Correlations In Heavy Ion Collisions Research Articles

High event rate analysis technique for the dual-axis duo-lateral position-sensitive silicon detectors of FAUST

The dual-axis duo-lateral (DADL) position-sensitive silicon detector was developed to obtain precise position and energy information for detected charged particles. The Forward Array Using Silicon Technology (FAUST) is currently equipped with 68 DADL detectors backed by CsI(Tl) scintillators for the study of charged particle correlations in heavy-ion collisions where precise position and energy information is essential. When conventional signal processing electronics were used for the DADL detectors, a position dependence of the measured energy as well as distortions in the calculated particle positions were observed. In previous work, waveforms from the detector after preamplification were studied to better understand the features that give rise to these distortions; therein, a waveform analysis technique was developed to improve the energy resolution and linearity in position reconstruction. However, the reading and writing of waveforms for an entire detector array limits data collection rates and adds significant burden in data storage and analysis speed. In this work, the integrators of a Struck SIS3316 ADC were utilized to process 228Th source data to develop and optimize a new analysis method that captures the benefits of the waveform analysis technique while circumventing the waveform writing requirement. This integrator method – capable of 59keV (FWHM) energy resolution – was used in the collection of 35 MeV/nucleon 28Si + 12C collision data using FAUST to investigate exotic decays of highly excited highly deformed nuclei. In this data, a position resolution of 0.4mm (FWHM) was obtained for 25MeV α-particles; for α-particles near this energy that originate from 8Be ground state decays, a 8Be ground state width of 30keV (FWHM) was obtained. The impact of the energy-dependent DADL position resolution emergent from electronic noise on the quality of excited state measurement was modeled and compared to the experimental data.

Study of particle correlations in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC

Study of particle correlations in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC

Strange hadron correlations in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC energies and below

Geometry and dynamics of the particle-emitting source in heavy-ion collisions can be inferred via the femtoscopy method. Two-particle correlations at small relative momentum exploit Quantum Statistics and the Final State Interactions (Coulomb and strong), which allow one to study the space-time characteristics of the source of the order of 10−15 m and 10−23 s. Femtoscopic measurements allow one also to study FSI, especially the strong one, which is unknown for many two-particle systems. The RHIC program covers a significant part of the QCD phase diagram using collisions of Au nuclei for several beam energies from 7.7 to 200 GeV for which baryon-rich region is studied via femtoscopy. These measurements complement those obtained from AGS, SPS, and SIS experiments. Strange hadron measurements together with nonstrange ones provide complementary information about source characteristics. Strangeness is a significant observable for many regimes of collision energies providing a complete view of strangeness production in heavy-ion collisions. These proceedings shows the femtoscopic measurements of various strange particle combinations at different collision energies and centralities of the collision.

Charge-dependent correlations in heavy-ion collisions from stochastic hydrodynamics

Charge-dependent correlations from both background and charge separation contribute to experimental observables in heavy-ion collisions. In this paper, we use stochastic hydrodynamics to study background charge asymmetry due to fluctuations. Using the rapidity-dependent correlation and a simple ansatz for particle distributions, we find a fluctuation-induced correlation to provide a type of background F-correlation. Experimental data for Au+Au collisions at are compared. We also make predictions for F-correlations in isobar collisions. Combining this with our previous chiral magnetic effect results, we obtain δ-correlations for collisions in the three types of system. Computations from our model show an almost identical background with less than 2% difference for isobars, but roughly 10% difference for their charge separations. In combination with our earlier works, we provide a consistent method of calculating both the chiral magnetic effect and the charged background in the context of stochastic hydrodynamics.

Hijing can describe the anisotropy-scaled charge-dependent correlations at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

The experimentally measured charge-depdendent correlations in heavy ion collisions have been suggested as a signature of the chiral magenetic effect (CME). Early model studies could not reproduce the measurement. For example, the Hijing model yielded far smaller magnitude for the charge-dependent correlation than observed in data. This led to the conclusion that the CME had to be invoked to explain the observed correlations in heavy ion collisions. In this paper we show that this conclusion of the CME interpretation is premature. We show that the reason that Hijing predicts a far smaller correlation than data is because the elliptic anisotrpy ($v_{2}$) parameter in Hijing is too small. When properly scaled, the Hijing model can reproduce in entirety the measured correlations. We also employ the AMPT model, which has a large enough $v_2$, to demonstrate that the measured data can be easily accommodated by models without invoking the CME.

