Engineering topics

Banerjee, D. (ORCID:0000000157437578)

Publications and source records attributed to Banerjee, D. (ORCID:0000000157437578).

15 records

DOE OSTI2025

Exclusive photoproduction of excited ρ mesons decaying to four pions in ultraperipheral Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

The intense photon ﬂuxes from relativistic nuclei provide an opportunity to study photonuclear interactions in ultraperipheral collisions. In particular, it allows for the investigations of excited, light-ﬂavour vector mesons. The measurement of coherently photoproduced 𝜋⁺𝜋 − 𝜋⁺𝜋 − ﬁnal states in ultraperipheral Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV is presented for the ﬁrst time. The cross section, d𝜎/d𝑦, times the branching ratio (𝜌 → 𝜋⁺𝜋⁺𝜋 − 𝜋 − ) is found to be 47.8 ± 2.3 (stat.) ± 7.7 (syst.) mb in the rapidity interval |𝑦| < 0.5. The invariant mass distribution is not well described with a single Breit-Wigner resonance without an interference term. Including in- terference with a non-resonant contribution results in the mass and width values being too far from those reported in PDG, while the production of two interfering resonances, 𝜌(1450) and 𝜌(1700), also provides a good description of the data. The values of the masses (𝑚) and widths (Γ) of the resonances extracted from the ﬁt assuming two interfering resonances are 𝑚₁ = 1385 ± 14 (stat.) ± 3 (syst.) MeV/𝑐², Γ₁ = 431 ± 36 (stat.) ± 82 (syst.) MeV/𝑐², 𝑚₂ = 1663 ± 13 (stat.) ± 22 (syst.) MeV/𝑐² and Γ₂ = 357 ± 31 (stat.) ± 49 (syst.) MeV/𝑐², respectively. The measured cross sections times the branching ratios are compared to recent theoretical predictions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

First polarisation measurement of coherently photoproduced J/ ψ in ultra-peripheral Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

The first measurement of the polarisation of coherently photoproduced J/ψ mesons in ultra-peripheral Pb–Pb collisions, using data at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, is presented. The J/ψ meson is measured via its dimuon decay channel in the forward rapidity interval –4.0 < y < –2.5 using the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC. An event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 750 μb –1 ± 5% (syst) is analysed. Hadronic activity is highly suppressed since the interaction is mediated by a photon. The polar and azimuthal angle distributions of the decay muons are measured, and the polarisation parameters λ θ , λ φ , λ θφ , are extracted. The analysis is carried out in the helicity frame. The results are found to be consistent with a transversely polarised J/ψ. These values are compared with previous measurements by the H1 and ZEUS experiments. The polarisation parameters of coherent J/ψ photoproduction in Pb–Pb collisions are found to be consistent with the s-channel helicity conservation hypothesis.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Multiplicity dependence of ϒ production at forward rapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

The measurement of ϒ(1S), ϒ(2S), and ϒ(3S) yields as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity density, d N ch /d η , using the ALICE experiment at the LHC, is reported in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV. The Υ meson yields are measured at forward rapidity (2.5 < y < 4) in the dimuon decay channel, whereas the charged-particle multiplicity is defined at central rapidity (| η | <1). Both quantities are divided by their average value in minimum bias events to compute the self-normalized quantities. The increase of the self-normalized ϒ(1S), ϒ(2S), and ϒ(3S) yields is found to be compatible with a linear scaling with the self-normalized d N ch /d η , within the uncertainties. The self-normalized yield ratios of excited-to-ground ϒ states are compatible with unity within uncertainties. Similarly, the measured double ratio of the self-normalized ϒ(1S) to the self-normalized J/ ψ yields, both measured at forward rapidity, is compatible with unity for self-normalized charged-particle multiplicities beyond one. The measurements are compared with theoretical predictions incorporating initial or final state effects.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of 3 Λ H production in Pb–Pb collisions at √ s NN = 5.02 TeV

The first measurement of 3 Λ H and $^{3}_{\overline{Λ}}$$\overline{H}$ differential production with respect to transverse momentum and centrality in Pb–Pb collisions at √ s NN = 5.02 TeV is presented. The 3 Λ H has been reconstructed via its two-charged-body decay channel, i.e., 3 Λ H → 3 He → π - . A Blast-Wave model fit of the p T -differential spectra of all nuclear species measured by the ALICE collaboration suggests that the kinetic freeze-out surface is consistent with that of other nuclei. The ratio between the integrated yields of 3 Λ H and 3 He is compared to predictions from the statistical hadronisation model and the coalescence model, with the latter being favoured by the presented measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Charm fragmentation fractions and $\mathbf {c\overline{c}}$ cross section in p–Pb collisions at $\mathbf {\sqrt{s _{NN}}=5.02 TeV}$

