Engineering topics

Bell Hechavarria, A. D.C. (ORCID:0000000204426549)

Publications and source records attributed to Bell Hechavarria, A. D.C. (ORCID:0000000204426549).

At least 19 records

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

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

Observation of abnormal suppression of f 0 (980) production in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 5.02 TeV

The dependence of f 0 (980) production on the final-state charged-particle multiplicity in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 5.02 TeV is reported. The production of f 0 (980) is measured with the ALICE detector via the f 0 (980) → π + π – decay channel in a midrapidity region of –0.5 < y < 0. Particle yield ratios of f 0 (980) to π and K*(892) 0 are found to be decreasing with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. The magnitude of the suppression of the f 0 (980)/π and f 0 (980)/K*(892) 0 yield ratios is found to be dependent on the transverse momentum p T , suggesting different mechanisms responsible for the measured effects. Furthermore, the nuclear modification factor Q pPb of f 0 (980) is measured in various multiplicity ranges. The Q pPb shows a strong suppression of the f 0 (980) production in the p T region up to about 4 GeV/c. The results on the particle yield ratios and Q pPb for f 0 (980) may help to understand the late hadronic phase in p–Pb collisions and the nature of the internal structure of f 0 (980) particle.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

ALICE luminosity determination for Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

Luminosity determination within the ALICE experiment is based on the measurement, in van der Meer scans, of the cross sections for visible processes involving one or more detectors (visible cross sections). In 2015 and 2018, the Large Hadron Collider provided Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. Two visible cross sections, associated with particle detection in the Zero Degree Calorimeter (ZDC) and in the V0 detector, were measured in a van der Meer scan. This article describes the experimental set-up and the analysis procedure, and presents the measurement results. The analysis involves a comprehensive study of beam-related effects and an improved fitting procedure, compared to previous ALICE studies, for the extraction of the visible cross section. The resulting uncertainty of both the ZDC-based and the V0-based luminosity measurement for the full sample is 2.5%. The inelastic cross section for hadronic interactions in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, obtained by efficiency correction of the V0-based visible cross section, was measured to be 7.67 ± 0.25 b, in agreement with predictions using the Glauber model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Skewness and kurtosis of mean transverse momentum fluctuations at the LHC energies

The first measurements of skewness and kurtosis of mean transverse momentum ($\langle$$p_T\rangle$) fluctuations are reported in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, Xe–Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV using the ALICE detector. The measurements are carried out as a function of system size $\langle$dN ch /dη$\rangle$$^{1/3}_{|η|<0.5}$, using charged particles with transverse momentum ($p_T$) and pseudorapidity (η), in the range 0.2<$p_T$<3.0 GeV/c and |η|<0.8, respectively. In Pb–Pb and Xe–Xe collisions, positive skewness is observed in the fluctuations of $\langle$$p_T\rangle$ for all centralities, which is significantly larger than what would be expected in the scenario of independent particle emission. This positive skewness is considered a crucial consequence of the hydrodynamic evolution of the hot and dense nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions. Furthermore, similar observations of positive skewness for minimum bias pp collisions are also reported here. Kurtosis of $\langle$$p_T\rangle$ fluctuations is found to be in good agreement with the kurtosis of Gaussian distribution, for most central Pb–Pb collisions. Hydrodynamic model calculations with MUSIC using Monte Carlo Glauber initial conditions are able to explain the measurements of both skewness and kurtosis qualitatively from semicentral to central collisions in Pb–Pb system. Color reconnection mechanism in PYTHIA8 model seems to play a pivotal role in capturing the qualitative behavior of the same measurements in pp collisions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Measurements of inclusive J/ψ production at midrapidity and forward rapidity in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

The measurements of the inclusive J/ψ yield at midrapidity (|y| < 0.9) and forward rapidity (2.5 < y < 4) in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC are reported. The inclusive J/ψ production yields and nuclear modification factors, R AA , are measured as a function of the collision centrality, J/ψ transverse momentum (p T ), and rapidity. The J/ψ average transverse momentum and squared transverse momentum ($\langle$p T $\rangle$ and $\langle$$p^{2}_{T}$$\rangle$) are evaluated as a function of the centrality at midrapidity. Compared to the previous ALICE publications, here the entire Pb–Pb collisions dataset collected during the LHC Run 2 is used, which improves the precision of the measurements and extends the p T coverage. The p T -integrated R AA shows a hint of an increasing trend towards unity from semicentral to central collisions at midrapidity, while it is flat at forward rapidity. The p T -differential R AA shows a strong suppression at high p T with less suppression at low p T where it reaches a larger value at midrapidity compared to forward rapidity. The ratio of the p T -integrated yields of J/ψ to those of D 0 mesons is reported for the first time for the central and semicentral event classes at midrapidity. Model calculations implementing charmonium production via the coalescence of charm quarks and antiquarks during the fireball evolution (transport models) or in a statistical approach with thermal weights are in good agreement with the data at low p T . At higher p T , the data are well described by transport models and a model based on energy loss in the strongly-interacting medium produced in nuclear collisions at the LHC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of the radius dependence of charged-particle jet suppression in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV

