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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

W ± -boson production in p–Pb collisions at $ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} $ = 8.16 TeV and Pb–Pb collisions at $ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} $ = 5.02 TeV

The production of the W ± bosons measured in p–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon collision $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV and Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with ALICE at the LHC is presented. The W ± bosons are measured via their muonic decay channel, with the muon reconstructed in the pseudorapidity region -4 < η$_{lab}^{μ}$ < -2.5 with transverse momentum p$_{T}^{μ}$ > 10 GeV/c. While in Pb–Pb collisions the measurements are performed in the forward (2.5 < y$_{cms}^{μ}$ < 4) rapidity region, in p–Pb collisions, where the centre-of-mass frame is boosted with respect to the laboratory frame, the measurements are performed in the backward (-4.46 < y$_{cms}^{μ}$ < -2.96) and forward (2.03 < y$_{cms}^{μ}$ < 3.53) rapidity regions. The W - and W + production cross sections, lepton-charge asymmetry, and nuclear modification factors are evaluated as a function of the muon rapidity. In order to study the production as a function of the p–Pb collision centrality, the production cross sections of the W - and W + bosons are combined and normalised to the average number of binary nucleon–nucleon collision $\langle$N coll $\rangle$. In Pb–Pb collisions, the same measurements are presented as a function of the collision centrality. Study of the binary scaling of the W ± -boson cross sections in p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions is also reported. The results are compared with perturbative QCD calculations, with and without nuclear modifications of the Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs), as well as with available data at the LHC. Significant deviations from the theory expectations are found in the two collision systems, indicating that the measurements can provide additional constraints for the determination of nuclear PDFs and in particular of the light-quark distributions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Differential Measurements of Jet Substructure and Partonic Energy Loss in Au+Au Collisions at √ sNN = 200 GeV

The STAR collaboration presents jet substructure measurements related to both the momentum fraction and the opening angle within jets in p+p and Au+Au collisions at √sNN =200GeV. The substructure observables include SoftDrop groomed momentum fraction (zg), groomed jet radius (Rg), and subjet momentum fraction (zSJ) and opening angle (θSJ). The latter observable is introduced for the first time. Fully corrected subjet measurements are presented for p+p collisions and are compared to leading-order Monte Carlo models. The subjet θSJ distributions reflect the jets leading opening angle and are utilized as a proxy for the resolution scale of the medium in Au+Au collisions. We compare data from Au+Au collisions to those from p+p which are embedded in minimum-bias Au+Au events in order to include the effects of detector smearing and the heavy-ion collision underlying event. The subjet observables are shown to be more robust to the background than zg and Rg. We observe no significant modifications of the subjet observables within the two highest-energy, back-to-back jets, resulting in a distribution of opening angles and the splittings that are vacuumlike. We also report measurements of the differential dijet momentum imbalance (AJ) for jets of varying θSJ. We find no qualitative differences in energy loss signatures for varying angular scales in the range 0.1< θSJ<0.3, leading to the possible interpretation that energy loss in this population of high-momentum dijet pairs, is due to soft medium-induced gluon radiation from a single color charge as it traverses the medium.

Abdallah, M. S.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Identified charged-hadron production in 𝑝+Al, 3 He + Au, and Cu + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV and in U + U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV

The PHENIX experiment has performed a systematic study of identified charged-hadron (𝜋 ± , 𝐾 ± , 𝑝, $\bar{𝑝}$) production at midrapidity in 𝑝 + Al, 3 He + Au, and Cu + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV and U + U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV. Identified charged-hadron invariant transverse-momentum (𝑝 𝑇 ) and transverse-mass (𝑚 𝑇 ) spectra are presented and interpreted in terms of radially expanding thermalized systems. The particle ratios of 𝐾/𝜋 and 𝑝/𝜋 have been measured in different centrality ranges of large (Cu + Au and U + U) and small (𝑝 + Al and 3 He + Au) collision systems. The values of 𝐾/𝜋 ratios measured in all considered collision systems were found to be consistent with those measured in 𝑝+𝑝 collisions. However, the values of 𝑝/𝜋 ratios measured in large collision systems reach the values of ≈0.6, which is a factor of ≈2 larger than in 𝑝 + 𝑝 collisions. These results can be qualitatively understood in terms of the baryon enhancement expected from hadronization by recombination. Identified charged-hadron nuclear-modification factors (𝑅 𝐴⁢𝐵 ) are also presented. Enhancement of proton 𝑅 𝐴⁢𝐵 values over meson 𝑅 𝐴⁢𝐵 values was observed in central 3 He + Au, Cu + Au, and U + U collisions. Finally, the proton 𝑅 𝐴⁢𝐵 values measured in the 𝑝 + Al collision system were found to be consistent with 𝑅 𝐴⁢𝐵 values of 𝜙, 𝜋 ± , 𝐾 ± , and 𝜋 0 mesons, which may indicate that the size of the system produced in 𝑝 + Al collisions is too small for recombination to cause a noticeable increase in proton production.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Production of Λ and $K^{0}_{S}$ in jets in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ =7 TeV