Two-particle angular correlations in heavy ion collisions from a multiphase transport model

We extend our earlier study on two-particle angular correlations in $pp$ collisions at low transverse momentum ($p_T$) to $p$-Pb, Pb-Pb and Au-Au collisions at RHIC and LHC energies. We mainly use the string melting version of a multiphase transport model with improved quark coalescence for this study. We start from the analysis of $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$ and $p$($\bar{p}$) $p_T$ and rapidity distributions at different centralities. We then focus on two-particle angular correlations in $p$-Pb collisions at $\mathrm{\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02}$ TeV and Pb-Pb collisions at $\mathrm{\sqrt{s_{NN}}= 2.76}$ TeV. For $p$-Pb collisions, a near side depression in the angular correlation is observed for low $p_T$ proton pairs and $\Lambda$ pairs but not for pion pairs or kaon pairs, similar to our earlier finding for $pp$ collisions at $\mathrm{\sqrt{s}= 7}$ TeV. This is also the case for very low multiplicity Pb-Pb and Au-Au collisions. We also find that parton interactions and the improved quark coalescence are mainly responsible for the depression feature in baryon pair angular correlations. However, no such baryon-baryon anti-correlations are observed in Pb-Pb and Au-Au collisions at higher multiplicities. Therefore our results suggest that low $p_T$ baryon-baryon angular anti-correlations have a strong multiplicity dependence.

Multiparticle and charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in heavy-ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider

We study multi-particle azimuthal correlations in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at a center of mass energy of 200 GeV. We use the IP-Glasma model to initialize the viscous hydrodynamic simulation MUSIC and employ the UrQMD transport model for the low temperature region of the collisions. In addition, we study effects of local charge and global momentum conservation among the sampled particles. With the exception of the lowest order three particle correlator $C_{112}$, our framework provides a good description of the existing charge inclusive azimuthal correlation data for Au+Au and U+U collisions at RHIC. We also present results for charge dependent two and three particle correlators in Au+Au and U+U collisions, and make predictions for isobar (Ru+Ru & Zr+Zr) collisions to provide a much needed baseline for the search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect at RHIC.

Effect of the QCD equation of state and strange hadronic resonances on multiparticle correlations in heavy ion collisions

The QCD equation of state at zero baryon chemical potential is the only element of the standard dynamical framework to describe heavy ion collisions that can be directly determined from first principles. Continuum extrapolated lattice QCD equations of state have been computed using 2+1 quark flavors (up/down and strange) as well as 2+1+1 flavors to investigate the effect of thermalized charm quarks on QCD thermodynamics. Lattice results have also indicated the presence of new strange resonances that not only contribute to the equation of state of QCD matter but also affect hadronic afterburners used to model the later stages of heavy ion collisions. We investigate how these new developments obtained from first principles calculations affect multiparticle correlations in heavy ion collisions. We compare the commonly used equation of state S95n-v1, which was constructed using what are now considered outdated lattice results and hadron states, to the current state-of-the-art lattice QCD equations of state with 2+1 and 2+1+1 flavors coupled to the most up-to-date hadronic resonances and their decays. New hadronic resonances lead to an enhancement in the hadronic spectra at intermediate $p_T$. Using an outdated equation of state can directly affect the extraction of the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio, $\eta/s$, of the quark-gluon plasma and results for different flow observables. The effects of the QCD equation of state on multiparticle correlations of identified particles are determined for both AuAu $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV and PbPb $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV collisions. New insights into the $v_2\{2\}$ to $v_3\{2\}$ puzzle in ultracentral collisions are found. Flow observables of heavier particles exhibit more non-linear behavior regardless of the assumptions about the equation of state, which may provide a new way to constrain the temperature dependence of $\eta/s$.