The ALICE Collaboration reports a differential measurement of inclusive jet suppression using pp and Pb–Pb collision data at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon collision $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV. Charged-particle jets are reconstructed using the anti-$k_T$ algorithm with resolution parameters R=0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6 in pp collisions and R=0.2, 0.4, 0.6 in central (0–10%), semi-central (30–50%), and peripheral (60–80%) Pb–Pb collisions. A novel approach based on machine learning is employed to mitigate the influence of jet background. This enables measurements of inclusive jet suppression in new regions of phase space, including down to the lowest jet $p_T$ ≥ 40 GeV/c at R=0.6 in central Pb–Pb collisions. This is an important step for discriminating different models of jet quenching in the quark–gluon plasma. The transverse momentum spectra, nuclear modification factors, derived cross section, and nuclear modification factor ratios for different jet resolution parameters of charged-particle jets are presented and compared to model predictions. A mild dependence of the nuclear modification factor ratios on collision centrality and resolution parameter is observed. The results are compared to a variety of jet-quenching models with varying levels of agreement.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Data-driven precision determination of the material budget in ALICE

The knowledge of the material budget with a high precision is fundamental for measurements of direct photon production using the photon conversion method due to its direct impact on the total systematic uncertainty. Moreover, it influences many aspects of the charged-particle reconstruction performance. In this article, two procedures to determine data-driven corrections to the material-budget description in ALICE simulation software are developed. One is based on the precise knowledge of the gas composition in the Time Projection Chamber. The other is based on the robustness of the ratio between the produced number of photons and charged particles, to a large extent due to the approximate isospin symmetry in the number of produced neutral and charged pions. Both methods are applied to ALICE data allowing for a reduction of the overall material budget systematic uncertainty from 4.5% down to 2.5%. Using these methods, a locally correct material budget is also achieved. The two proposed methods are generic and can be applied to any experiment in a similar fashion.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of the low-energy antitriton inelastic cross section

In this Letter, the first measurement of the inelastic cross section for antitriton–nucleus interactions is reported, covering the momentum range of 0.8 ≤ p < 2.4 GeV/c. The measurement is carried out using data recorded with the ALICE detector in pp and Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon of 13 TeV and 5.02 TeV, respectively. The detector material serves as an absorber for antitriton nuclei. The raw yield of (anti)triton nuclei measured with the ALICE apparatus is compared to the results from detailed ALICE simulations based on the GEANT4 toolkit for the propagation of (anti)particles through matter, allowing one to quantify the inelastic interaction probability in the detector material. This analysis complements the measurement of the inelastic cross section of antinuclei up to A = 3 carried out by the ALICE Collaboration, and demonstrates the feasibility of the study of the isospin dependence of inelastic interaction cross section with the analysis techniques presented in this Letter.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

First measurement of prompt and non-prompt D* + vector meson spin alignment in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

This letter reports the first measurement of spin alignment, with respect to the helicity axis, for D* + vector mesons and their charge conjugates from charm-quark hadronisation (prompt) and from beauty meson decays (non-prompt) in hadron collisions. The measurements were performed at midrapidity (|y| < 0.8) as a function of transverse momentum (p T ) in proton–proton (pp) collisions collected by ALICE at the centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The diagonal spin density matrix element $ρ$00 of D* + mesons was measured from the angular distribution of the D* + → D 0 (→ K - π + )π + decay products, in the D* + rest frame, with respect to the D* + momentum direction in the pp centre of mass frame. The $ρ$00 value for prompt D* + mesons is consistent with 1/3, which implies no spin alignment. However, for non prompt D* + mesons an evidence of $ρ$00 larger than 1/3 is found. The measured value of the spin density element is $ρ$00 = 0.455±0.022(stat.)±0.035(syst.) in the 5 < p T < 20 GeV/c interval, which is consistent with a Pythia 8 Monte Carlo simulation coupled with the EvtGen package, which implements the helicity conservation in the decay of D* + meson from beauty mesons. In non-central heavy-ion collisions, the spin of the D* + mesons may be globally aligned with the direction of the initial angular momentum and magnetic field. Based on the results for pp collisions reported in this letter it is shown that alignment of non-prompt D* + mesons due to the helicity conservation coupled to the collective anisotropic expansion may mimic the signal of global spin alignment in heavy-ion collisions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of beauty-strange meson production in Pb–Pb collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV via non-prompt D s + mesons

