Quark Energy Loss Research Articles

Jet quenching in non-conformal holography

We use our non-conformal holographic bottom-up model for QCD described in Ficnar et al (2011 Nucl. Phys. A 855 372) to further study the effect of the QCD trace anomaly on the energy loss of both light and heavy quarks in a strongly coupled plasma. We compute the nuclear modification factor RAA for bottom and charm quarks in an expanding plasma with Glauber initial conditions. We find that the maximum stopping distance of light quarks in a non-conformal plasma scales with the energy with a temperature- (and energy)-dependent effective power.

Heavy quarks in the presence of higher derivative corrections from AdS/CFT

We use the gauge–string duality to study heavy quarks in the presence of higher derivative corrections. These corrections correspond to the finite-coupling corrections on the properties of heavy quarks in a hot plasma. In particular, we study the effects of these corrections on the energy loss and the dissociation length of a quark–antiquark pair. We show that the calculated energy loss of heavy quarks through the plasma increases. We also find in general that the dissociation length becomes shorter with the increase of coupling parameters of higher curvature terms.

Heavy-quark production inp+pand energy loss and flow of heavy quarks in Au + Au collisions atsNN=200GeV

Transverse momentum (p^e_T) spectra of electrons from semileptonic weak decays of heavy flavor mesons in the range of 0.3 < p^e_T < 9.0 GeV/c have been measured at mid-rapidity (|eta| < 0.35) by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider in p+p and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The nuclear modification factor R_AA with respect to p+p collisions indicates substantial energy loss of heavy quarks in the produced medium. In addition, the azimuthal anisotropy parameter v_2 has been measured for 0.3 < p^e_T < 5.0 GeV/c in Au+Au collisions. Comparisons of R_AA and v_2 are made to various model calculations.

Elliptic flow and energy loss of heavy quarks in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions

The space-time propagation of heavy quarks in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions is studied within the partonic transport model Boltzmann Approach of MultiParton Scatterings (BAMPS). In this model heavy quarks interact with the partonic medium via binary scatterings. The cross sections for these interactions are calculated with leading order perturbative QCD, but feature a more precise Debye screening derived within the hard thermal loop approximation and obey the running of the coupling. Within this framework the elliptic flow and the nuclear modification factor of heavy quarks are computed for RHIC and LHC energies and compared to available experimental data. It is found that binary scatterings alone cannot reproduce the data and, therefore, radiative corrections have to be taken into account.

Heavy Quark Energy Loss in High Multiplicity Proton-Proton Collisions at the LHC

One of the most promising probes to study deconfined matter created in high energy nuclear collisions is the energy loss of (heavy) quarks. It has been shown in experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider that even charm and bottom quarks, despite their high mass, experience a remarkable medium suppression in the quark gluon plasma. In this exploratory investigation we study the energy loss of heavy quarks in high multiplicity proton-proton collisions at LHC energies. Although the colliding systems are smaller than compared to those at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (p+p vs Au+Au), the higher energy might lead to multiplicities comparable to Cu+Cu collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The interaction of charm quarks with this environment gives rise to a non-negligible suppression of high momentum heavy quarks in elementary collisions.

Medium temperature dependence of quark energy loss

By using the reaction operator approach and the single hard scattering approximation scenario, we study the medium temperature dependence of heavy quark radiation energy loss via introducing the medium temperature into QCD running coupling α s and Debye mass µ D . Our results indicate that there exist an equilibrum temperature T = 320 MeV in Au-Au collisions withe energy 130 GeV at RHIC, which is agreement with the prediction from hydrodynamic model. We also find that, in the low p t region, the color coupling effect dominates the heavy quark radiation energy loss, and the energy loss will be dominated by the Debye screening effect when the quark p t become large.

Initial-state quark energy loss from Drell–Yan production in proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions

Drell-Yan production cross sections were measured by the NA3 and E866 experiments, in p-Pt and pp collisions, as a function of the dimuon mass and x F . We compare these measurements to next-to-leading order Drell-Yan calculations, made with the CTEQ6M parton densities modified (or not) by nuclear effects, using the EPS09 parameterization. The analysis of the data allows us to evaluate the initial-state quark energy loss. Drell-Yan measurements are ideally suited to isolate the initial-state parton energy loss, given the absence of final-state effects on the produced dimuon. Our study shows that these data indicate negligible quark energy loss and allow us to derive rather strict upper limits. For completeness, our study has been repeated using the less accurate measurements of Drell-Yan cross section ratios between heavy and light nuclear targets, provided by the E772 and E866 experiments. Our results provide an additional constraint on the models trying to explain quarkonium production in proton-nucleus collisions, as a function of quarkonium rapidity and collision energy, where initial- and final-state energy loss has frequently been assumed to play an important role, convoluted with several other complex mechanisms, including final-state quarkonium breakup, formation time effects, etc.

