Hadron Suppression Research Articles

Medium-Enhanced cc¯ Radiation

We show that the same QCD formalism that accounts for the suppression of high-pT hadron and jet spectra in heavy-ion collisions predicts medium-enhanced production of cc¯ pairs in jets. We demonstrate that this phenomenon, which cannot be accessed by traditional jet-quenching observables, can be directly observed using D0D¯0-tagged jets in nuclear collisions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

High-pT suppression in small systems

We present first results for leading hadron suppression in small collision systems, from a convolved radiative and collisional pQCD energy loss model which receives a short path length correction to the radiative energy loss. We find that the short path length correction is exceptionally large for light flavor final states at high-pT , for all system sizes. We numerically investigate the self-consistency of various assumptions underlying the radiative energy loss model, in an effort to understand the size of the short path length correction. This calculation shows that the large formation time assumption, which is utilized by most contemporary energy loss models, is invalid for a large portion of the phenomenologically relevant parameter space.

Dead cone effect in charm and bottom quark jets

The evolution of a heavy quark initiated jet is mainly ruled by gluon bremsstrahlung. As a consequence of the dead-cone effect, this radiation is suppressed in the forward direction at angles smaller than that proportional to the heavy quark mass MQ, i.e. Θ0=MQ/EQ at energy EQ of the primary quark. In this paper, we unveil this effect in charm and bottom quark jets using DELPHI and OPAL data from Z0 boson decays in e+e− annihilation at center of mass energy 91.2 GeV. The analysis of the reconstructed heavy quark fragmentation function in momentum space shows the strong suppression of hadrons at high momenta in such events compared to light quark fragmentation by a factor ≲1/10. The amount of this suppression is well reproduced by perturbative QCD (pQCD) within the Modified Leading Logarithmic Aproximation and the compact scheme of Local Parton Hadron Duality (MLLA-LPHD). As a new result, we obtain an almost perfect agreement between the light quark fragmentation functions expected at W0∝MQ from DELPHI and OPAL data with Pythia8 and shed light on the reasons for the existence of the ultra-soft gluon excess at small momentum fraction in comparison with pQCD predictions.

Inclusive jet and hadron suppression in a multistage approach

We present a new study of jet interactions in the quark-gluon plasma created in high-energy heavy-ion collisions, using a multistage event generator within the jetscape framework. We focus on medium-induced modifications in the rate of inclusive jets and high transverse momentum (high-pT) hadrons. Scattering-induced jet energy loss is calculated in two stages: a high virtuality stage based on the matter model, in which scattering of highly virtual partons modifies the vacuum radiation pattern, and a second stage at lower jet virtuality based on the lbt model, in which leading partons gain and lose virtuality by scattering and radiation. Coherence effects that reduce the medium-induced emission rate in the matter phase are also included. The trento model is used for initial conditions, and the (2+1)dimensional vishnu model is used for viscous hydrodynamic evolution. Jet interactions with the medium are modeled via 2-to-2 scattering with Debye screened potentials, in which the recoiling partons are tracked, hadronized, and included in the jet clustering. Holes left in the medium are also tracked and subtracted to conserve transverse momentum. Calculations of the nuclear modification factor (RAA) for inclusive jets and high-pT hadrons are compared to experimental measurements at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Within this framework, we find that with one extra parameter which codifies the transition between stages of jet modification—along with the typical parameters such as the coupling in the medium, the start and stop criteria, etc.—we can describe these data at all energies for central and semicentral collisions without a rescaling of the jet transport coefficient q̂.16 MoreReceived 14 April 2022Accepted 22 February 2023DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.107.034911Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by SCOAP3.Published by the American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasHard scatteringHydrodynamic modelsJets & heavy flavor physicsQuantum chromodynamicsQuark & gluon jetsQuark-gluon plasmaRelativistic heavy-ion collisionsNuclear Physics

