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Butterworth, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Butterworth, J..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Measurements of dielectron production in Au + Au collisions at s N N = 27 , 39, and 62.4 GeV from the STAR experiment

We report systematic measurements of dielectron (e + e – ) invariant-mass M ee spectra at midrapidity in Au + Au collisions at s N N = 27 = 27, 39, and 62.4 GeV taken with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. For all energies studied, a significant excess yield of dielectrons is observed in the low-mass region ( 0.40 < M ee < 0.75 MeV / c 2 ) compared to hadronic cocktail simulations at freeze-out. Models that include an in-medium broadening of the ρ -meson spectral function consistently describe the observed excess. In addition, we report acceptance-corrected dielectron-excess spectra for Au + Au collisions at midrapidity ( |y ee | < 1) in the 0–80% centrality bin for each collision energy. The integrated excess yields for 0.4 < M ee < 0.75 GeV / c 2 , normalized by the charged particle multiplicity at midrapidity, are compared with previously published measurements for Au + Au at s N N = 27 = 19.6 and 200 GeV. Models that include an in-medium broadening of the ρ -meson spectral function consistently describe the observed excess. Furthermore, the normalized excess yields in the low-mass region show no significant collision energy dependence. The data, however, are consistent with model calculations that demonstrate a modest energy dependence.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Collision-System and Beam-Energy Dependence of Anisotropic Flow Fluctuations

Here, elliptic flow measurements from two-, four- and six-particle correlations are used to investigate flow fluctuations in collisions of U+U at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV, Cu+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV and Au+Au spanning the range $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 11.5 - 200 GeV. The measurements show a strong dependence of the flow fluctuations on collision centrality, a modest dependence on system size, and very little if any, dependence on particle species and beam energy. The results, when compared to similar LHC measurements, viscous hydrodynamic calculations, and Glauber model eccentricities, indicate that initial-state-driven fluctuations predominate the flow fluctuations generated in the collisions studied.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Pair Invariant Mass to Isolate Background in the Search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect in Au+Au Collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV

Quark interactions with topological gluon configurations can induce local chirality imbalance and parity violation in quantum chromodynamics, which can lead to the chiral magnetic effect (CME)-an electric charge separation along the strong magnetic field in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The CME-sensitive azimuthal correlator observable (Delta gamma) is contaminated by background arising, in part, from resonance decays coupled with elliptic anisotropy (v(2)). We report here differential measurements of the correlator as a function of the pair invariant mass (m(inv)) in 20-50% centrality Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV by the STAR experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Strong resonance background contributions to Delta gamma. are observed. At large m(inv) where this background is significantly reduced, the Delta gamma. value is found to be significantly smaller. An event-shape-engineering technique is deployed to determine the v(2) background shape as a function of m(inv). We extract a v(2)-independent and m(inv)-averaged signal Delta gamma(sig) = (0.03 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.08) x 10(-4), or (2 +/- 4 +/- 5)% of the inclusive Delta gamma (m(inv) > 0.4 GeV/c(2)) = (1.58 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.02) x 10(-4), within pion p(T) = 0.2-0.8 GeV/c and averaged over pseudorapidity ranges of -1 < eta < -0.05 and 0.05 < eta < 1. This represents an upper limit of 0.23 x 10(-4), or 15% of the inclusive result, at 95% confidence level for the m(inv)-integrated CME contribution.

Adam, J.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Probing strangeness canonical ensemble with K - , Φ(1020) and Ξ - production in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{^S{NN}}$ = 3 GeV

We report on the first multi-differential measurement of φ meson and Ξ - hyperon production as well as the φ/K - and φ/Ξ - ratio in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{^S{NN}}$ = 3 GeV with the STAR experiment under its fixed target configuration at RHIC. φ mesons and Ξ - hyperons are measured through their hadronic decay channels, φ → K+K - and Ξ - → Λπ - . The transverse kinetic energy spectra of K - , φ and Ξ - are presented in different centrality and rapidity intervals. The total production yields and the ratios within a 4π coverage are calculated and compared to thermal model predictions. A calculation within the grand canonical ensemble framework shows a clear discrepancy from our measurement. Our data favor the canonical ensemble approach employing local strangeness conservation with a small strangeness correlation length (r c ≤ 4.2 fm) in 0–10% central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{^S{NN}}$ = 3 GeV.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect via Charge-Dependent Azimuthal Correlations Relative to Spectator and Participant Planes in Au + Au Collisions at s N N = 200 GeV

