Central Collisions Research Articles

The fate of weakly bound light nuclei in central collider experiments: A challenge in favor of a late continuous decoupling mechanism

Arguments are presented that the reaction products of central high energy nuclear collisions up to collider energies can rigorously be interpreted in terms of a continuous decoupling mechanism based on continuous equations of motion. The various aspects of the collision dynamics are investigated in terms of the individual decoupling processes. Thereby each observed particle decouples during its own temporal decoupling window. This includes a “very late” decoupling of the faintly bound Hypertritons observed in recent ALICE experiments. The success of the strategy is based upon 200 years old wisdom and leads to a revised interpretation of the entire decoupling process.

Direct Evidence of Breakdown of Spin Statistics in Ion-Atom Charge Exchange Collisions

Direct Evidence of Breakdown of Spin Statistics in Ion-Atom Charge Exchange Collisions

Strangeness production in sNN\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sqrt{s_{\ extrm{NN}}} $$\\end{document} = 3 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC

We report multi-differential measurements of strange hadron production ranging from mid- to target-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at a center-of-momentum energy per nucleon pair of sNN\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sqrt{s_{\ extrm{NN}}} $$\\end{document} = 3 GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC. KS0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {K}_S^0 $$\\end{document} meson and Λ hyperon yields are measured via their weak decay channels. Collision centrality and rapidity dependences of the transverse momentum spectra and particle ratios are presented. Particle mass and centrality dependence of the average transverse momenta of Λ and KS0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {K}_S^0 $$\\end{document} are compared with other strange particles, providing evidence of the development of hadronic rescattering in such collisions. The 4π yields of each of these strange hadrons show a consistent centrality dependence. Discussions on radial flow, the strange hadron production mechanism, and properties of the medium created in such collisions are presented together with results from hadronic transport and thermal model calculations.

An elastoplastic beam bond model for DEM simulation of deformable materials and breakage behaviors

AbstractIn modern chemical engineering production, numerous elastoplastic materials, often formed into agglomerates, frequently undergo plastic deformation and rupture. Understanding how these materials behave under different conditions is crucial for improving manufacturing processes and material design. In this work, an elastoplastic beam bond model for discrete element method (DEM) simulation was developed, in which a yield criterion is introduced into Timoshenko beam bond method. The model can simulate not just the initial elastic (stretchy) behavior of the materials but also their plastic (permanent) deformation behaviors. The model was applied to central collision of two agglomerates, agglomerate uniaxial compression, and agglomerate‐wall impact cases. It is shown that the updated model could predict the behavior of materials that undergo permanent changes under stress, compared to previous models that only considered elastic behaviors. This could enable more accurate simulations of particulate materials and aid in better process design.

Analysis of transverse momentum spectra of protons, deuterons, and tritons in symmetric heavy-ion collisions at √(s_NN ) = 200 GeV at the RHIC

Abstract The blast wave model with Tsallis statistics is used to analyze the transverse momentum spectra of the protons (p), deuteron (d), and triton (t) in √(s_NN ) = 200 GeV gold-gold (Au-Au) collisions at RHIC in various centrality bins. In particular transverse momentum ranges, model results closely match experimental data from the PHENIX (p) and STAR (d and t) Collaborations. The data is compared with protons obtained in Cu+Cu collisions and deuteron and triton in Ru+Ru collisions at 200 GeV, center of mass energy from STAR collaboration. Particle spectra are used to derive the kinetic freeze-out temperatures, transverse flow velocities, and freeze-out volumes. According to the findings, the kinetic freeze-out temperature rises as one goes from the central to peripheral collisions. In this transition, the transverse flow velocity and the freeze-out volume both drop. In the collisions of both Collaborations, this work reveals mass-dependent kinetic freeze-out temperature and differential volume possibilities. On the whole, the non-extensivity parameter q decreases with increasing centrality of the studied heavy-ion collisions, and heavier mass particles have smaller values of q, which implies higher degrees of thermalization and equilibrium in more central collisions and for heavier particles.