Transverse momentum spectra and suppression of charged hadrons in deformed Xe–Xe collisions at $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$ = 5.44 TeV using HYDJET++ model

In this study, we systematically investigate deformed Xe-Xe collisions at 5.44 TeV center of mass energy. We exploit the Monte Carlo HYDJET++ model to compute transverse momentum ($p_{T}$) distribution, nuclear modification factor $R_{AA}$ and relative suppression in terms of $R_{CP}$ as a function of transverse momentum and centrality of collision of charged hadrons in body-body and tip-tip geometrical configurations, respectively. We have compared HYDJET++ model results to those from ALICE experimental data and AMPT model (String-Melting version) results. Minimum bias Xe-Xe collisions show a suitable match with ALICE experimental data at midrapidity. Average transverse momentum ($\langle p_{T} \rangle$) show strong centrality dependence. The contribution of hard parton scatterings to the total charged hadron yield is discussed. Both nuclear modification factor $R_{AA}$ and relative suppression $R_{CP}$ show a clear dependence on centrality as well as transverse momentum. The charged hadron observables show a clear dependence on the geometrical configuration of the collisions. HYDJET++ model justifies experimental data more closely than the AMPT model.

From Hydrodynamics to Jet Quenching, Coalescence, and Hadron Cascade: A Coupled Approach to Solving the R_{AA}⊗v_{2} Puzzle.

Hydrodynamics and jet quenching are responsible for the elliptic flow v_{2} and suppression of large transverse momentum (p_{T}) hadrons, respectively, two of the most important phenomena leading to the discovery of a strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. A consistent description of the hadron suppression factor R_{AA} and v_{2}, especially at intermediate p_{T}, however, remains a challenge. We solve this long-standing R_{AA}⊗v_{2} puzzle by including quark coalescence for hadronization and final state hadron cascade in the coupled linear Boltzmann transport-hydro model that combines concurrent jet transport and hydrodynamic evolution of the bulk medium. We illustrate that quark coalescence and hadron cascade, two keys to solving the puzzle, also lead to a splitting of v_{2} for pions, kaons, and protons in the intermediate p_{T} region. We demonstrate for the first time that experimental data on R_{AA}, v_{2}, and their hadron flavor dependence from low to intermediate and high p_{T} in high-energy heavy-ion collisions can be understood within this coupled framework.

Observation of heavy-ion like phenomena in high-multiplicity p+p collisions at LHC energies

Suppression of inclusive hadron yields in nuclear systems with respect to the elementary collisions is believed to be caused by the jet quenching. The quantification of the jet quenching via the nuclear modification factor is difficult to conceive in small systems since it is influenced by several experimental factors such as the estimation of the centrality and the scaling factor. In this article we propose an alternate approach to address this issue and explore the possibility of measuring jet quenching in a high-multiplicity system using the Pythia8 event generator. We have used a novel approach to estimate the high-multiplicity class in systems, and the results from the standard method of multiplicity class determination are also presented. Results from this investigation qualitatively show the existence of heavy-ion like behavior in high-multiplicity collisions which is mainly contributed by the Color Reconnection mechanism.

Determining the jet transport coefficient q̂ from inclusive hadron suppression measurements using Bayesian parameter estimation

