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At least 145 records · Page 8

Relaxation times for disoriented isospin condensates in high energy heavy ion collisions

Fluctuations between charged and neutral kaons measured by the ALICE Collaboration in Pb-Pb collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) exceed conventional explanations. Previously it was shown that if the scalar condensate is accompanied by an electrically neutral isospin-1 field then the combination can produce large equilibrium fluctuations where ⟨$\overline{𝑢}$ ⁢𝑢⟩≠⟨ $\overline{𝑑}$𝑑⟩. Hadronizing strange and antistrange quarks might then strongly fluctuate between charged ($\overline{𝑢}$⁢𝑠 or $\overline{𝑠}$⁢𝑢) and neutral (𝑑⁢$\overline{𝑠}$⁢ or 𝑠⁢$\overline{𝑑}$) kaons. Here, we estimate the times for the condensates to achieve their equilibrium probability distributions within causal volumes in high energy heavy ion collisions. This is achieved by modeling the temperature dependence of the condensates, mesonic collective excitations, decay rates of the associated fields, and employing the Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations. Within this model, we find that the equilibration times are short compared with the expansion time, making disoriented isospin condensates a viable explanation for the anomalous fluctuations observed at the LHC.

Quark-gluon plasma↗

Fragmentation of jets containing a prompt J$/\psi$ meson in PbPb and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 5.02 TeV

Jets containing a prompt J$/\psi$ meson are studied in lead-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV, using the CMS detector at the LHC. Jets are selected to be in the transverse momentum range of 30 $\lt p_\mathrm{T} \lt$ 40 GeV. The J$/\psi$ yield in these jets is evaluated as a function of the jet fragmentation variable $z$, the ratio of the J$/\psi$$p_\mathrm{T} $ to the jet $p_\mathrm{T}$. The nuclear modification factor, $R_\mathrm{AA}$, is then derived by comparing the yield in lead-lead collisions to the corresponding expectation based on proton-proton data, at the same nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy. The suppression of the J$/\psi$ yield shows a dependence on $z$, indicating that the interaction of the J$/\psi$ with the quark-gluon plasma formed in heavy ion collisions depends on the fragmentation that gives rise to the J$/\psi$ meson.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Studies of charm quark diffusion inside jets using PbPb and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 5.02 TeV

The first study of charm quark diffusion with respect to the jet axis in heavy ion collisions is presented. The measurement is performed using jets with $p^{jet}_T > 60 GeV / c$ and $D^0$ mesons with $p^D_T > 4 GeV / c$ in lead-lead (Pb-Pb) and proton-proton ($pp$) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02 TeV$, recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC. The radial distribution of $D^0$ mesons with respect to the jet axis is sensitive to the production mechanisms of the meson, as well as to the energy loss and diffusion processes undergone by its parent parton inside the strongly interacting medium produced in Pb-Pb collisions. When compared to Monte Carlo event generators, the radial distribution in $pp$ collisions is found to be well described by pythia, while the slope of the distribution predicted by sherpa is steeper than that of the data. In Pb-Pb collisions, compared to the $pp$ results, the $D^0$ meson distribution for $4 < p^D_T < 20 GeV / c$ hints at a larger distance on average with respect to the jet axis, reflecting a diffusion of charm quarks in the medium created in heavy ion collisions. At higher $p^D_T$, the Pb-Pb and $pp$ radial distributions are found to be similar.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Observation of partonic flow in proton—proton and proton—nucleus collisions

Quantum Chromodynamics predicts a phase transition from hadronic matter to quark–gluon plasma (QGP) at high temperatures and energy densities, where quarks and gluons (partons) are no longer confined within hadrons. The QGP forms in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. Anisotropic flow coefficients, quantifying the azimuthal expansion of produced matter, probe QGP properties. Flow measurements in high-energy heavy-ion collisions show a distinctive grouping of anisotropic flow for baryons and mesons at intermediate transverse momentum – a feature associated with flow imparted at the quark level, confirming QGP existence. The observation of QGP-like features in proton–proton and proton–ion collisions has sparked debate about QGP formation in smaller systems. For the first time, we demonstrate the distinctive grouping of anisotropic flow for baryons and mesons in high-multiplicity proton–lead and proton–proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). These results are described by a model including hydrodynamic flow followed by hadron formation via quark coalescence, consistent with the formation of partonic flowing systems in these collisions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Review of Particle Physics