The production of Λ baryons and $K^{0}_{S}$ mesons (V 0 particles) was measured in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The production of these strange particles is studied separately for particles associated with hard scatterings and the underlying event to shed light on the baryon-to-meson ratio enhancement observed at intermediate transverse momentum (p T ) in high multiplicity pp and p–Pb collisions. Hard scatterings are selected on an event-by-event basis with jets reconstructed with the anti-k T algorithm using charged particles. The production of strange particles associated with jets $p^{ch}_{T,}$ jet > 10 and $p^{ch}_{T,}$ jet > 20 GeV/c in p–Pb collisions, and with jet $p^{ch}_{T,}$ jet > 10 GeV/c in pp collisions is reported as a function of p T . Its dependence on angular distance from the jet axis, R(V 0 , jet), for jets with $p^{ch}_{T,}$ jet > 10 GeV/c in p–Pb collisions is reported as well. The p T -differential production spectra of strange particles associated with jets are found to be harder compared to that in the underlying event and both differ from the inclusive measurements. In events containing a jet, the density of the V 0 particles in the underlying event is found to be larger than the density in the minimum bias events. The Λ/$K^{0}_{S}$ ratio associated with jets in p–Pb collisions is consistent with the ratio in pp collisions and follows the expectation of jets fragmenting in vacuum. On the other hand, this ratio within jets is consistently lower than the one obtained in the underlying event and it does not show the characteristic enhancement of baryons at intermediate p T often referred to as “baryon anomaly” in the inclusive measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of φ-meson production in Cu + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV and U + U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV

The PHENIX experiment reports systematic measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider of φ-meson production in asymmetric Cu + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV and in U + U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 193 GeV. Measurements were performed via the φ → K + K – decay channel at midrapidity |η| < 0.35. Features of φ- meson production measured in Cu + Cu, Cu + Au, Au + Au, and U + U collisions were found to not depend on the collision geometry, which was expected because the yields are averaged over the azimuthal angle and follow the expected scaling with nuclear-overlap size. The elliptic flow of the φ meson in Cu + Au, Au + Au, and U + U collisions scales with second-order-participant eccentricity and the length scale of the nuclear-overlap region (estimated with the number of participating nucleons). At moderate $p_T$ , φ-meson production measured in Cu + Au and U + U collisions is consistent with coalescence-model predictions, whereas at high $p_T$ the production is in agreement with expectations for in-medium energy loss of parent partons prior to their fragmentation. Finally, the elliptic flow for φ mesons measured in Cu + Au and U + U collisions is well described by a (2+1)-dimensional viscous-hydrodynamic model with specific-shear viscosity η/s = 1/4π.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of ψ (2S) production as a function of charged-particle pseudorapidity density in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and p–Pb collisions at $ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 8.16 TeV with ALICE at the LHC

Production of inclusive charmonia in pp collisions at center-of-mass energy of $ \sqrt{s}$= 13 TeV and p–Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 8.16 TeV is studied as a function of charged-particle pseudorapidity density with ALICE. Ground and excited charmonium states (J/ψ, ψ(2S)) are measured from their dimuon decays in the interval of rapidity in the center-of-mass frame 2.5 < y cms < 4.0 for pp collisions, and 2.03 < y cms < 3.53 and –4.46 < y cms < –2.96 for p–Pb collisions. The charged-particle pseudorapidity density is measured around midrapidity (|η| < 1.0). In pp collisions, the measured charged-particle multiplicity extends to about six times the average value, while in p-Pb collisions at forward (backward) rapidity a multiplicity corresponding to about three (four) times the average is reached. The ψ(2S) yield increases with the charged-particle pseudorapidity density. The ratio of ψ(2S) over J/ψ yield does not show a significant multiplicity dependence in either colliding system, suggesting a similar behavior of J/ψ and ψ(2S) yields with respect to charged-particle pseudorapidity density. Results for the ψ(2S) yield and its ratio with respect to J/ψ agree with available model calculations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Verification of a Monte Carlo binary collision model for simulating elastic and inelastic collisions in particle-in-cell simulations