The chiral magnetic effect (CME) refers to charge separation along a strong magnetic field due to imbalanced chirality of quarks in local parity and charge-parity violating domains in quantum chromodynamics. The experimental measurement of the charge separation is made difficult by the presence of a major background from elliptic azimuthal anisotropy. This background and the CME signal have different sensitivities to the spectator and participant planes, and could thus be determined by measurements with respect to these planes. We report such measurements in Au+Au collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider. It is found that the charge separation, with the flow background removed, is consistent with zero in peripheral (large impact parameter) collisions. Some indication of finite CME signals is seen with a significance of 1–3 standard deviations in mid-central (intermediate impact parameter) collisions. Furthermore, significant residual background effects may, however, still be present.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Global Λ-hyperon polarization in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 3 GeV

Global hyperon polarization, $\overline{P}$ H , in Au + Au collisions over a large range of collision energy, $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$, was recently measured and successfully reproduced by hydrodynamic and transport models with intense fluid vorticity of the quark-gluon plasma. While na¨ıve extrapolation of data trends suggests a large $\overline{P}$ H as the collision energy is reduced, the behavior of $\overline{P}$ H at small $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ < 7.7 GeV is unknown. Operating the STAR experiment in fixed-target mode, we measured the polarization of Λ hyperons along the direction of global angular momentum in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 3 GeV. As a result, the observation of substantial polarization of 4.91 ± 0.81 (stat.) ± 0.15 (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.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Measurement of the Sixth-Order Cumulant of Net-Proton Multiplicity Distributions in Au + Au Collisions at s NN = 27 , 54.4, and 200 GeV at RHIC

According to first principle Lattice QCD calculations, the transition from quark-gluon plasma to hadronic matter is a smooth crossover in the region µB ≤ Tc. As a result, higher-order cumulants and their ratios are predicted to be negative, C 6 /C 2 < 0, for example. In this paper, we report the first measurement of the midrapidity net-proton C 6 /C 2 from 27, 54.4 and 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. The dependence on collision centrality and kinematic acceptance in (p T, y ) are analyzed. While for 27 and 54.4 GeV collisions the C 6 /C 2 values are close to zero within uncertainties, it is observed that for 200 GeV collisions, the C 6 /C 2 ratio becomes progressively negative from peripheral to central collisions. Transport model calculations without critical dynamics predict values around zero. These observations seem to favor a smooth crossover in the high energy nuclear collisions at RHIC.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cumulants and correlation functions of net-proton, proton, and antiproton multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at energies available at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

Here, we report a systematic measurement of cumulants, C n , for net-proton, proton, and antiproton multiplicity distributions, and correlation functions, κ n , for proton and antiproton multiplicity distributions up to the fourth order in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 54.4, 62.4, and 200 GeV. The C n and κ n are presented as a function of collision energy, centrality and kinematic acceptance in rapidity, y, and transverse momentum, p T . The data were taken during the first phase of the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program (2010–2017) at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) facility. The measurements are carried out at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) and transverse momentum 0.4 < p T < 2.0 GeV/c, using the STAR detector at RHIC. We observe a nonmonotonic energy dependence ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7–62.4 GeV) of the net-proton C 4 /C 2 with the significance of 3.1σ for the 0–5% central Au+Au collisions. This is consistent with the expectations of critical fluctuations in a QCD-inspired model. Thermal and transport model calculations show a monotonic variation with $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$. For the multiparticle correlation functions, we observe significant negative values for a two-particle correlation function, κ 2 , of protons and antiprotons, which are mainly due to the effects of baryon number conservation. Furthermore, it is found that the four-particle correlation function, κ 4 , of protons plays a role in determining the energy dependence of proton C 4 /C 1 below 19.6 GeV, which cannot be understood by the effect of baryon number conservation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Measurement of e + e - Momentum and Angular Distributions from Linearly Polarized Photon Collisions

The Breit-Wheeler process which produces matter and antimatter from photon collisions is experimentally investigated through the observation of 6085 exclusive electron-positron pairs in ultraperipheral Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The measurements reveal a large fourth-order angular modulation of cos 4Δ$\phi$ = (16.8 ± 2.5)% and smooth invariant mass distribution absent of vector mesons ($\phi$, ω, and ρ) at the experimental limit of ≤ 0.2% of the observed yields. The differential cross section as a function of e + e - pair transverse momentum P ⟂ peaks at low value with $\sqrt\langle$$P2\atop{⟂}$$\rangle$ = 38.1 ± 0.9 MeV and displays a significant centrality dependence. These features are consistent with QED calculations for the collision of linearly polarized photons quantized from the extremely strong electromagnetic fields generated by the highly charged Au nuclei at ultrarelativistic speed. The experimental results have implications for vacuum birefringence and for mapping the magnetic field which is important for emergent QCD phenomena.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Methods for a blind analysis of isobar data collected by the STAR collaboration