The Review summarizes much of particle physics and cosmology. Using data from previous editions, plus 3,324 new measurements from 878 papers, we list, evaluate, and average measured properties of gauge bosons and the recently discovered Higgs boson, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. We summarize searches for hypothetical particles such as supersymmetric particles, heavy bosons, axions, dark photons, etc. Particle properties and search limits are listed in Summary Tables. We give numerous tables, figures, formulae, and reviews of topics such as Higgs Boson Physics, Supersymmetry, Grand Unified Theories, Neutrino Mixing, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Cosmology, Particle Detectors, Colliders, Probability and Statistics. Among the 120 reviews are many that are new or heavily revised, including a new review on High Energy Soft QCD and Diffraction and one on the Determination of CKM Angles from B Hadrons. The Review is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 includes the Summary Tables and 98 review articles. Volume 2 consists of the Particle Listings and contains also 22 reviews that address specific aspects of the data presented in the Listings. The complete Review (both volumes) is published online on the website of the Particle Data Group (pdg.lbl.gov) and in a journal. Volume 1 is available in print as the PDG Book. A Pariicle Physics Booklet with the Summary Tables and essential tables, figures, and equations from selected review articles is available in print and as a web version optimized for use on phones as well as an Android app.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

φ meson production in ρ + Al, ρ + Au, d + Au , and 3 He + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

We report small nuclear collisions are mainly sensitive to cold-nuclear-matter effects; however, the collective behavior observed in these collisions shows a hint of hot-nuclear-matter effects. The identified-particle spectra, especially the φ mesons which contain strange and antistrange quarks and have a relatively small hadronic-interaction cross section, are a good tool to study these effects. The PHENIX experiment has measured φ mesons in a specific set of small collision systems p+Al, p+Au, and 3 He+Au, as well as d+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV. The transverse-momentum spectra and nuclear-modification factors are presented and compared to theoretical-model predictions. The comparisons with different calculations suggest that quark-gluon plasma may be formed in these small collision systems at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV. However, the volume and the lifetime of the produced medium may be insufficient for observing strangeness-enhancement and jet-quenching effects. The comparison with calculations suggests that the main production mechanisms of φ mesons at midrapidity may be different in p+Al versus p/d/ 3 He+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV. While thermal quark recombination seems to dominate in p/d/ 3 He+Au collisions, fragmentation seems to be the main production mechanism in p+Al collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

FLAG Review 2021

Abstract We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D -meson, B -meson, and nucleon physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the nuclear and particle physics communities. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor $$f_+(0)$$ f + ( 0 ) arising in the semileptonic $$K \rightarrow \pi $$ K → π transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio $$f_K/f_\pi $$ f K / f π and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements $$V_{us}$$ V us and $$V_{ud}$$ V ud . Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of $$SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R$$ S U ( 2 ) L × S U ( 2 ) R and $$SU(3)_L\times SU(3)_R$$ S U ( 3 ) L × S U ( 3 ) R Chiral Perturbation Theory. We review the determination of the $$B_K$$ B K parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four B parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for $$m_c$$ m c and $$m_b$$ m b as well as those for the decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters of charmed and bottom mesons and baryons. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. We review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant $$\alpha _s$$ α s . We consider nucleon matrix elements, and review the determinations of the axial, scalar and tensor bilinears, both isovector and flavor diagonal. Finally, in this review we have added a new section reviewing determinations of scale-setting quantities.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Observation of the ${B}_s^0$ → D* + D* - decay

The first observation of the $B^{0}_{s}$ → D* + D* - decay and the measurement of its branching ratio relative to the B 0 → D* + D* - decay are presented. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosit y of 9 fb -1 of proton-proton collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV between 2011 and 2018. The decay is observed with more than 10 standard deviations and the time-integrated ratio of branching fractions is determined to be $\frac{\mathcal{B}(B^{0}_{s} → D*^+D*^-)}{\mathcal{B}(B^0 → D*^+D*^-)}$ = 0.269 ± 0.032 ± 0.011 ± 0.008, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third due to the uncertainty of the fragmentation fraction ratio f s /f d . The $B^{0}_{s}$ → D* + D* - branching fraction is calculated to be $\mathcal{B}$ ($B^{0}_{s} → D*^+D*^-)$ = (2.15 ± 0.26 ± 0.09 ± 0.06 ± 0.16) X 10 -4 , where the fourth uncertainty is due to the B 0 → D* + D* - branching fraction. These results are calculated using the average $B^{0}_{s}$ meson lifetime in simulation. Correction factors are reported for scenarios where either a purely heavy or a purely light $B^{0}_{s}$ eigenstate is considered.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the Lifetime and Λ Separation Energy of H Λ 3

