mean charged particle multiplicity density $\langle \mathrm{N_{ch}} \rangle$ in U+U ($\roots =193$~GeV), Au+Au, Cu+Au, Cu+Cu, $d$+Au and $p$+Au collisions at $\roots = 200$~GeV with the STAR Detector. For the same $\langle \mathrm{N_{ch}} \rangle$, the $v_1^{\text{even}}$ and $v_3$ coefficients are observed to be independent of collision system, while $v_2$ exhibits such a scaling only when normalized by the initial-state eccentricity ($\varepsilon_2$). The data also show that $\ln(v_2/\varepsilon_2)$ scales linearly with $\langle \mathrm{N_{ch}} \rangle^{-1/3}$. These measurements provide insight into initial-geometry fluctuations and the role of viscous hydrodynamic attenuation on $v_n$ from small to large collision systems.
Two-particle azimuthal correlation functions for various systems for $<Nch>=21\pm3$
Second-order cumulant $c_{2}${4}($\times10^{6})$ vs $<N_{ch}>$ for various systems
$v_{1}^{fluc}$ as a function of $p_{T}(GeV/c)$ for various systems for $<Nch>=21\pm3$
We report the first measurement of rapidity-odd directed flow ($v_{1}$) for $D^{0}$ and $\overline{D^{0}}$ mesons at mid-rapidity ($|y| < 0.8$) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200\,GeV using the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In 10--80\% Au+Au collisions, the slope of the $v_{1}$ rapidity dependence ($dv_{1}/dy$), averaged over $D^{0}$ and $\overline{D^{0}}$ mesons, is -0.080 $\pm$ 0.017 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.016 (syst.) for transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$ above 1.5~GeV/$c$. The absolute value of $D^0$-meson $dv_1/dy$ is about 25 times larger than that for charged kaons, with 3.4$\sigma$ significance. These data give a unique insight into the initial tilt of the produced matter, and offer constraints on the geometric and transport parameters of the hot QCD medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.
Directed flow $v_1$ as a function of rapidity for $D^0$ and $\bar{D^0}$ mesons at $p_T>1.5$ GeV/c for 10–80% centrality Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.
Directed flow $\langle v_1 \rangle$ for the combined samples of $D^0$ and $\bar{D^0}$ mesons at $p_T>1.5$ GeV/c for 10–80% centrality Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.
Difference in $v_1(y)$ $(\Delta v_1)$ between $D^0$ and $\bar{D^0}$ mesons at $p_T>1.5$ GeV/c for 10–80% centrality Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.
Understanding gluon density distributions and how they are modified in nuclei are among the most important goals in nuclear physics. In recent years, diffractive vector meson production measured in ultra-peripheral collisions (UPCs) at heavy-ion colliders has provided a new tool for probing the gluon density. In this Letter, we report the first measurement of $J/\psi$ photoproduction off the deuteron in UPCs at the center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}=200~\rm GeV$ in d$+$Au collisions. The differential cross section as a function of momentum transfer $-t$ is measured. In addition, data with a neutron tagged in the deuteron-going Zero-Degree Calorimeter is investigated for the first time, which is found to be consistent with the expectation of incoherent diffractive scattering at low momentum transfer. Theoretical predictions based on the Color Glass Condensate saturation model and the gluon shadowing model are compared with the data quantitatively. A better agreement with the saturation model has been observed. With the current measurement, the results are found to be directly sensitive to the gluon density distribution of the deuteron and the deuteron breakup, which provides insights into the nuclear gluonic structure.
Upper - differential cross section as a function of $p^{2}_{T, J/\psi}$ of \jpsi photoproduction in UPCs at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}=200\rm~GeV$. Data for the total diffractive process are shown with solid markers, while data with neutron tagging in the deuteron-going ZDC are shown with open markers. Theoretical predictions based on the saturation model (Color Glass Condensate)[Phys.Rev.C 101 (2020) 1, 015203] and the gluon shadowing model (LTA) [V. Guzey, M. Strikman, E. Kryshen, M. Zhalov] are compared with data, shown as solid lines. Statistical uncertainty is represented by the error bars, and the systematic uncertainty is denoted by the shaded box. For the lower, ratios of total data and models are presented as a function of $-t \approx p^{2}_{T, J/\psi}$. Color bands are statistical uncertainty based on the data only, while systematic uncertainty is indicated by the gray box.