We report a new determination of q̂, the jet transport coefficient of the quark-gluon plasma. We use the JETSCAPE framework, which incorporates a novel multistage theoretical approach to in-medium jet evolution and Bayesian inference for parameter extraction. The calculations, based on the Matter and Lbt jet quenching models, are compared to experimental measurements of inclusive hadron suppression in Au+Au collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The correlation of experimental systematic uncertainties is accounted for in the parameter extraction. The functional dependence of q̂ on jet energy or virtuality and medium temperature is based on a perturbative picture of in-medium scattering, with components reflecting the different regimes of applicability of Matter and Lbt. In the multistage approach, the switch between Matter and Lbt is governed by a virtuality scale Q0. Comparison of the posterior model predictions to the RHIC and LHC hadron suppression data shows reasonable agreement, with moderate tension in limited regions of phase space. The distribution of q̂/T3 extracted from the posterior distributions exhibits weak dependence on jet momentum and medium temperature T, with 90% credible region (CR) depending on the specific choice of model configuration. The choice of Matter+Lbt, with switching at virtuality Q0, has 90% CR of 2<q̂/T3<4 for pT,jet>40 GeV/c. The value of Q0, determined here for the first time, is in the range 2.0–2.7 GeV.9 MoreReceived 23 February 2021Accepted 21 July 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.104.024905©2021 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasHydrodynamic modelsJets & heavy flavor physicsParticle & resonance productionRelativistic heavy-ion collisionsTechniquesBayesian methodsNuclear Physics

γ -hadron spectra in p+Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV

Under the assumption that a quark-gluon plasma droplet is produced and its evolution can be described by hydrodynamics in p + A collisions, $\gamma$-triggered hadron spectra are studied within a next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD parton model with the medium-modified parton fragmentation functions. The initial conditions and space-time evolution of the small QGP droplet are provided by the superSONIC hydrodynamic model simulations and parton energy loss in such a medium is described by the high-twist (HT) approach. The scaled jet transport coefficient $\hat{q}/T^3$ in this HT approach is extracted from single hadron suppression in central A + A collisions at the same colliding energy. Numerical results for this scenario show that $\gamma$-hadron spectra at $p_{\rm T}^\gamma=12-40$ GeV/$c$ are suppressed by 5\% $\sim$ 10\% in the most central 0 - 10\% p + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV. The suppression becomes weaker at higher transverse momentum of the $\gamma$ trigger. As a comparison, $\gamma$-hadron suppression in Pb + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ and 5.02 TeV is also predicted.

Latest results on the production of hadronic resonances in ALICE at the LHC

Measurement of short-lived hadronic resonances are used to study different aspects of particle production and collision dynamics in pp, p–A and relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The yields of resonances are sensitive to the competing processes of hadron rescattering and regeneration, thus making these particles unique probes of the properties of the late hadronic phase. Measurements of resonances with different masses and quantum numbers also provide insight into strangeness production and processes that determine the shapes of particle momentum spectra at intermediate transverse momenta, as well as the species dependence of hadron suppression at high momentum. We present the comprehensive set of results in the ALICE experiment with unprecedented precision for ρ(770)0, K*(892), ϕ(1020), Σ(1385)±, Λ(1520), and Ξ(1530)0 production in pp, p–Pb, Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb collisions in the energy range sNN=2.76-13TeV, including the latest measurements from LHC Run 2. The obtained results are used to study the system-size and collision-energy evolution of transverse momentum spectra, particle ratios and nuclear modification factors and to search for the onset of collectivity in small collision systems. We compare these results to lower energy measurements and model calculations where available.

Energy and scale dependence of q̂ and the “JET puzzle”

We present an attempt to probe the underlying structure of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) at high resolution, based on the extracted jet transport coefficient $\hat{q}$. We argue that the exchanged momentum $k$ between the hard parton and the medium varies over a range of scales, and for $k\geq$ 1 GeV, $\hat{q}$ can be expressed in terms of a parton distribution function (PDF). Because the mass of a QGP constituent is unknown, we define a scaling variable $x_N$ to represent the ratio of the parton momentum to the momentum of a self-contained section of the plasma which has a mass of 1 GeV. This scaling variable is used to parametrize the QGP-PDF. Calculations, based on this reconstructed $\hat{q}$ are compared to data sensitive to the hardcore of jets $i.e.,$ the single hadron suppression in terms of the nuclear modification factor $R_{AA}$ and the azimuthal anisotropy parameter $v_{2}$, as a function of transverse momentum $p_{\mathrm{T}}$, centrality and energy of the collision. It is demonstrated that the scale evolution of the QGP-PDF is responsible for the reduction in the normalization of $\hat{q}$ between fits to Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) and Large Hadron Collider (LHC) data; a puzzle, first discovered by the JET collaboration.