In 2018, the STAR collaboration collected data from $_{44}^{96}{\mathrm{Ru}}+_{44}^{96}{\mathrm{Ru}}$ and $_{40}^{96}{\mathrm{Zr}}+_{40}^{96}{\mathrm{Zr}}$ at $\sqrt{s_\text {NN}}=200$ GeV to search for the presence of the chiral magnetic effect in collisions of nuclei. The isobar collision species alternated frequently between $_{44}^{96}{\mathrm{Ru}}+_{44}^{96}{\mathrm{Ru}}$ and $_{40}^{96}{\mathrm{Zr}}+_{40}^{96}{\mathrm{Zr}}$ . In order to conduct blind analyses of studies related to the chiral magnetic effect in these isobar data, STAR developed a three-step blind analysis procedure. Analysts are initially provided a “reference sample” of data, comprised of a mix of events from the two species, the order of which respects time-dependent changes in run conditions. After tuning analysis codes and performing time-dependent quality assurance on the reference sample, analysts are provided a species-blind sample suitable for calculating efficiencies and corrections for individual $\approx 30$-min data-taking runs. For this sample, species-specific information is disguised, but individual output files contain data from a single isobar species. Only run-by-run corrections and code alteration subsequent to these corrections are allowed at this stage. Following these modifications, the “frozen” code is passed over the fully un-blind data, completing the blind analysis. As a check of the feasibility of the blind analysis procedure, analysts completed a “mock data challenge,” analyzing data from Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\text {NN}}=27$ GeV, collected in 2018. The Au + Au data were prepared in the same manner intended for the isobar blind data. Finally, the details of the blind analysis procedure and results from the mock data challenge are presented.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Comparison of transverse single-spin asymmetries for forward π 0 production in polarized pp , p Al and p Au collisions at nucleon pair c.m. energy √sNN=200 GeV

The STAR collaboration reports a measurement of the transverse single-spin asymmetries, A N , for neutral pions produced in polarized proton collisions with protons ( p p ), with aluminum nuclei ( p Al ) and with gold nuclei ( p Au ) at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. Neutral pions are observed in the forward direction relative to the transversely polarized proton beam, in the pseudorapidity region 2.7 < η < 3.8 . Results are presented for π 0 s observed in the STAR forward meson spectrometer electromagnetic calorimeter in narrow Feynman x ( x F ) and transverse momentum ( p T ) bins, spanning the range 0.17 < x F < 0.81 and 1.7 < p T < 6.0 GeV / c . For fixed x F < 0.47 , the asymmetries are found to rise with increasing transverse momentum. For larger x F , the asymmetry flattens or falls as p T increases. Parametrizing the ratio r ( A ) ≡ A N ( p A ) / A N ( p p ) = A P over the kinematic range, the ratio r ( A ) is found to depend only weakly on A , with ( P ) = - 0.027 ± 0.005 . No significant difference in P is observed between the low- p T region, p T < 2.5 GeV / c , where gluon saturation effects may play a role, and the high- p T region, p T > 2.5 GeV / c . It is further observed that the value of A N is significantly larger for events with a large- p T isolated π 0 than for events with a nonisolated π 0 accompanied by additional jetlike fragments. The nuclear dependence r ( A ) is similar for isolated and nonisolated π 0 events.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Flow and interferometry results from Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 4.5 GeV

In this study, the beam energy scan (BES) program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) was extended to energies below $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7 GeV in 2015 by successful implementation of the fixed-target mode of operation in the STAR (Solenoidal Tracker At RHIC) experiment. In this mode, ions circulate in one ring of the collider and interact with a stationary target at the entrance of the STAR Time Projection Chamber. The first results for Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 4.5 GeV are presented, demonstrating good performance of all the relevant detector subsystems in fixed-target mode. Results presented here include directed and elliptic flow of identified hadrons, and radii from pion femtoscopy. The latter, together with recent HADES results, reveal a long-sought peak structure that may be caused by the system evolving through a first-order phase transition from quark-gluon plasma to the hadronic phase. Directed and elliptic flow for pions are presented for the first time at this beam energy. Pion and proton elliptic flow show behavior which hints at constituent quark scaling, and demonstrate that a definitive conclusion will be achievable using the full statistics of the on-going second phase of BES (BES-II). In particular, BES-II to date has recorded fixed-target data sets with two orders of magnitude more events at each of nine energies between $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 3.0 and 7.7 GeV.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