STAR Experiment Research Articles

Freezeout properties of different light nuclei at the RHIC beam energy scan

We study the transverse momentum spectra of light nuclei (deuteron, anti-deuteron and triton) produced in Gold-Gold (Au-Au) collisions in different centrality bins by the blast wave model with Tsallis statistics. The model results are in agreement with the experimental data measured by STAR Collaboration in special transverse momentum ranges. We extracted the kinetic freezeout temperature, transverse flow velocity and kinetic freezeout volume. It is observed that kinetic freezeout temperature and transverse flow velocity increases initially, and then saturates from 14.5–39 GeV, while the kinetic freezeout volume increase initially up to 19.6 GeV but saturates from 19.6–39 GeV. This may indicate that the phase transition starts in part volume that ends in the whole volume at 39 GeV and the critical point may exists somewhere in the energy range of 14.5–39 GeV. The present work observed that the kinetic freezeout temperature, transverse flow velocity and kinetic freezeout volume has a decreasing trend from central to peripheral collisions. We found the freezeout volume of triton is smaller than those of deuteron and anti-deuteron, which shows that triton freezeout earlier than that of deuteron and anti-deuteron.

Observation of Ds±/D0 Enhancement in Au+Au Collisions at sNN=200 GeV

We report on the first measurement of charm-strange meson D_{s}^{±} production at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV from the STAR experiment. The yield ratio between strange (D_{s}^{±}) and nonstrange (D^{0}) open-charm mesons is presented and compared to model calculations. A significant enhancement, relative to a pythia simulation of p+p collisions, is observed in the D_{s}^{±}/D^{0} yield ratio in Au+Au collisions over a large range of collision centralities. Model calculations incorporating abundant strange-quark production in the quark-gluon plasma and coalescence hadronization qualitatively reproduce the data. The transverse-momentum integrated yield ratio of D_{s}^{±}/D^{0} at midrapidity is consistent with a prediction from a statistical hadronization model with the parameters constrained by the yields of light and strange hadrons measured at the same collision energy. These results suggest that the coalescence of charm quarks with strange quarks in the quark-gluon plasma plays an important role in D_{s}^{±}-meson production in heavy-ion collisions.

Cumulants and correlation functions of net-proton, proton, and antiproton multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at energies available at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

We report a systematic measurement of cumulants, $C_{n}$, for net-proton, proton and antiproton multiplicity distributions, and correlation functions, $\kappa_n$, for proton and antiproton multiplicity distributions up to the fourth order in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm {NN}}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 54.4, 62.4 and 200 GeV. The $C_{n}$ and $\kappa_n$ are presented as a function of collision energy, centrality and kinematic acceptance in rapidity, $y$, and transverse momentum, $p_{T}$. The data were taken during the first phase of the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program (2010 -- 2017) at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) facility. The measurements are carried out at midrapidity ($|y| <$ 0.5) and transverse momentum 0.4 $<$ $p_{\rm T}$ $<$ 2.0 GeV/$c$, using the STAR detector at RHIC. We observe a non-monotonic energy dependence ($\sqrt{s_{\mathrm {NN}}}$ = 7.7 -- 62.4 GeV) of the net-proton $C_{4}$/$C_{2}$ with the significance of 3.1$\sigma$ for the 0-5\% central Au+Au collisions. This is consistent with the expectations of critical fluctuations in a QCD-inspired model. Thermal and transport model calculations show a monotonic variation with $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm {NN}}}$. For the multiparticle correlation functions, we observe significant negative values for a two-particle correlation function, $\kappa_2$, of protons and antiprotons, which are mainly due to the effects of baryon number conservation. Furthermore, it is found that the four-particle correlation function, $\kappa_4$, of protons plays a role in determining the energy dependence of proton $C_4/C_1$ below 19.6 GeV, which cannot be understood by the effect of baryon number conservation.