The total charm-quark production cross section per unit of rapidity dσ($\mathbf {c\overline{c}}$)/dy, and the fragmentation fractions of charm quarks to different charm-hadron species f(c → h c ), are measured for the first time in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV at midrapidity (–0.96 < y < 0.04 in the centre-of-mass frame) using data collected by ALICE at the CERN LHC. The results are obtained based on all the available measurements of prompt production of ground-state charm-hadron species: D 0 , D + , D$^{+}_{s}$, and J/ψ mesons, and Λ$^{+}_{c}$ and $Ξ$$^{0}_{c}$ baryons. The resulting cross section is dσ($\mathbf {c\overline{c}}$)/dy = 219.6 ± 6.3 (stat.) $^{+10.5}_{–11.8}$ (syst.) $^{+8.3}_{–2.9}$ (extr.) ± 5.4 (BR) ± 4.6 (lumi.) ± 19.5 (rapidity shape) + 15.0 (Ω$^{0}_{c}$) mb, which is consistent with a binary scaling of pQCD calculations from pp collisions. The measured fragmentation fractions are compatible with those measured in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 and 13 TeV, showing an increase in the relative production rates of charm baryons with respect to charm mesons in pp and p–Pb collisions compared with e + e – and e – p collisions. The p T -integrated nuclear modification factor of charm quarks, R pPb ($\mathbf {c\overline{c}}$) = 0.91 ± 0.04 (stat.) $^{+0.08}_{–0.09}$ (syst.) $^{+0.05}_{–0.03}$ (extr.) ± 0.03 (lumi.), is found to be consistent with unity and with theoretical predictions including nuclear modifications of the parton distribution functions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Rapidity dependence of antideuteron coalescence in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with ALICE

The production yields of antideuterons and antiprotons are measured in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, as a function of transverse momentum ( p T ) and rapidity ( y ), for the first time rapidity-differentially up to | y | = 0.7. The measured spectra are used to study the p T and rapidity dependence of the coalescence parameter B 2 , which quantifies the coalescence probability of antideuterons. The p T and rapidity dependence of the obtained B 2 is extrapolated for p T > 1.7 GeV/ c and | y | = 0.7 using the phenomenological antideuteron production model implemented in Pythia 8.3 as well as a baryon coalescence afterburner model based on EPOS 3. Such measurements are of interest to the astrophysics community, since they can be used for the calculation of the flux of antinuclei from cosmic rays, in combination with coalescence models.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Multiplicity dependence of charged-particle intra-jet properties in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

The first measurement of the multiplicity dependence of intra-jet properties of leading charged-particle jets in proton–proton (pp) collisions is reported. The mean charged particle multiplicity and jet fragmentation distributions are measured in minimum-bias and high-multiplicity pp collisions at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV using the ALICE detector. Jets are reconstructed from charged particles produced in the midrapidity region (|η| < 0.9) using the sequential recombination anti-k T algorithm with jet resolution parameters R = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 for the trans verse momentum (p T ) interval 5–110 GeV/c. The high multiplicity events are selected by the forward V0 scintilla tor detectors. The mean charged-particle multiplicity inside the leading jet cone rises monotonically with increasing jet p T in qualitative agreement with previous measurements at lower energies. The distributions of jet fragmentation function variables z ch and ξ ch are measured for different jet-p T intervals. Jet-p T independent fragmentation of leading jets is observed for wider jets except at high- and low-z ch values. The observed “hump-backed plateau” structure in the ξ ch distribution indicates suppression of low-p T particles. In high-multiplicity events, an enhancement of the fragmen tation probability of low-z ch particles accompanied by a suppression of high-zch particles is observed compared to minimum-bias events. This behavior becomes more promi nent for low-p T jets with larger jet radius. The results are compared with predictions of QCD-inspired event generators, PYTHIA 8 with Monash 2013 tune and EPOS LHC. It is found that PYTHIA 8 qualitatively reproduces the jet modification in high-multiplicity events except at high jet p T . These measurements provide important constraints to models of jet fragmentation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of the impact-parameter dependent azimuthal anisotropy in coherent $ρ$ 0 photoproduction in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