We present the development and verification of a Monte Carlo binary collision model for simulating elastic and inelastic collisions in particle-in-cell simulations. We apply the corrected binary collision model originally developed for charged-particles collisions to all considered scattering channels, including Coulomb collisions, elastic neutral–neutral and charged–neutral collisions, ionization, excitation, and fusion. The model's implementation is described and verified through a series of simulations, including charged- and neutral-particle thermal equilibration, slowing of electrons in warm solid-density aluminum, collisional damping of a Langmuir wave, helium gas breakdown in an applied electric field, and thermonuclear and beam–target fusion. Then, we demonstrate the model within simulations of hydrogen plasma formation in the Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration as well as of the burning of aneutronic fusion fuel p-11B. The latter includes measurement of the fusion power density in a low-density plasma and fusion production due to the stopping of a proton ignitor beam in a compressed boron target.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Manipulating strong electromagnetic fields with the average transverse momentum of relativistic nuclear collisions

Abstract We show that an event-shape engineering based on the mean transverse momentum of charged hadrons, $$[p_t]$$ [ p t ] , provides an optimal handle on the strength of the magnetic field created in central heavy-ion collisions at high energy. This is established through quantitative evaluations of the correlation existing between the event-by-event magnetic field produced by the spectator protons in 5.02 TeV Pb + Pb collisions and the event-by-event $$[p_t]$$ [ p t ] at a given collision centrality. We argue that the event selection based on $$[p_t]$$ [ p t ] provides a better handle on the magnetic field than the more traditional selection based on the event ellipticities. Advantages brought by this new method for the experimental search of the chiral magnetic effect are discussed.

Giacalone, Giuliano (ORCID:0000000287761034)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Collision-energy dependence of deuteron cumulants and proton-deuteron correlations in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

We report the first measurements of cumulants, up to 4th order, of deuteron number distributions and proton-deuteron correlations in Au+Au collisions recorded by the STAR experiment in phase-I of Beam Energy Scan (BES) program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Deuteron cumulants, their ratios, and proton-deuteron mixed cumulants are presented for different collision centralities covering a range of center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 7.7$ to 200 GeV. It is found that the cumulant ratios at lower collision energies favor a canonical ensemble over a grand canonical ensemble in thermal models. An anti-correlation between proton and deuteron multiplicity is observed across all collision energies and centralities, consistent with the expectation from global baryon number conservation. The UrQMD model coupled with a phase-space coalescence mechanism qualitatively reproduces the collision-energy dependence of cumulant ratios and proton-deuteron correlations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Collision-Energy Dependence in Heavy-Ion Collisions from Nonlinear QCD Evolution

We explore the effects of including the energy dependence determined from evolution equations within the color glass condensate framework on observables in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. This amounts to integrating the JIMWLK evolution equations into the impact parameter-dependent glasma model, which is then coupled to viscous relativistic hydrodynamics. This methodology allows for a systematic representation of nuclei at specific Bjorken-x values, which are probed at different center-of-mass energies of the collision and rapidities of final state particles. Comparing the methodology to the conventional impact parameter-dependent glasma model, we find significant effects on multiplicity distributions and particle spectra, especially in smaller collision systems at the highest center-of-mass energies. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating nonlinear QCD evolution in the description of heavy-ion collisions at varying center-of-mass energies, as the precise extraction of transport coefficients will be affected. This Letter establishes a robust framework for understanding the quark gluon plasma and nuclear structure at high energy, integrating small-x physics into the initial conditions of heavy-ion collisions.