Event plane dependence of the flow modulated background in dihadron and jet-hadron correlations in heavy ion collisions

Di-hadron and jet-hadron correlations are commonly used in relativistic heavy ion collisions to study the soft component of jets in a quark gluon plasma. There is a large correlated background which is described by the Fourier decomposition of the azimuthal anisotropy where $v_n$ is the $n$th order coefficient. The path length dependence of partonic energy loss can be studied by varying the angle of the high momentum trigger particle or jet relative to a reconstructed event plane. This modifies the shape of the background correlated with that event plane. The original derivation of the shape of this background only considered correlations relative to the second order event plane, which is correlated to the initial participant plane. We derive the shape of this background for an event plane at an arbitrary order. There is a phase shift in the case of jets restricted to asymmetric regions relative to the event plane. For realistic correlations between event planes, the correlation between the second and fourth order event planes leads to a much smaller effect than the finite event plane resolution at each order. Finally, we assess the status of the rapidity even $v_1$ term due to flow, which has been measured to be comparable to $v_2$ and $v_3$ terms.

Two-pion and Two-kaon Femtoscopic Correlations in Au+Au Collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV from STAR

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Principal component analysis of the nonlinear coupling of harmonic modes in heavy-ion collisions

The principal component analysis of flow correlations in heavy-ion collisions is studied. The correlation matrix of harmonic flow is generalized to correlations involving several different flow vectors. The method can be applied to study the nonlinear coupling between different harmonic modes in a double differential way in transverse momentum or pseudorapidity. The procedure is illustrated with results from the hydrodynamic model applied to Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s}=2760$GeV. Three examples of generalized correlations matrices in transverse momentum are constructed corresponding to the coupling of $v_2^2$ and $v_4$, of $v_2v_3$ and $v_5$, or of $v_2^3$, $v_3^3$, and $v_6$. The principal component decomposition is applied to the correlation matrices and the dominant modes are calculated.

Charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in pPb collisions with CMS experiment

Charge-dependent azimuthal correlations relative to the event plane in AA collisions have been suggested as providing evidence for the chiral magnetic effect (CME) caused by local strong parity violation. However, the observation of the CME remains inconclusive because of several possible sources of background correlations that may account for part or all of the observed signals. This talk will present the first application of three-particle, charge-dependent azimuthal correlation analysis in proton-nucleus collisions, using pPb data collected with the CMS experiment at the LHC at sNN=5.02 TeV. The differences found in comparing same and opposite sign correlations are studied as a function of event multiplicity and the pseudorapidity gap between two of the particles detected in the CMS tracker detector. After selecting events with comparable charge-particle multiplicities, the results for pPb collisions are found to be similar to those for PbPb collisions collected at the same collision energy. With a reduced magnetic field strength and a random field orientation in high multiplicity pPb events, the CME contribution to any charge separation signal is expected to be much smaller than found in peripheral PbPb events. These results pose a challenge for the interpretation of charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in heavy ion collisions in terms of the chiral magnetic effect.

Measurement of D*-meson triggered correlations in p+p collisions at RHIC

We report the preliminary results of the azimuthal correlations between D*± mesons and charged hadrons (D*-h) measured by the STAR experiment in proton+proton collisions at s=500 GeV. Results at mid-rapidity in the transverse-momentum range 8≤pTD⁎≤20 GeV/c are compared with light hadron triggered correlations (h-h) and PYTHIA predictions. We also present an exploratory study of azimuthal correlations between D*+ and D*− mesons in p+p collisions. The prospects of measuring heavy-flavor triggered correlations in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC energies are also discussed.

Observables for longitudinal flow correlations in heavy-ion collisions

We propose several new observables/correlators, based on correlations between two or more subevents separated in pseudorapidity η, to study the longitudinal flow fluctuations. We show that these observables are sensitive to the event-by-event fluctuations, as a function of η, of the initial condition as well as the nonlinear mode-mixing effects. Experimental measurement of these observables shall provide important new constraints on the boost-variant event-by-event initial conditions required by all 3+1-dimensional viscous hydrodynamics models.

Relating measurable correlations in heavy ion collisions to bulk properties of equilibrated QCD matter

In order to compare theoretical calculations of thermal fluctuations of conserved quantities, such as charge susceptibilities or the specific heat, to experimentally measured correlations and fluctuations in heavy ion collisions, one must confront the reality of changing conditions within the collision environment, and transport of conserved quantities within the finite duration of the expansion and dissolution of the reaction. In previous work, fluctuations of conserved charges from lattice calculations, where charge is allowed to fluctuate within the designated volume consistent with the grand canonical ensemble, was linked to correlations in heavy-ion collisions, which accounted for the finite time with which to transport absolutely conserved quanatities. In this case details of the correlations were related to the evolution of the susceptibility. In this work, this paradigm is extended to compare fluctuations of momentum or energy to transverse energy correlations that can be measured in heavy-ion collisions. The sensitivity of these correlations to the equation of state, viscosity and diffusion is illustrated by considering simple models without transverse expansion. Only correlations in relative spatial rapidity are discussed here, but the prospects for extending these ideas to realistic calculations and for making realistic connections with experiment are discussed.