This Letter presents the first measurement of the impact-parameter dependent angular anisotropy in the decay of coherently photoproduced $ρ$ 0 mesons. The $ρ$ 0 mesons are reconstructed through their decay into pion pairs. The measured anisotropy corresponds to the amplitude of the cos(2φ) modulation, where φ is the angle between the two vectors formed by the sum and the difference of the transverse momenta of the pions, respectively. The measurement was performed by the ALICE Collaboration at the LHC using data from ultraperipheral Pb–Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV per nucleon pair. Different impact-parameter regions are selected by classifying the events in nuclear-breakup classes. The amplitude of the cos(2φ) modulation is found to increase by about one order of magnitude from large to small impact parameters. Theoretical calculations describe the measured cos(2φ) anisotropy and its impact-parameter dependence as the result of a quantum interference effect at the femtometer scale, arising from the ambiguity regarding which of the nuclei is the photon source in the interaction.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

The ALICE experiment: a journey through QCD

The ALICE experiment was proposed in 1993, to study strongly-interacting matter at extreme energy densities and temperatures. This proposal entailed a comprehensive investigation of nuclear collisions at the LHC. Its physics programme initially focused on the determination of the properties of the quark–gluon plasma (QGP), a deconfined state of quarks and gluons, created in such collisions. The ALICE physics programme has been extended to cover a broader ensemble of observables related to Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the theory of strong interactions. The experiment has studied Pb–Pb, Xe–Xe, p–Pb and pp collisions in the multi-TeV centre of mass energy range, during the Run 1–2 data-taking periods at the LHC (2009–2018). The aim of this review is to summarise the key ALICE physics results in this endeavor, and to discuss their implications on the current understanding of the macroscopic and microscopic properties of strongly-interacting matter at the highest temperatures reached in the laboratory. It will review the latest findings on the properties of the QGP created by heavy-ion collisions at LHC energies, and describe the surprising QGP-like effects in pp and p–Pb collisions. Measurements of few-body QCD interactions, and their impact in unraveling the structure of hadrons and hadronic interactions, will be discussed. ALICE results relevant for physics topics outside the realm of QCD will also be touched upon. Finally, prospects for future measurements with the ALICE detector in the context of its planned upgrades will also be briefly described.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of (anti)alpha production in central Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV

In this letter, measurements of (anti)alpha production in central (0–10%) Pb–Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV are presented, including the first measurement of an antialpha transverse-momentum spectrum. Owing to its large mass, the production of (anti)alpha is expected to be sensitive to different particle production models. The production yields and transverse-momentum spectra of nuclei are of particular interest because they provide a stringent test of these models. The averaged antialpha and alpha spectrum is compared to the spectra of lighter particles, by including it into a common blast-wave fit capturing the hydrodynamic-like flow of all particles. This fit is indicating that the (anti)alpha also participates in the collective expansion of the medium created in the collision. A blast-wave fit including only protons, (anti)alpha, and other light nuclei results in a similar flow velocity as the fit that includes all particles. A similar flow velocity, but a significantly larger kinetic freeze-out temperature is obtained when only protons and light nuclei are included in the fit. The coalescence parameter B 4 is well described by calculations from a statistical hadronization model but significantly underestimated by calculations assuming nucleus formation via coalescence of nucleons. Similarly, the (anti)alpha-to-proton ratio is well described by the statistical hadronization model. On the other hand, coalescence calculations including approaches with different implementations of the (anti)alpha substructure tend to underestimate the data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Studying the interaction between charm and light-flavor mesons

The two-particle momentum correlation functions between charm mesons ( D * ± and D ± ) and charged light-flavor mesons ( π ± and K ± ) in all charge combinations are measured for the first time by the ALICE Collaboration in high-multiplicity proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of s = 13 TeV . For DK and D * K pairs, the experimental results are in agreement with theoretical predictions of the residual strong interaction based on quantum chromodynamics calculations on the lattice and chiral effective field theory. In the case of D π and D * π pairs, tension between the calculations including strong interactions and the measurement is observed. For all particle pairs, the data can be adequately described by Coulomb interaction only, indicating a shallow interaction between charm and light-flavor mesons. Finally, the scattering lengths governing the residual strong interaction of the D π and D * π systems are determined by fitting the experimental correlation functions with a model that employs a Gaussian potential. The extracted values are small and compatible with zero. © 2024 CERN, for the ALICE Collaboration 2024 CERN

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Investigating the composition of the $K$$^{*}_{0}$(700) state with π ± $K$$^{0}_{S}$ correlations at the LHC