The most precise measurements to date of the $^{3}_{Λ}$H lifetime τ and Λ separation energy B Λ are obtained using the data sample of Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV collected by ALICE at the LHC. The $^{3}_{Λ}$H is reconstructed via its charged two-body mesonic decay channel ($^{3}_{Λ}$H → 3 He + π – and the charge-conjugate process). The measured values τ = [253 ± 11 (stat.) ± 6(syst.)] ps and B Λ = [102 ± 63 (stat.) ± 67 (syst.)] keV are compatible with predictions from effective field theories and confirm that the $^{3}_{Λ}$H structure is consistent with a weakly-bound system.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

FLAG Review 2019: Flavour Lattice Averaging Group (FLAG)

Abstract We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D -meson, B -meson, and nucleon physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the nuclear and particle physics communities. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor $$f_+(0)$$ f + ( 0 ) arising in the semileptonic $$K \rightarrow \pi $$ K → π transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio $$f_K/f_\pi $$ f K / f π and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements $$V_{us}$$ V us and $$V_{ud}$$ V ud . Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of $$SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R$$ S U ( 2 ) L × S U ( 2 ) R and $$SU(3)_L\times SU(3)_R$$ S U ( 3 ) L × S U ( 3 ) R Chiral Perturbation Theory. We review the determination of the $$B_K$$ B K parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four B parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for $$m_c$$ m c and $$m_b$$ m b as well as those for D - and B -meson decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. We review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant $$\alpha _s$$ α s . Finally, in this review we have added a new section reviewing results for nucleon matrix elements of the axial, scalar and tensor bilinears, both isovector and flavor diagonal.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Hyperstealth dark matter and long-lived particles

A new dark matter candidate is proposed that arises as the lightest baryon from a confining 𝑆⁢𝑈⁡(𝑁) gauge theory which equilibrates with the Standard Model only through electroweak interactions. Surprisingly, this candidate can be as light as a few GeV. The lower bound arises from the intersection of two competing requirements: (i) the equilibration sector of the model must be sufficiently heavy, at least several TeV, to avoid bounds from colliders, and (ii) the lightest dark meson (that may be the dark 𝜂′, 𝜎, or the lightest glueball) has suppressed interactions with the SM and must decay before big bang nucleosynthesis. The low-energy dark sector consists of one flavor that is electrically neutral and an almost electroweak singlet. The dark matter candidate is the lightest baryon consisting of 𝑁 of these light flavors leading to a highly suppressed elastic scattering rate with the Standard Model (SM). The equilibration sector consists of vectorlike dark quarks that transform under the electroweak group, ensuring that the dark sector can reach thermal equilibrium with the SM in the early Universe. The lightest dark meson lifetimes vary between 10 −3 ≲ 𝑐⁢𝜏 ≲ 10 7 m, providing an outstanding target for LHC production and experimental detection. We delineate the interplay between the lifetime of the light mesons, the suppressed direct detection cross section of the lightest baryon, and the scale of equilibration sector that can be probed at the LHC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Light mesons within the basis light-front quantization framework

In this work, we study the light-unflavored mesons as relativistic bound states in the nonperturbative Hamiltonian formalism of the basis light-front quantization approach. The dynamics for the valence quarks of these mesons is specified by an effective Hamiltonian containing the one-gluon exchange interaction and the confining potentials both introduced in our previous work on heavy quarkonia, supplemented additionally by a pseudoscalar contact interaction. We diagonalize this Hamiltonian in our basis function representation to obtain the mass spectrum and the light-front wave functions (LFWFs). Based on these LFWFs, we then study the structure of these mesons by computing the electromagnetic form factors, the decay constants, the parton distribution amplitudes, and the parton distribution functions. Our results are comparable to those from experiments and other theoretical models.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Systematic study of nuclear effects in p + Al , p + Au , d + Au , and He 3 + Au collisions at s N N = 200 GeV using π 0 production