Observation of Charge-Dependent Azimuthal Correlations in p-Pb Collisions and Its Implication for the Search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect.

Charge-dependent azimuthal particle correlations with respect to the second-order event plane in p-Pb and PbPb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02TeV have been studied with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurement is performed with a three-particle correlation technique, using two particles with the same or opposite charge within the pseudorapidity range |η|<2.4, and a third particle measured in the hadron forward calorimeters (4.4<|η|<5). The observed differences between the same and opposite sign correlations, as functions of multiplicity and η gap between the two charged particles, are of similar magnitude in p-Pb and PbPb collisions at the same multiplicities. These results pose a challenge for the interpretation of charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in heavy ion collisions in terms of the chiral magnetic effect.

Probing transverse momentum broadening in heavy ion collisions

We study the dijet azimuthal de-correlation in relativistic heavy ion collisions as an important probe of the transverse momentum broadening effects of a high energy jet traversing the quark–gluon plasma. We take into account both the soft gluon radiation in vacuum associated with the Sudakov logarithms and the jet PT-broadening effects in the QCD medium. We find that the Sudakov effects are dominant at the LHC, while the medium effects can play an important role at RHIC energies. This explains why the LHC experiments have not yet observed sizable PT-broadening effects in the measurement of dijet azimuthal correlations in heavy ion collisions. Future investigations at RHIC will provide a unique opportunity to study the PT-broadening effects and help to pin down the underlying mechanism for jet energy loss in a hot and dense medium.

Theory of collective dynamics: flow, fluctuations and correlations in heavy ion collisions

I review recent developments in the hydrodynamic modeling of ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions and the extraction of the properties of bulk QCD matter from heavy ion collision measurements. I briefly summarize the current framework used for the theoretical modeling of heavy ion collisions and report the recent progress on the extraction of the temperature dependence of the shear and bulk viscosity coefficients, the development of statistical tools for data-to-model comparison, and anisotropic hydrodynamics. All these recent developments in our field pave the way for more quantitative determination of the transport properties of bulk QCD matter from the experimental heavy ion collision program.

Multipion correlations induced by isospin conservation of coherent emission

Recent measurements have revealed a significant suppression of multipion Bose-Einstein correlations in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. The suppression may be explained by postulating coherent pion emission. Typically, the suppression of Bose-Einstein correlations due to coherence is taken into account with the coherent state formalism in quantum optics. However, since charged pion correlations are most often measured, the additional constraint of isospin conservation, which is absent in quantum optics, needs to be taken into account. As a consequence, correlations emerge between pions of opposite charge. A calculation of the correlations induced by isospin conservation of coherent emission is made for two, three- and four-pion correlation functions and compared to the data from the LHC.

Removing the influence of centrality fluctuations in the analysis of forward-backward multiplicity correlations in heavy-ion collisions

In high-energy heavy-ion collisions, forward-backward multiplicity (FB) correlation strengths are affected greatly by centrality fluctuation and centrality window width. A method called ${\mathrm{FB}}_{\mathrm{relative}}$ is raised to reduce or remove the influence. This method is tested by a Monte Carlo simulation and is compared with the ${\mathrm{FB}}_{\mathrm{average}}$ and ${\mathrm{FB}}_{\mathrm{profile}}$ methods. The ${\mathrm{FB}}_{\mathrm{relative}}$ method is also used for the hijing event generator of Au+Au collisions, and comparisons between the correlation strengths of different collision energies $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}$ from 7.7 to 200 GeV are shown. As a result, the correlation strengths are all very weak, and the similarities of correlation strengths $b$ of different centrality windows within 0%--50% are obvious, and it is observed that the correlation strengths decrease with the increasing pseudorapidity gap at $\left|\ensuremath{\eta}\right|l2$.