Erratum: Transverse Momentum and Centrality Dependence of High-pTNonphotonic Electron Suppression inAu+AuCollisions atsNN=200 GeV[Phys. Rev. Lett.98, 192301 (2007)

The STAR collaboration at RHIC reports measurements of the inclusive yield of non-photonic electrons, which arise dominantly from semi-leptonic decays of heavy flavor mesons, over a broad range of transverse momenta ($1.2 < \pt < 10$ \gevc) in \pp, \dAu, and \AuAu collisions at \sqrtsNN = 200 GeV. The non-photonic electron yield exhibits unexpectedly large suppression in central \AuAu collisions at high \pt, suggesting substantial heavy quark energy loss at RHIC. The centrality and \pt dependences of the suppression provide constraints on theoretical models of suppression.

Radiative energy loss in an anisotropic quark-gluon plasma

We calculate radiative energy loss of heavy and light quarks in anisotropic medium (static) in first order opacity expansion. Such an anisotropy can result from the initial rapid longitudinal expansion of the matter, created in relativistic heavy ion collisions. Significant dependency of the energy loss on the anisotropy parameter ($\xi$) and the direction of propagation of the partons with respect to the anisotropy axis is found. It is shown that the introduction of early time momentum-space anisotropy can enhance the fractional energy loss in the direction of the anisotropy, whereas it decreases when the parton propagates perpendicular to the direction of the anisotropy.

Heavy quark energy loss in proton proton collisions at LHC

A promising probe to study deconfined matter created in high energy nuclear collisions is the energy loss of (heavy) quarks. Experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) have shown that heavy quarks, i.e. charm and bottom quarks show a remarkable high momentum suppression, comparable to light quarks. In this exploratory study we investigate the energy loss of heavy quarks in high multiplicity proton proton collisions at LHC energies. We will find a small, however non-negligible energy loss of high momentum charm quarks.

Jets and flow within a pQCD-based partonic transport model

We present fully dynamic simulations of heavy ion collisions at RHIC energies within the perturbative QCD-based partonic transport model BAMPS, focusing on the simultaneous investigation of jet-quenching and elliptic flow. The model consistently features elastic and inelastic 2 ↔ 3 processes, the latter being based on the Gunion-Bertsch matrix element. We discuss first attempts to extend the model to include light quark degrees of freedom and study the energy loss of high energy gluons and quarks in a static partonic medium. The difference between gluons and quarks in inelastic processes is found to be weaker than expected from color factors, due to a self-quenching effect associated with a cut-off modeling the LPM effect.

Comparison of radiative energy loss models in a hot QCD medium

The suppression of high p T hadron production in heavy ion collisions is thought to be due to energy loss by gluon radiation off hard partons in a QCD medium. Existing models of QCD radiative energy loss in a color-charged medium give estimates of the coupling strength of the parton to the medium which differ by a factor of 5. We will present a side-by-side comparison of two different formalisms to calculate the energy loss of light quarks and gluons: the multiple soft scattering approximation (ASW-MS) and the opacity expansion formalism (ASW-SH and WHDG-rad). A common time-temperature profile is used to characterize the medium. The results are compared to the single hadron suppression R A A at RHIC energies. In addition, the influcence of homogeneous and non-homogeneous distribution of scattering centers is discussed. We find that using an equivalent brick overestimates the energy loss for long parton trajectories.

Non-conformal holography of heavy quark quenching

We develop a holographic (bottom-up) gravity model for QCD to understand the connection between the peak in the trace anomaly and the magnitude of heavy quark energy loss in a strongly-coupled plasma. The potential of the scalar field on the gravity side is constructed to reproduce some properties of QCD at finite temperature and its parameters are constrained by fitting lattice gauge theory results. The energy loss of heavy quarks (as predicted by the holographic model) is found to be strongly sensitive to the medium properties.

Dynamical magnetic enhancement of light and heavy quark jet quenching at RHIC

A new Monte Carlo implementation of Djordjevicʼs dynamical scattering generalization of the DGLV radiative energy loss opacity series is used with a hybrid interpolation scheme to compute both light and heavy quark jet quenching up to third order in opacity. The enhancement of the ratio of bottom to charm quark energy loss due to perturbative long range color magnetic effects in nonuniform Bjorken expanding geometries is found to reduce the significance of the heavy quark jet puzzle posed by the observed near equality (within sizeable errors) of pion and nonphotonic electron nuclear modification at RHIC. Jet Flavor Spectroscopy discussed below will be a powerful tool to differentiate competing dynamical models of the QGP produced in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions.