Effects of anode evaporation process on the anode sheath characteristics in vacuum arc plasma

Abstract The anode sheath of vacuum arc plasma plays a key role in the generation of anode plasma, but the effects of anode evaporation on the anode sheath remains unclear. In this paper, a theoretical model of a collisional sheath for multi-component plasma coupled with anode evaporation is developed, and the spatial evolution of the anode sheath at different anode surface temperatures is investigated. The results indicate that the distribution of charged particles density and potential in the anode sheath monotonically decreases in the absence or reduction of anode evaporation. When the anode surface temperature exceeds 1900K, a potential hump appears within the sheath. This is due to enhanced anode evaporation increasing the metal vapor density, which intensifies electron impact ionization and charge exchange collisions, resulting in a higher net space charge density. Finally, the effects of various collision reactions and electron temperatures on the potential hump are analyzed. These findings are meaningful for understanding the anode plasma generation mechanism and regulating the anode plasma parameters.

Magnetic field and kinetic helicity evolution in simulations of interacting disk galaxies

Context. There are indications that the magnetic field evolution in galaxies is influenced by tidal interactions and mergers between galaxies. Aims. We carried out a parameter study of interacting disk galaxies with impact parameters ranging from central collisions to weakly interacting scenarios. The orientations of the disks were also varied. In particular, we investigated how magnetic field amplification depends on these parameters. Methods. We used magnetohydrodynamics for gas disks in combination with live dark-matter halos in adaptive mesh refinement simulations. The disks were initialized using a setup for isolated disks in hydrostatic equilibrium. Since we focused on the impact of tidal forces on magnetic field evolution, adiabatic physics was applied. Small-scale filtering of the velocity and magnetic field allowed us to estimate the turbulent electromotive force (EMF) and kinetic helicity. Results. Time series of the average magnetic field in central and outer disk regions show pronounced peaks during close encounters and mergers. This agrees with observed magnetic fields at different interaction stages. The central field strength exceeds 10 μG (corresponding to an amplification factor of 2–3) for small impact parameters. As the disks are increasingly disrupted and turbulence is produced by tidal forces, the small-scale EMF reaches a significant fraction of the total EMF. The small-scale kinetic helicity is initially antisymmetric across the disk plane. Though its evolution is sensitive to both the impact parameter and inclinations of the rotation axes with respect to the relative motion of the disks, antisymmetry is generally broken through interactions and the merger remnant loses most of the initial helicity. The EMF and the magnetic field also decay rapidly after coalescence. Conclusions. The strong amplification during close encounters of the interacting galaxies is mostly driven by helical flows and a mean-field dynamo. The small-scale dynamo contributes significantly in post-interaction phases. However, the amplification of the magnetic field cannot be sustained.

Open and Hidden Strangeness with Kaons and φ-Mesons in Bjorken Energy Density Approach for Central Collisions from SPS to LHC

Open and Hidden Strangeness with Kaons and φ-Mesons in Bjorken Energy Density Approach for Central Collisions from SPS to LHC

Bulk properties of the system in Au–Au collisions at 3 GeV and their dependence on collision centrality and particle rapidity

We analyze the transverse momentum spectra of proton (p), deuteron (d), triton (t), and helium (3He and 4He) in different centrality intervals in various rapidity slices in gold–gold (Au–Au) collisions at sNN=3 GeV. We apply the blast-wave model with Tsallis statistics (TBW) to transverse momentum spectra of the particles, which fits well the data of STAR Collaboration. The freezeout parameters such as kinetic freezeout temperature, transverse flow velocity, and kinetic freezeout volume are extracted. Our findings reveal that central collisions exhibit higher values for the kinetic freezeout temperature, transverse flow velocity, and kinetic freezeout volume (which means that the central collisions are more hot and expansive), and observed that they decrease from central to peripheral collisions, and the former two parameters decrease from backward rapidity regions to mid-rapidity. This indicates a rapid expansion of the system in central collisions and in backward rapidities. The above parameters are mass-dependent, and the former increases, while the latter two decrease for heavier particles, reflecting the multiple kinetic freezeout and volume differential freezeout scenarios. Besides, the entropy parameter (q) is extracted, and it increases from peripheral to central and from backward to mid-rapidity regions.