Mäntysaari, Heikki↗
DOE OSTI2024

Proton and neutron density distributions at supranormal density in low- and medium-energy heavy-ion collisions. II. Central Pb + Pb collisions

This paper represents a continuation of our investigation into the limitations on total, proton, and neutron particle number densities, as well as the asymmetry of proton and neutron density distributions achievable in central heavy-ion collisions. We explore these aspects at low and medium energies within the framework of the Boltzmann-Uhlenbeck-Uehling (pBUU) transport and time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) models. Previous studies, focusing on symmetric and asymmetric collisions of Ca and Sn nuclei [1], and initial results on Pb-nuclei collisions [2], emphasized the role of the Coulomb interaction in these events. Our findings indicated that: (i) the highest total densities predicted at 𝐸 beam = 800 MeV/nucleon were on the order of ≈ 2.5⁢𝜌 0 (𝜌 0 = 0.16 fm −3 ), (ii) the proton-neutron asymmetry for maximal densities, 𝛿=(𝜌$^{max}_{n}$− 𝜌$^{max}_{p}$)/(𝜌$^{max}_{n}$+𝜌$^{max}_{p}$), did not generally exceed the asymmetry in the initial state of the collision at all beam energies and tended to decrease during the reaction, and (iii) a significant portion of this asymmetry had its microscopic origin in Coulomb forces, masking the pure nuclear contribution. These new findings, particularly relevant in the astrophysical context, are further examined in this work, focusing on the heaviest target-projectile combination 212,208 Pb accessible in an experiment. We introduce the SkT3 Skyrme force model, not previously used for the Pb system, and compare it to the SV-bas and SV-sym34 models to explore the symmetry-energy dependence of the results. Contour plots of nucleonic densities are presented, contrasting the time evolution of the density distributions in low (TDHF) and high (pBUU) models. We also present the evolution of normalized maximal proton, neutron, and total nucleon number density with increasing beam energy in the full pBUU model and the Vlasov approximation, aiming to explore the impact of correlations in the reaction. The time evolution of the proton and neutron density distributions in the plane transverse to the beam direction is illustrated at both low and high beam energy. In conclusion, our detailed examination of the Pb system in this work provides further essential evidence that the aforementioned findings (i)–(iii) are only weakly dependent on system size and a symmetry-energy model, and thus, they are of more general importance.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A higher-order finite-element implementation of the nonlinear Fokker–Planck collision operator for charged particle collisions in a low density plasma

Collisions between particles in a low density plasma are described by the Fokker–Planck collision operator. In applications, this nonlinear integro-differential operator is often approximated by linearised or ad-hoc model operators due to computational cost and complexity. In this work, we present an implementation of the nonlinear Fokker–Planck collision operator written in terms of Rosenbluth potentials in the Rosenbluth–MacDonald–Judd (RMJ) form. The Rosenbluth potentials may be obtained either by direct integration or by solving partial differential equations (PDEs) similar to Poisson's equation: we optimise for performance and scalability by using sparse matrices to solve the relevant PDEs. We represent the distribution function using a tensor-product continuous-Galerkin finite-element representation and we derive and describe the implementation of the weak form of the collision operator. We present tests demonstrating a successful implementation using an explicit time integrator and we comment on the speed and accuracy of the operator. Finally, we speculate on the potential for applications in the current and next generation of kinetic plasma models.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
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 OSTI2023

Collision-energy dependence of the Breit-Wheeler process in heavy-ion collisions and its application to nuclear charge radius measurements

The collision energy dependence of the cross section and the transverse momentum distribution of dielectrons from the Breit-Wheeler process in heavy-ion collisions are computed in the lowest-order QED and found to be sensitive to the nuclear charge distribution and the infrared divergence of the ultra-Lorentz-boosted Coulomb field. Within a given experimental kinematic acceptance, the cross section is found to increase while the pair transverse momentum ($\sqrt{\langle{p^2_T}\rangle}$) decreases with increasing beam energy. We demonstrate that the transverse-momentum component of Weizsäcker-Williams photons is due to the finite extent of the charge source and electric field component in the longitudinal direction. We further clarify the connection between the nuclear charge distribution and the kinematics of produced e + e - from the Breit-Wheeler process, and propose a criterion for the validity of the Breit-Wheeler process in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Following this approach we demonstrate that the experimental measurements of the Breit-Wheeler process in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions can be used to quantitatively constrain the nuclear charge radius. The extracted parameters show sensitivity to the impact parameter dependence, and can be used to study the initial-state and final-state effects in hadronic interactions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Multiplicity and event-scale dependent flow and jet fragmentation in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV

Long- and short-range correlations for pairs of charged particles are studied via two-particle angular correlations in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The correlation functions are measured as a function of relative azimuthal angle Δφ and pseudorapidity separation Δη for pairs of primary charged particles within the pseudorapidity interval |η| < 0.9 and the transverse-momentum interval 1 < p T < 4 GeV/c. Flow coefficients are extracted for the long-range correlations (1.6 < |Δη| < 1.8) in various high-multiplicity event classes using the low-multiplicity template ft method. The method is used to subtract the enhanced yield of away-side jet fragments in high-multiplicity events. These results show decreasing flow signals toward lower multiplicity events. Furthermore, the flow coefficients for events with hard probes, such as jets or leading particles, do not exhibit any significant changes compared to those obtained from high-multiplicity events without any specific event selection criteria. The results are compared with hydrodynamic-model calculations, and it is found that a better understanding of the initial conditions is necessary to describe the results, particularly for low-multiplicity events.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Pattern of global spin alignment of ϕ and K*0 mesons in heavy-ion collisions

The strong force, as one of the four fundamental forces at work in the universe, governs interactions of quarks and gluons, and binds together the atomic nucleus. Notwithstanding decades of progress since Yukawa first developed a description of the force between nucleons in terms of meson exchange 1 , a full understanding of the strong interaction remains a major challenge in modern science. One remaining difficulty arises from the non-perturbative nature of the strong force, which leads to the phenomenon of quark confinement at distance scales on the order of the size of the proton. Here we show that in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, where quarks and gluons are set free over an extended volume, two species of produced vector (spin-1) mesons, namely φ and K∗0 , emerge with a surprising pattern of global spin alignment. In particular, the global spin alignment for φ is unexpectedly large, while that for K∗0 is consistent with zero. The observed spin-alignment pattern and magnitude for the φ cannot be explained by conventional mechanisms, while a model with strong force fields2, 3 accommodates the current data. This is the first time that the strong force field is experimentally supported as a key mechanism that leads to global spin alignment. We extract a quantity proportional to the intensity of the field of the strong force. Within the framework of the Standard Model, where the strong force is typically described in the quark and gluon language of Quantum Chromodynamics, the field being considered here is an effective proxy description. This is a qualitatively new class of measurement, which opens a new avenue for studying the behaviour of strong force fields via their imprint on spin alignment.

Abdallah, M. S.↗
DOE OSTI2023

A search for decays of the Higgs boson to invisible particles in events with a top-antitop quark pair or a vector boson in proton-proton collisions at $$\sqrt{s} = 13\,\text {Te}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V} $$

A search for decays to invisible particles of Higgs bosons produced in association with a top-antitop quark pair or a vector boson, which both decay to a fully hadronic final state, has been performed using proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138fb -1 . The 95% confidence level upper limit set on the branching fraction of the 125 GeV Higgs boson to invisible particles, B(H → inv), is 0.54 (0.39 expected), assuming standard model production cross sections. The results of this analysis are combined with previous B(H → inv) searches carried out at $\sqrt{s} = 7$, 8, and 13 TeV in complementary production modes. The combined upper limit at 95% confidence level on B(H → inv) is 0.15 (0.08 expected).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

One Collision—Two Substituents: Gas–Phase Preparation of Xylenes under Single–Collision Conditions

The fundamental reaction pathways to the simplest dialkylsubstituted aromatics—xylenes (C 6 H 4 (CH 3 ) 2 )—in high-temperature combustion flames and in low-temperature extraterrestrial environments are still unknown, but critical to understand the chemistry and molecular mass growth processes in these extreme environments. Exploiting crossed molecular beam experiments augmented by state-of-the-art electronic structure and statistical calculations, this study uncovers a previously elusive, facile gas-phase synthesis of xylenes through an isomer-selective reaction of 1-propynyl (methylethynyl, CH 3 CC) with 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene, C 5 H 8 ). The reaction dynamics are driven by a barrierless addition of the radical to the diene moiety of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene followed by extensive isomerization (hydrogen shifts, cyclization) prior to unimolecular decomposition accompanied by aromatization via atomic hydrogen loss. This overall exoergic reaction affords a preparation of xylenes not only in high-temperature environments such as in combustion flames and around circumstellar envelopes of carbon-rich Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars, but also in low-temperature cold molecular clouds (10 K) and in hydrocarbon-rich atmospheres of planets and their moons such as Triton and Titan. Furthermore, our study established a hitherto unknown gas-phase route to xylenes and potentially more complex, disubstituted benzenes via a single collision event highlighting the significance of an alkyl-substituted ethynyl-mediated preparation of aromatic molecules in our Universe.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