The production yields of non-prompt ${D}^{+}_{s}$ mesons, namely ${D}^{+}_{s}$ mesons from beauty-hadron decays, were measured for the first time as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_T$) at midrapidity (|$y$| < 0.5) in central and semi-central Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The ${D}^{+}_{s}$ mesons and their charge conjugates were reconstructed from the hadronic decay channel ${D}^{+}_{s}$ → $φπ^+$, with $φ$ → K - K + , in the 4 < $p_T$ < 36 GeV/c and 2 < $p_T$ < 24 GeV/ $c$ intervals for the 0–10% and 30–50% centrality classes, respectively. The measured yields of non-prompt ${D}^{+}_{s}$ mesons are compared to those of prompt ${D}^{+}_{s}$ and non-prompt $D^0$ mesons by calculating the ratios of the production yields in Pb–Pb collisions and the nuclear modification factor $R_{AA}$. The ratio between the $R_{AA}$ of non-prompt ${D}^{+}_{s}$ prompt ${D}^{+}_{s}$ mesons, and that between the $R_{AA}$ of non-prompt ${D}^{+}_{s}$ and non-prompt $D^0$ mesons in central Pb–Pb collisions are found to be on average higher than unity in the 4 < $p_T$ < 12 GeV/ $c$ interval with a statistical significance of about 1.6σ and 1.7σ, respectively. The measured $R_{AA}$ ratios are compared with the predictions of theoretical models of heavy-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding QGP that incorporate hadronisation via quark recombination.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Photoproduction of low-p T $J/ψ$ from peripheral to central Pb–Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV

An excess of J/ψ yield at very low transverse momentum (p T < 0.3 GeV/c), originating from coherent photoproduction, is observed in peripheral and semicentral hadronic Pb–Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 5.02 TeV. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector via the dimuon decay channel at forward rapidity (2.5 < y <4). The nuclear modification factor at very low p T and the coherent photoproduction cross section are measured as a function of centrality down to the 10% most central collisions. These results extend the previous study at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 2.76 TeV, confirming the clear excess over hadronic production in the p T range 0 – 0.3 GeV/c and the centrality range 70–90%, and establishing an excess with a significance greater than 5σ also in the 50–70% and 30–50% centrality ranges. The results are compared with earlier measurements at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 2.76 TeV and with different theoretical predictions aiming at describing how coherent photoproduction occurs in hadronic interactions with nuclear overlap.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2023

$f$ 0 (980) production in inelastic pp collisions at s = 5.02 TeV

The measurement of the production of f 0 (980) in inelastic pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV is presented. This is the first reported measurement of inclusive f 0 (980) yield at LHC energies. The production is measured at midrapidity, |y| < 0.5, in a wide transverse momentum range, 0 < p T < 16 GeV/c, by reconstructing the resonance in the f 0 (980) → π + π - hadronic decay channel using the ALICE detector. The p T -differential yields are compared to those of pions, protons and $φ$ mesons as well as to predictions from the HERWIG 7.2 QCD-inspired Monte Carlo event generator and calculations from a coalescence model that uses the AMPT model as an input. The ratio of the p T -integrated yield of f 0 (980) relative to pions is compared to measurements in e + e - and pp collisions at lower energies and predictions from statistical hadronisation models and HERWIG 7.2. A mild collision energy dependence of the f 0 (980) to pion production is observed in pp collisions from SPS to LHC energies. All considered models underpredict the p T -integrated 2f 0 (980)/(π + +π - ) ratio. The prediction from the canonical statistical hadronisation model assuming a zero total strangeness content of f 0 (980) is consistent with the data within 1.9σ and is the closest to the data. The results provide an essential reference for future measurements of the particle yield and nuclear modification in p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions, which have been proposed to be instrumental to probe the elusive nature and quark composition of the f 0 (980) scalar meson.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

First measurement of $Ω^0_c$ production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$13 TeV