The first measurements of femtoscopic correlations with the particle pair combinations π ± $K$$^{0}_{S}$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are reported by the ALICE experiment. Using the femtoscopic approach, it is shown that it is possible to study the elusive $K$$^{*}_{0}$(700) particle that has been considered a tetraquark candidate for over forty years. Source and final-state interaction parameters are extracted by fitting a model assuming a Gaussian source to the experimentally measured two-particle correlation functions. The final-state interaction in the π ± $K$$^{0}_{S}$ system is modeled through a resonant scattering amplitude, defined in terms of a mass and a coupling parameter, The extracted mass and Breit–Wigner width, derived from the coupling parameter, of the final-state interaction are found to be consistent with previous measurements of the $K$$^{*}_{0}$ (700). The small value and increase of the correlation strength with increasing source size support the hypothesis that the $K$$^{*}_{0}$(700) is a four-quark state, i.e. a tetraquark state of the form (q 1 , $\bar{q}$ 2 , q 3 , $\bar{q}$ 3 ) in which q 1 , q 2 and q 3 indicate the flavor of the valence quarks of the π and $K$$^{0}_{S}$. This latter trend is also confirmed via a simple geometric model that assumes a tetraquark structure of the $K$$^{*}_{0}$(700) resonance.

13 TeV pp collisions↗

DOE OSTI2024

Search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect with charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in Xe–Xe collisions at s NN = 5.44 TeV

Charge-dependent two- and three-particle correlations measured in Xe–Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = TeV are presented. Results are obtained for charged particles in the pseudorapidity range |η| and transverse momentum interval 02. ≤ p T < GeV/c for different collision centralities. The three-particle correlator γ αβ ≡ $\langle$cos(φ α + φ β - 2Ψ a )$\rangle$, calculated for different combinations of charge sign α and β, is expected to be sensitive to the presence of the Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME). Its magnitude is similar to the one observed in Pb–Pb collisions in contrast to a smaller CME signal in Xe–Xe collisions than in Pb–Pb collisions predicted by Monte Carlo (MC) calculations including a magnetic field induced by the spectator protons. These observations point to a large non-CME contribution to the correlator. Furthermore, the charge dependence of γ αβ can be described by a blast wave model calculation that incorporates background effects and by the Anomalous Viscous Fluid Dynamics model with values of the CME signal consistent with zero. The Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb results are combined with the expected CME signal dependence on the system size from the MC calculations including a magnetic field to obtain the fraction of CME contribution in γ αβ , $f$ CME . The CME fraction is compatible with zero for the 30% most central events in both systems and then becomes positive. This yields an upper limit of 2% (3%) and 25% (32%) at 95% (99.7%) confidence level for the CME signal contribution to γ αβ in the 0–70% Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb collisions, respectively.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Photoproduction of K + K − Pairs in Ultraperipheral Collisions

K + K − pairs may be produced in photonuclear collisions, either from the decays of photoproduced ϕ ( 1020 ) mesons or directly as nonresonant K + K − pairs. Measurements of K + K − photoproduction probe the couplings between the ϕ ( 1020 ) and charged kaons with photons and nuclear targets. The kaon-proton scattering occurs at energies far above those available elsewhere. We present the first measurement of coherent photoproduction of K + K − pairs on lead ions in ultraperipheral collisions using the ALICE detector, including the first investigation of direct K + K − production. There is significant K + K − production at low transverse momentum, consistent with coherent photoproduction on lead targets. In the mass range 1.1 < M K K < 1.4 GeV / c 2 above the ϕ ( 1020 ) resonance, for rapidity | y K K | < 0.8 and p T , K K < 0.1 GeV / c , the measured coherent photoproduction cross section is d σ / d y = 3.37 ± 0.61 ( stat ) ± 0.15 ( syst ) mb . The center-of-mass energy per nucleon of the photon-nucleus (Pb) system W γ Pb , n ranges from 33 to 188 GeV, far higher than previous measurements on heavy-nucleus targets. The cross section is larger than expected for ϕ ( 1020 ) photoproduction alone. The mass spectrum is fit to a cocktail consisting of ϕ ( 1020 ) decays, direct K + K − photoproduction, and interference between the two. The confidence regions for the amplitude and relative phase angle for direct K + K − photoproduction are presented. © 2024 CERN, for the ALICE Collaboration 2024 CERN

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2024

ALICE upgrades during the LHC Long Shutdown 2

A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) has been conceived and constructed as a heavy-ion experiment at the LHC. During LHC Runs 1 and 2, it has produced a wide range of physics results using all collision systems available at the LHC. In order to best exploit new physics opportunities opening up with the upgraded LHC and new detector technologies, the experiment has undergone a major upgrade during the LHC Long Shutdown 2 (2019–2022). This comprises the move to continuous readout, the complete overhaul of core detectors, as well as a new online event processing farm with a redesigned online-offline software framework. These improvements will allow to record Pb-Pb collisions at rates up to 50 kHz, while ensuring sensitivity for signals without a triggerable signature.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