Simultaneous description of hadron and jet suppression in heavy-ion collisions

We present a global fit to all data on the suppression of high-energy jets and high-energy hadrons in the most central heavy-ion collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for two different collision energies, within a hybrid strong-weak coupling quenching model. Even though the measured suppression factors for hadrons and jets differ significantly from one another and appear to asymptote to different values in the high-energy limit, we obtain a simultaneous description of all these data after constraining the value of a single model parameter. We use our model to investigate the origin of the difference between the observed suppression of jets and hadrons and relate it, quantitatively, to the observed modification of the jet fragmentation function in jets that have been modified by passage through the medium produced in heavy-ion collisions. In particular, the observed increase in the fraction of hard fragments in medium-modified jets, which indicates that jets with the fewest hardest fragments lose the least energy, corresponds quantitatively to the observed difference between the suppression of hadrons and jets. We argue that a harder fragmentation pattern for jets with a given energy after quenching is a generic feature of any mechanism for the interaction between jets and the medium that they traverse that yields a larger suppression for wider jets. We also compare the results of our global fit to LHC data to measurements of the suppression of high-energy hadrons in BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) collisions, and find that with its parameter chosen to fit the LHC data, our model is inconsistent with the RHIC data at the $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ level, suggesting that hard probes interact more strongly with the less hot quark-gluon plasma produced at RHIC.

Mechanisms of B Meson Suppression in Ultrarelativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

Different mechanisms of B meson suppression in lead ion collisions at an energy of the Large Hadron Collider $$\sqrt {{{s}_{{NN}}}} $$ = 5.02 TeV have been comparatively analyzed. It has been shown that the experimentally observed weak momentum dependence of the B meson suppression factor can be reproduced by the HYDJET++ model including the nuclear shadowing of initial parton distributions and radiative and collisional energy losses of heavy quarks in hot matter. A significant difference in the effects of the initial and final states on light and heavy hadron suppression has been revealed.

A simultaneous understanding of jet and hadron suppression

In the context of the hybrid strong/weak coupling model for jet quenching, we perform a global fit to hadron and jet data in the most central bins both at RHIC and LHC. The qualitative and quantitative success of the analysis is attributed to the fact that the model correctly captures the fact that wider jets lose, on average, more energy than the narrower ones, to which high energy hadrons belong. We show how one can understand the relative jet and hadron suppression by analyzing the jet fragmentation functions, and also discuss the role of plasma finite resolution effects.

Recent PHENIX results on high-pT light hadron production

Production of Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) has been established in central heavy ion collisions (Au+Au, Cu+Cu) at RHIC energies. Observation of strong suppression of hadron yields at high transverse momentum served as one of the most important evidences in favor of production of a new state of matter in such collisions. Recent RHIC run with asymmetric collision system (Cu+Au) provides the means to systematically study suppression pattern of hadrons in different nuclear overlap geometry needed to improve theoretical description of parton energy loss in QGP. Non-zero elliptic flow and a hint of suppression of high pT hadrons suggests that mini-QGP can be formed in collisions of light and heavy nuclei characterized by high charged particle multiplicities. To address the question of collective behavior in small systems RHIC provided series of geometry controlled experiments with highly asymmetric systems (p+Al, p+Au, 3He+Au). The recent results from the PHENIX experiment at RHIC on π0 and η mesons production in asymmetric systems will be presented and discussed.