Study of charged particle multiplicity with centrality in Au+Au collisions at SNN = 200 GeV

We have carried out methods of study to find the correlation between charged particle multiplicity and collision centrality of Au+Au collisions at SNN = 200 GeV. We have studied the open data from the ALICE experiment and arrived at the conclusion that central collisions produced a greater number of charged particles than peripheral collisions. This is done by reconstructing the three silicon layers inside the inner tracking system of the detector and studying the change in two spatial variables between layers: pseudorapidity with range || < 1 and azimuthal angle with acceptance , which can then be input into the sideband method to find the final multiplicity of each event. The study provides an insight into the transient nature of the Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) produced in collisions by exploring how collision aftermaths vary with different conditions of the partons, which hopefully adds to the understanding of matter under the strong force at extreme energy density.

Observation of the ϒ(3S) Meson and Suppression of ϒ States in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV.

The production of ϒ(2S) and ϒ(3S) mesons in lead-lead (Pb-Pb) and proton-proton (pp) collisions is studied in their dimuon decay channel using the CMS detector at the LHC. The ϒ(3S) meson is observed for the first time in Pb-Pb collisions, with a significance above 5 standard deviations. The ratios of yields measured in Pb-Pb and pp collisions are reported for both the ϒ(2S) and ϒ(3S) mesons, as functions of transverse momentum and Pb-Pb collision centrality. These ratios, when appropriately scaled, are significantly less than unity, indicating a suppression of ϒ yields in Pb-Pb collisions. This suppression increases from peripheral to central Pb-Pb collisions. Furthermore, the suppression is stronger for ϒ(3S) mesons compared to ϒ(2S) mesons, extending the pattern of sequential suppression of quarkonium states in nuclear collisions previously seen for the J/ψ, ψ(2S), ϒ(1S), and ϒ(2S) mesons.

Measurements of jet quenching using semi-inclusive hadron+jet distributions in pp and central Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV

The ALICE Collaboration reports measurements of the semi-inclusive distribution of charged-particle jets recoiling from a high transverse momentum (high pT) charged hadron, in pp and central Pb-Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon collision sNN=5.02 TeV. The large uncorrelated background in central Pb-Pb collisions is corrected using a data-driven statistical approach which enables precise measurement of recoil jet distributions over a broad range in pT,chjet and jet resolution parameter R. Recoil jet yields are reported for R=0.2, 0.4, and 0.5 in the range 7<pT,chjet<140 GeV/c and π/2<Δφ<π, where Δφ is the azimuthal angular separation between hadron trigger and recoil jet. The low-pT,chjet reach of the measurement explores unique phase space for studying jet quenching, the interaction of jets with the quark–gluon plasma generated in high-energy nuclear collisions. Comparison of pT,chjet distributions from pp and central Pb-Pb collisions probes medium-induced jet energy loss and intra-jet broadening, while comparison of their acoplanarity distributions explores in-medium jet scattering and medium response. The measurements are compared to theoretical calculations incorporating jet quenching. ©2024 CERN, for the ALICE Collaboration 2024 CERN

Observation of Medium-Induced Yield Enhancement and Acoplanarity Broadening of Low-p_{T} Jets from Measurements in pp and Central Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV.