The PHENIX Collaboration presents a systematic study of inclusive π 0 production from p + p , p + Al , p + Au , d + Au , and He 3 + Au collisions at s N N = 200 GeV . Measurements were performed with different centrality selections as well as the total inelastic, 0–100%, selection for all collision systems. For 0–100% collisions, the nuclear-modification factors, R x A , are consistent with unity for p T above 8 GeV / c , but exhibit an enhancement in peripheral collisions and a suppression in central collisions. The enhancement and suppression characteristics are similar for all systems for the same centrality class. It is shown that for high- p T - π 0 production, the nucleons in the d and He 3 interact mostly independently with the Au nucleus and that the counterintuitive centrality dependence is likely due to a physical correlation between multiplicity and the presence of a hard scattering process. These observations disfavor models where parton energy loss has a significant contribution to nuclear modifications in small systems. Nuclear modifications at lower p T resemble the Cronin effect—an increase followed by a peak in central or inelastic collisions and a plateau in peripheral collisions. The peak height has a characteristic ordering by system size as p + Au > d + Au > He 3 + Au > p + Al . For collisions with Au ions, current calculations based on initial-state cold nuclear matter effects result in the opposite order, suggesting the presence of other contributions to nuclear modifications, in particular at lower p T .

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Search for Nuclear Modifications of 𝐵 + Meson Production in 𝑝-Pb Collisions at $\sqrt{𝑠_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV

Nuclear medium effects on 𝐵 + meson production are studied using the binary-collision scaled cross section ratio between events of different charged-particle multiplicities from proton-lead collisions. Data, collected by the CMS experiment in 2016 at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{𝑠_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 175 nb −1 , were used. The scaling factors in the ratio are determined using a novel approach based on the 𝑍 → 𝜇 − ⁢𝜇 + cross sections measured in the same events. The scaled ratio for 𝐵 + is consistent with unity for all event multiplicities, putting stringent constraints on nuclear modification for heavy flavor.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Probing gluon saturation and nuclear structure in photon-nucleus collisions

We calculate exclusive vector meson photoproduction within the Color Glass Condensate framework in high-energy photon-nucleus scattering probed experimentally in ultra peripheral heavy ion collisions at RHIC and at the LHC. When the free parameters are constrained by the γ + p data from HERA, we predict significant nuclear suppression for both the coherent and incoherent photoproduction cross section in the TeV range. Our results indicate that the LHC data prefers even stronger saturation effects at the highest collision energies. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the linear polarization of photons in ulra peripheral collisions generates azimuthal modulations in the decay products of the exclusively produced vector meson. We show how these measurements can probe details of the nuclear geometry, specifically the deformed structure of the uranium nuclei.

Mäntysaari, Heikki [University of Jyväskylä (Finla↗

Heavy and light flavor jet quenching in heavy-ion collisions in a perturbative QCD approach

In this work, we study the flavor dependence of jet quenching in heavy-ion collisions. A next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD framework is applied to account for both quark and gluon contributions to light and heavy flavor hadron productions. A linear Boltzmann transport model coupled to hydrodynamic simulation is utilized to study the nuclear modification of heavy and light flavor jets in the dynamically evolving quark-gluon plasma. Within our jet quenching framework, we obtain a nice description of the nuclear modification factors of charged hadrons, D mesons, B mesons and B–decayed D mesons over a wide range of transverse momentum (8-300 GeV). Our result shows that perturbative QCD is sufficient to explain the color, mass and energy dependence of parton energy loss and jet quenching in heavy-ion collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

J/ψ photoproduction at the threshold with GlueX

High-statistics total cross sections for the vector meson photoproduction at the threshold: γp → ωp (from A2 at MAMI, ELPH, and CBELSA), γp → ϕp (from CLAS6 at JLab and LEPS at SPring-8), and γp → J/ψp (from GlueX at JLab) allow one to extract the absolute value of vector meson nucleon scattering length using Vector Meson Dominance (VMD) model. The “young” vector meson hypothesis may explain the fact that the obtained scattering length values for the nucleon. ϕ-meson compared to the typical hadron size of approximately ∼ 1 fm indicates that the proton is more transparent for the ϕ-meson compared to the ω-meson and is much less transparent than the J/ψ-meson. The extended analysis of Υ-meson photoproduction using quasi-data from the QCD approach is in perfect agreement with the light-meson findings using experimental data. Finally, the ability of J-PARC to measure $π^{–}p → ϕn$ and $π^{–}p → J/ψn$ at the threshold, which are free from the VMD model, is presented. It enables one to understand the dynamics of $s\bar{s}$ and $c\bar{c}$ production at threshold and to search for the effects of LHCb’s heavy quark exotic states.

Vector meson nucleon scattering length↗