Recent PHENIX measurements on open heavy flavor electrons and hadrons correlations

Perturbative QCD predicts that heavy quarks should lose significantly less energy traversing a dense, colored medium than light quarks. However, PHENIX measurements of heavy flavor decay electrons in Au+Au collisions indicate suppression nearly at the level of the π 0. Furthermore, a large azimuthal asymmetry of heavy flavor electrons is observed. A key experimental technique to investigate the mechanism of this unexpected energy loss is study of azimuthal correlations between heavy flavor decay electrons and charged hadrons. We measure such correlations in p + p collisions to provide a reference in the absence of medium. Any changes in Au + Au collisions then provide information on the energy flow from the traversing heavy quarks to the medium. Comparison to light hadron correlations highlight differences in the mechanism of heavy and light quark energy loss in the medium. We observe the away side jet shape and associated particle yields to be modified in Au + Au collisions.

Non-photonic electron-hadron correlations and non-photonic electron v2 at STAR/RHIC

Non-photonic electrons ( p T > 3 GeV / c ) represent the directions of the parent heavy quarks, and their angular correlations with charged hadrons provide a good tool to study the relative contributions from D and B meson decays in p+p collisions, as well as the flavor-dependence of the energy loss mechanism in A+A collisions. We review the disentanglement of charm and bottom contributions to non-photonic electrons in p+p collisions at s = 200 GeV at RHIC. B decay contribution is approximately 50% at the electron transverse momentum of p T > 5 GeV / c from STAR results. Incorporating the energy loss ( R AA ) information of non-photonic electrons, the result indicates a B meson suppression at high p T in heavy ion collisions. We also present non-photonic electron-hadron correlations in d+Au collisions as a baseline reference for the investigation of the heavy quark energy loss in A+A collisions. The interactions between heavy quarks and the QCD medium can lead to a non-zero “elliptic flow” parameter ( v 2) of D and B mesons which can be studied through v 2 of non-photonic electrons. Preliminary v 2 measurements for non-photonic electrons are shown to be lower than v 2 of charged hadrons (or K S 0 , Λ ) for 200 GeV Au+Au collisions.

Charm and beauty searches using electron-D0 azimuthal correlations and microvertexing techniques in STAR experiment at RHIC

The energy loss of heavy quarks in the hot and dense matter created at RHIC, can be used to probe the properties of the medium. Both charm and beauty quarks contribute to the non-photonic electrons through their semi-leptonic decays. It is essential to determine experimentally the relative contribution of charm and beauty quarks to understand the suppression of heavy flavors at high PT in central Au+Au collisions. The azimuthal angular correlations of non-photonic electrons with the reconstructed D0 allow to disentangle the contribution of charm and beauty and to reduce the background below the D0 invariant mass as well. We discuss the STAR measurement of non-photonic electron and D0 → Kπ azimuthal correlations in p+p collisions at 200 GeV. Furthermore, we show results from the application of microvertexing techniques for charm and beauty searches in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV using the information of the Silicon tracker of STAR.

Charm and beauty production at RHIC

We review selected highlights on charm and beauty production at RHIC from p+p, d+Au and A+A collisions at s N N = 200 GeV , and compare them to model calculations. We focus on two particular issues, jet quenching and quarkonia. Anomalous energy loss (jet quenching) of quarks passing through the dense and hot matter built in heavy ion collisions is one of the outstanding discoveries made at RHIC. This phenomenon allows for an estimate of the initial gluon density. Furthermore, color screening of hidden charm and beauty states is a key signature of the QCD phase transition, allowing an estimate of the initial temperature. We present results on the flavour dependence of jet quenching. Heavy flavour production in A+A as compared to p+p collisions will be discussed for open and hidden charm.

Formula omitted] of Charm quarks at RHIC and LHC

The nuclear modification factor R AA of charm quarks produced from the initial fusion of nucleus nucleus collisions at RHIC and LHC energies is estimated. We consider the effect of energy loss of the charm quarks while passing through the Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) and also the gluon shadowing effect for the calculation of R AA at different rapidities.

Measurement of electron-muon correlations from semi-leptonic D decay in 200 GeV p + p collisions at RHIC-PHENIX

Charm production is a valuable probe of the early stages of a heavy ion collision. Correlated electron-muon pairs are a signature of semi-leptonic D decays, and a measurement of D mesons provides information on charm quark energy loss in the hot medium. The energy loss of heavy quarks is still not fully understood, so it is vital to investigate different decay channels of charm mesons to better understand this process. Measurements of electron-muon pairs suffer less from background than e+e− or µ+µ− pairs since neither direct lepton production nor resonance decays produce this type of correlated signal. Another advantage is that because electrons are measured in the central arms and muons are measured in the forward region in PHENIX, open charm can be probed in a rapidity region different from previous dilepton measurements. Studying electron-muon pairs in p + p collisions provides an important baseline for the study of these processes in d + Au and Au + Au collisions. The data in this analysis was obtained during the 2006 RHIC run of p + p collisions at 200 GeV. The current status of this analysis will be presented.