The ALICE Collaboration reports the measurement of semi-inclusive distributions of charged-particle jets recoiling from a high transverse momentum (high p_{T}) hadron trigger in proton-proton and central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV. A data-driven statistical method is used to mitigate the large uncorrelated background in central Pb-Pb collisions. Recoil jet distributions are reported for jet resolution parameter R=0.2, 0.4, and 0.5 in the range 7<p_{T,jet}<140 GeV/c and trigger-recoil jet azimuthal separation π/2<Δφ<π. The measurements exhibit a marked medium-induced jet yield enhancement at low p_{T} and at large azimuthal deviation from Δφ∼π. The enhancement is characterized by its dependence on Δφ, which has a slope that differs from zero by 4.7σ. Comparisons to model calculations incorporating different formulations of jet quenching are reported. These comparisons indicate that the observed yield enhancement arises from the response of the QGP medium to jet propagation.

Search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect with charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in Xe–Xe collisions at [formula omitted] TeV

Charge-dependent two- and three-particle correlations measured in Xe–Xe collisions at sNN=5.44 TeV are presented. Results are obtained for charged particles in the pseudorapidity range |η|<0.8 and transverse momentum interval 0.2≤pT<5.0 GeV/c for different collision centralities. The three-particle correlator γαβ≡〈cos⁡(φα+φβ−2Ψ2)〉, 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 γαβ 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 γαβ, fCME. 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 γαβ in the 0–70% Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb collisions, respectively.

Softening of the hypertriton transverse momentum spectrum in heavy-ion collisions

Understanding the properties of hypernuclei helps to constrain the interaction between hyperon and nucleon, which is known to play an essential role in determining the properties of neutron stars. Experimental measurements have suggested that the hypertriton (HΛ3), the lightest hypernucleus, exhibits a halo structure with a deuteron core encircled by a Λ hyperon at a distance of about 10 fm. This large Λ−d distance in HΛ3 wave function is found to cause a suppressed HΛ3 yield and a softening of its transverse momentum (pT) spectrum in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Within the coalescence model based on nucleons and Λ hyperons from a microscopic hybrid hydro model with a hadronic afterburner for nuclear cluster production in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN= 5.02 TeV, we show how this softening of the hypertriton pT spectrum appears and leads to a smaller mean pT for HΛ3 than for helium-3 (3He). The latter is opposite to the predictions from the blast-wave model which assumes that HΛ3 and 3He are thermally produced at the kinetic freeze-out of heavy-ion collisions. The discovered quantum mechanical softening of the (anti-)hypertriton spectrum can be experimentally tested in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at different collision energies and centralities and used to obtain valuable insights to the mechanisms for light (hyper-)nuclei production in these collisions.

Use of the Meta-Analysis and Kolmogorov Criteria in the Finding of Singularities of a Nuclear Matter Created in Ultra-Relativistic Nuclear Collisions

Published theoretical data from several models – PHSD/HSD both with and without chiral symmetry restoration (CSR), applied to experimental data on nuclear collisions from BEVALAC/SIS to LHC energies were analyzed using meta-analysis and Kolmogorov criteria. This made it possible to localize possible features of nuclear matter created in central nucleus-nucleus collisions. Ignition of a drop of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) begins already at an energy of about √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; = 2 GeV. The assessment showed that this QGP droplet occupies a small fraction, 15% (average radius of about 5.3 fm, if the fireball radius is 10 fm), of the total volume of the fireball created at √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; = 2.7 GeV. A drop of exotic matter undergoes a split phase transition – separated boundaries of sharp (1&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;st&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; order) crossover and CSR in chiral limit, between QGP and Quarkyonic matter at an energy about √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; = 3.5 GeV. The critical endpoint of 2&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;nd&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; order probably cannot be reached in nuclear collisions. The triple phase area occupies interval from √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; =12 GeV to 15 GeV, the critical endpoint of 1&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;st&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; order – at around √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; = 20 GeV. The boundary of smooth (2&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;nd&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; order) crossover transition with CSR in chiral limit between Quarkyonic matter and QGP was localized between √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; = 9.3 GeV and 12 GeV, and between Hadronic and QGP in the interval from √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; = 15 GeV to 20 GeV, the boundary of sharp (1&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;st&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; order) crossover transition with CSR in chiral limit between Hadronic matter and QGP was localized after √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; = 20 GeV. The phase trajectory of the hadronic corona, enveloping the exotic droplet, always remains in the hadronic phase. The possible phase diagram of nuclear matter created in mid-central heavy ion collisions is also presented in the same energy range as for central collisions. Taking into account the quantum nature of the fireball created in nuclear collisions, emphasis is on the existence of events in central nuclear collisions at energy range from √s&amp;lt;SUB&amp;gt;NN&amp;lt;/SUB&amp;gt; = 2 GeV to 2.76 TeV, at which no exotic matter is created and nuclear matter in the fireball remains in the hadronic phase throughout its (fireball) evolution.