The inclusive production of the charm–strange baryon $Ω^0_c$ is measured for the first time via its hadronic decay into Ω – π + at midrapidity(|y| < 0.5) in proton–proton (pp) collisions at the centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=$ 13 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The transverse momentum (p T ) differential cross section multiplied by the branching ratio is presented in the interval 2 < p T < 12 GeV/c. The p T dependence of the $Ω^0_c$-baryon production relative to the prompt D 0 -meson and to the prompt $Ξ^0_c$-baryon production is compared to various models that take different hadronisation mechanisms into consideration. In the measured p T interval, the ratio of the p T -integrated cross sections of $Ω^0_c$ and prompt $Λ^+_c$ baryons multiplied by the Ω – π + branching ratio is found to be larger by a factor of about 20 with a significance of about 4σ when compared to e + e – collisions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurements of azimuthal anisotropies at forward and backward rapidity with muons in high-multiplicity p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 8.16$ TeV

The study of the azimuthal anisotropy of inclusive muons produced in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV, using the ALICE detector at the LHC is reported. The measurement of the second-order Fourier coefficient of the particle azimuthal distribution, v 2 , is performed as a function of transverse momentum p T in the 0–20% high-multiplicity interval at both forward (2.03 < y CMS < 3.53) and backward (-4.46 < y CMS < -2.96) rapidities over a wide pT range, 0.5 < p T < 10 GeV/c, in which a dominant contribution of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays is expected at p T > 2 GeV/c. The v 2 coefficient of inclusive muons is extracted using two different techniques, namely two-particle cumulants, used for the first time for heavy-flavour measurements, and forward–central two-particle correlations. Both techniques give compatible results. A positive v 2 is measured at both forward and backward rapidities with a significance larger than 4.7σ and 7.6σ, respectively, in the interval 2 < p T < 6 GeV/c. Comparisons with previous measurements in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, and with AMPT and CGC-based theoretical calculations are discussed. The findings impose new constraints on the theoretical interpretations of the origin of the collective behaviour in small collision systems

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of the production of (anti)nuclei in p–Pb collisions at s NN = 8.16 TeV

Measurements of (anti)proton, (anti)deuteron, and (anti)3He production in the rapidity range -1< y < 0 as a function of the transverse momentum and event multiplicity in p–Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon pair $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV are presented. The coalescence parameters B 2 and B 3 , measured as a function of the transverse momentum per nucleon and of the mean charged-particle multiplicity density, confirm a smooth evolution from low to high multiplicity across different collision systems and energies. The ratios between (anti)deuteron and (anti) 3 He yields and those of (anti)protons are also reported as a function of the mean charged-particle multiplicity density. A comparison with the predictions of the statistical hadronization and coalescence models for different collision systems and center-of-mass energies favors the coalescence description for the deuteron-to-proton yield ratio with respect to the canonical statistical model.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2023

Accessing the strong interaction between Λ baryons and charged kaons with the femtoscopy technique at the LHC

The interaction between baryons and kaons/antikaons is a crucial ingredient for the strangeness $S$ = 0 and $S$ = -2 sector of the meson–baryon interaction at low energies. In particular, the $Λ\overline{K}$ might help in understanding the origin of states such as the $Ξ$(1620), whose nature and properties are still under debate. Experimental data on $Λ–K$ and $Λ–\overline{K}$ systems are scarce, leading to large uncertainties and tension between the available theoretical predictions constrained by such data. In this Letter we present the measurements of $Λ–K$ + ⊕ $\overline{Λ}–K$ - and $Λ–K$ - ⊕ $\overline{Λ}–K$ + correlations obtained in the high multiplicity triggered data sample in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. The correlation function for both pairs is modeled using the Lednický–Lyuboshits analytical formula and the corresponding scattering parameters are extracted. The $Λ–K$ - ⊕ $\overline{Λ}–K$ + correlations show the presence of several structures at relative momenta k above 200 MeV/c, compatible with the $Ω$ baryon, the $Ξ$(1690), and $Ξ$(1820) resonances decaying into $Λ–K$ - pairs. The low $k^*$ region in the $Λ–K$ - ⊕ $\overline{Λ}–K$ + also exhibits the presence of the $Ξ$(1620) state, expected to strongly couple to the measured pair. The presented data allow to access the $ΛK$ + and $ΛK$ - strong interaction with an unprecedented precision and deliver the first experimental observation of the $Ξ$(1620) decaying into $ΛK$ - .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