Transverse momentum spectra and nuclear modification factors of identified charged hadrons in p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV with ALICE

The ALICE experiment has measured the production of identified light-flavour hadrons in p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV in a wide range of transverse momentum. The newest ALICE results on pion, kaon and proton transverse momentum spectra, yield ratios and nuclear modification factors will be presented and discussed in comparison to lower energy results. In particular, the production of identified hadrons in most central Pb-Pb collisions relative to pp collisions is found to be strongly suppressed at high transverse momenta (pT &gt; 8 GeV/c) whereas in p-Pb collisions the nuclear modification factors are consistent with unity. This indicates that the strong suppression of high-pT hadrons measured in central Pb-Pb collisions is not due to an initial state effect but instead to the energy loss of partons traversing a hot and dense QCD medium.

Heavy and light flavor jet quenching at RHIC and LHC energies

The Linear Boltzmann Transport (LBT) model coupled to hydrodynamical background is extended to include transport of both light partons and heavy quarks through the quark–gluon plasma (QGP) in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. The LBT model includes both elastic and inelastic medium-interaction of both primary jet shower partons and thermal recoil partons within perturbative QCD (pQCD). It is shown to simultaneously describe the experimental data on heavy and light flavor hadron suppression in high-energy heavy-ion collisions for different centralities at RHIC and LHC energies. More detailed investigations within the LBT model illustrate the importance of both initial parton spectra and the shapes of fragmentation functions on the difference between the nuclear modifications of light and heavy flavor hadrons. The dependence of the jet quenching parameter qˆ on medium temperature and jet flavor is quantitatively extracted.

Jet-induced medium excitation in γ-hadron correlation at RHIC

Both jet transport and jet-induced medium excitation are investigated simultaneously within the coupled Linear Boltzmann Transport and hydro (CoLBT-hydro) model. In this coupled approach, energy-momentum deposition from propagating jet shower partons in the elastic and radiation processes is taken as a source term in hydrodynamics and the hydro background for LBT simulation is updated for next time step. We use CoLBT-hydro model to simulate γ-jet events of Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Hadron spectra from both the hadronization of jet shower partons and jet-induced medium excitation are calculated and compared to experimental data. Parton energy loss of jet shower partons leads to the suppression of hadron yields at large zT=pTh/pTγ while medium excitations leads to enhancement of hadron yields at small zT. Meanwhile, a significant broadening of low pT hadron yields and the depletion of soft hadrons in the γ direction are observed in the calculation of γ-hadron angular correlation.

Heavy and light hadron production and D-hadron correlation in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We establish a linear Boltzmann transport (LBT) model coupled to hydrodynamical background to study hard parton evolution in heavy-ion collisions. Both elastic and inelastic scatterings are included in our calculations; and heavy and light flavor partons are treated on the same footing. Within this LBT model, we provide good descriptions of heavy and light hadron suppression and anisotropic flow in heavy-ion collisions. Angular correlation functions between heavy and light flavor hadrons are studied for the first time and shown able to quantify not only the amount of heavy quark energy loss, but also how the parton energy is re-distributed in parton showers.

Extracting jet quenching parameters from large pT hadron suppression at RHIC/LHC

The large pT hadron suppression in high-energy heavy-ion collisions at RHIC/LHC is studied in a NLO pQCD parton model in which the fragmentation function is modified due to jet quenching. The energy loss of the energetic parton jets is incorporated in the modified fragmentation functions which utilize two important parameters to characterize the jet transport properties, the jet transport parameter qˆ0 and the mean free path λ0, both at the initial time τ0 in the center of the fireball created in central AA collisions. We performed a phenomenological study of simultaneous χ2/d.o.f fits to RHIC as well as LHC data to constrain the two parameters for energetic quarks, qˆ0≈1.1±0.2 GeV2/fm and λ0≈0.4±0.03 fm in central Au+ Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV, while qˆ0≈1.7±0.3 GeV2/fm, and λ0≈0.5±0.05 fm in central Pb + Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV. Numerical results for the best fit give a multiple scattering picture for the hard jets with a moderate averaged number of gluon emissions. Based on the best constraints for λ0 and τ0, the estimated value for the mean-squared transverse momentum broadening is moderate which implies that the hard jets go through the medium with small reflection.