Role of charge exchange collision on generation of active species for cold plasma food processing

Charge exchange collision (CXC) is well known in solar and space plasmas. In this work, we present how the CXC between N2+ and N2 can be exploited to overcome major challenges in cold plasma food processing (CPFP). CPFP is an emerging application of glow discharge plasmas for physicochemical modifications to achieve shelf-life enhancement, preservation, surface activation for germination, antimicrobial treatment, surface cleaning, etc. The commercial application of CPFP is in its infancy and it faces two major challenges. The first challenge is the difficulty in generating the desired active species for the required modification, and the second is the very high processing cost. In this paper, with the help of numerical modeling for nitrogen discharge, we show that the CXC between N2+ and N2 can be utilized to generate active species selectively, enhance energy efficiency, and possibly eliminate the processing gas cost. The modeling is followed by experimental demonstration and validation of the proposed concept. This work may lead to a new direction of transdisciplinary research towards the commercial application of CPFP.

Role of charge exchange collision on generation of active species for cold plasma food processing

Charge exchange collision (CXC) is well known in solar and space plasmas. In this work, we present how the CXC between N2+ and N2 can be exploited to overcome major challenges in cold plasma food processing (CPFP). CPFP is an emerging application of glow discharge plasmas for physicochemical modifications to achieve shelf-life enhancement, preservation, surface activation for germination, antimicrobial treatment, surface cleaning, etc. The commercial application of CPFP is in its infancy and it faces two major challenges. The first challenge is the difficulty in generating the desired active species for the required modification, and the second is the very high processing cost. In this paper, with the help of numerical modeling for nitrogen discharge, we show that the CXC between N2+ and N2 can be utilized to generate active species selectively, enhance energy efficiency, and possibly eliminate the processing gas cost. The modeling is followed by experimental demonstration and validation of the proposed concept. This work may lead to a new direction of transdisciplinary research towards the commercial application of CPFP.

Systematic study of flow vector fluctuations in sNN=5.02 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

Measurements of the pT-dependent flow vector fluctuations in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02TeV using azimuthal correlations with the ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider are presented. A four-particle correlation approach [ALICE Collaboration, ] is used to quantify the effects of flow angle and magnitude fluctuations separately. This paper extends previous studies to additional centrality intervals and provides measurements of the pT-dependent flow vector fluctuations at sNN=5.02TeV with two-particle correlations. Significant pT-dependent fluctuations of the V⃗2 flow vector in Pb–Pb collisions are found across different centrality ranges, with the largest fluctuations of up to ∼15% being present in the 5% most central collisions. In parallel, no evidence of significant pT-dependent fluctuations of V⃗3 or V⃗4 is found. Additionally, evidence of flow angle and magnitude fluctuations is observed with more than 5σ significance in central collisions. These observations in Pb–Pb collisions indicate where the classical picture of hydrodynamic modeling with a common symmetry plane breaks down. This has implications for hard probes at high pT, which might be biased by pT-dependent flow angle fluctuations of at least 23% in central collisions. Given the presented results, existing theoretical models should be reexamined to improve our understanding of initial conditions, quark–gluon plasma properties, and the dynamic evolution of the created system. ©2024 CERN, for the ALICE Collaboration 2024 CERN

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 sNN=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.