According to first-principle lattice QCD calculations, the transition from quark-gluon plasma to hadronic matter is a smooth crossover in the region μB ≤ T c. In this range the ratio, C6=C2, of net-baryon distributions are predicted to be negative. In this Letter, we report the first measurement of the midrapidity net-proton C6=C2 from 27, 54.4, and 200 GeV Au þ Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The dependence on collision centrality and kinematic acceptance in (p T , y) are analyzed. While for 27 and 54.4 GeV collisions the C6=C2 values are close to zero within uncertainties, it is observed that for 200 GeV collisions, the C6=C2 ratio becomes progressively negative from peripheral to central collisions. Transport model calculations without critical dynamics predict mostly positive values except for the most central collisions within uncertainties. These observations seem to favor a smooth crossover in the high-energy nuclear collisions at top RHIC energy.
Event by event net-proton multiplicity, $\Delta N_{p}$, distributions for Au+Au collisions at √sNN = 27, 54.4, and 200 GeV in 0-10% and 30-40% centralities at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) for the transverse momentum range of 0.4 < $p_{T}$ (GeV/c) < 2.0. These distributions are normalized by the corresponding numbers of events and are not corrected for detector efficiencies. Statistical uncertainties are shown as vertical lines. The dashed lines show the Skellam distributions for each collision energy and centrality. The bottom panel shows the ratio of the data to the Skellam expectations.
Event by event net-proton multiplicity, $\Delta N_{p}$, distributions for Au+Au collisions at √sNN = 27, 54.4, and 200 GeV in 0-10% and 30-40% centralities at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) for the transverse momentum range of 0.4 < $p_{T}$ (GeV/c) < 2.0. These distributions are normalized by the corresponding numbers of events and are not corrected for detector efficiencies. Statistical uncertainties are shown as vertical lines. The dashed lines show the Skellam distributions for each collision energy and centrality. The bottom panel shows the ratio of the data to the Skellam expectations.
Event by event net-proton multiplicity, $\Delta N_{p}$, distributions for Au+Au collisions at √sNN = 27, 54.4, and 200 GeV in 0-10% and 30-40% centralities at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) for the transverse momentum range of 0.4 < $p_{T}$ (GeV/c) < 2.0. These distributions are normalized by the corresponding numbers of events and are not corrected for detector efficiencies. Statistical uncertainties are shown as vertical lines. The dashed lines show the Skellam distributions for each collision energy and centrality. The bottom panel shows the ratio of the data to the Skellam expectations.
The measurements of particle multiplicity distributions have generated considerable interest in understanding the fluctuations of conserved quantum numbers in the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) hadronization regime, in particular near a possible critical point and near the chemical freeze-out. We report the measurement of efficiency and centrality bin width corrected cumulant ratios ($C_{2}/C_{1}$, $C_{3}/C_{2}$) of net-$\Lambda$ distributions, in the context of both strangeness and baryon number conservation, as a function of collision energy, centrality and rapidity. The results are for Au + Au collisions at five beam energies ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV) recorded with the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR). We compare our results to the Poisson and negative binomial (NBD) expectations, as well as to Ultra-relativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics (UrQMD) and Hadron Resonance Gas (HRG) model predictions. Both NBD and Poisson baselines agree with data within the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The ratios of the measured cumulants show no features of critical fluctuations. The chemical freeze-out temperatures extracted from a recent HRG calculation, which was successfully used to describe the net-proton, net-kaon and net-charge data, indicate $\Lambda$ freeze-out conditions similar to those of kaons. However, large deviations are found when comparing to temperatures obtained from net-proton fluctuations. The net-$\Lambda$ cumulants show a weak, but finite, dependence on the rapidity coverage in the acceptance of the detector, which can be attributed to quantum number conservation.
Centrality dependence of single cumulants C1, of net-lambda multiplicity distributions at Au + Au collision 19.6 GeV. Values are shown with NBD, Poisson and UrQMD predictions. Npart values are from Phys. Rev. C 104, 024902 (2021) and they are little different than the values shown in the original paper.
Centrality dependence of single cumulants C1, of net-lambda multiplicity distributions at Au + Au collision 27 GeV. Values are shown with NBD, Poisson and UrQMD predictions.Npart values are from Phys. Rev. C 104, 024902 (2021) and they are little different than the values shown in the original paper.
Centrality dependence of single cumulants C1, of net-lambda multiplicity distributions at Au + Au collision 39 GeV. Values are shown with NBD, Poisson and UrQMD predictions.Npart values are from Phys. Rev. C 104, 024902 (2021) and they are little different than the values shown in the original paper.
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