Analysis of kinetic freeze-out temperature and transverse flow velocity in nucleus–nucleus and proton–proton collisions at same center-of-mass energy

Transverse momentum spectra of different types of identified charged particles in central Gold–Gold (Au–Au) collisions and inelastic (INEL) or nonsingle diffractive (NSD) proton–proton (pp) collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), as well as in central and peripheral Lead–Lead (Pb–Pb) collisions, and INEL or NSD pp collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are analyzed by the blast-wave model with Tsallis statistics. The model results are approximately in agreement with the experimental data measured by STAR, PHENIX and ALICE Collaborations in special transverse momentum ranges. Kinetic freeze-out (KFO) temperature and transverse flow velocity are extracted from the transverse momentum spectra of the particles. It is shown that KFO temperature of the emission source depends on mass of the particles, which reveals the mass-dependent KFO scenario in collisions at RHIC and LHC. Furthermore, the KFO temperature and transverse flow velocity in central nucleus–nucleus (AA) collisions are larger than in peripheral collisions, and both of them are slightly larger in peripheral nucleus–nucleus collisions or almost equivalent to that in proton–proton collisions at the same center-of-mass energy which shows their similar thermodynamic nature.

Upgrade of hardware controls for the STAR experiment at RHIC

The STAR experiment has been delivering significant physics results for more than 20 years. Stable operation of the experiment was achieved by using a robust controls system based on the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS). Now an object-oriented approach with Python libraries, adapted for EPICS software, is going to replace the procedural-based EPICS C libraries previously used at STAR. Advantages of the new approach include stability of operation, code reduction and straightforward project documentation. The first two sections of this paper introduce the STAR experiment, give an overview of the EPICS architecture, and present the use of Python for controls software. Specific examples, as well as upgrades of user interfaces, are outlined in the following sections.

Azimuthal anisotropy measurements of strange and multistrange hadrons in U+U collisions at sNN=193 GeV at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

We present systematic measurements of azimuthal anisotropy for strange and multistrange hadrons (Ks0, Λ, Ξ, and Ω) and ϕ mesons at midrapidity (|y|< 1.0) in collisions of U+U nuclei at sNN=193 GeV, recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Transverse momentum (pT) dependence of flow coefficients (v2, v3, and v4) is presented for minimum bias collisions and three different centrality intervals. Number of constituent quark scaling of the measured flow coefficients in U+U collisions is discussed. We also present the ratio of vn scaled by the participant eccentricity (ɛn2) to explore system size dependence and collectivity in U+U collisions. The magnitude of v2/ɛ2 is found to be smaller in U+U collisions than that in central Au+Au collisions contradicting naive eccentricity scaling. Furthermore, the ratios between various flow harmonics (v3/v23/2, v4/v24/2) are studied and compared with hydrodynamic and transport model calculations.9 MoreReceived 18 March 2021Accepted 24 May 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.103.064907©2021 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasCollective flowRelativistic heavy-ion collisionsNuclear Physics

An evidence of triple kinetic freezeout scenario observed in all centrality intervals in Cu–Cu, Au–Au and Pb–Pb collisions at high energies

Transverse momentum spectra of π +, K +, p, , Λ, Ξ or and Ω or or in copper–copper (Cu–Cu), gold–gold (Au–Au) and lead–lead (Pb–Pb) collisions at 200 GeV, 62.4 GeV and 2.76 TeV respectively, are analyzed in different centrality bins by the blast wave model with Tsallis statistics. The model results are approximately in agreement with the experimental data measured by BRAHMS, STAR and ALICE Collaborations in special transverse momentum ranges. Kinetic freeze out temperature, transverse flow velocity and kinetic freezeout volume are extracted from the transverse momentum spectra of the particles. It is observed that and Ω or or have larger kinetic freezeout temperature followed by K +, and Λ than π + and p due to smaller reaction cross-sections of multi-strange and strange particles than non-strange particles. The present work reveals the scenario of triple kinetic freezeout in collisions at BRAHMS, STAR and ALICE Collaborations, however the transverse flow velocity and kinetic freezeout volume are mass dependent and they decrease with the increasing rest mass of the particle. In addition, the kinetic freezeout temperature, transverse flow velocity and kinetic freezeout volume are decreasing from central to peripheral collisions while the parameter q increase from central to peripheral collisions, indicating the approach of quick equilibrium in the central collisions. Besides, the kinetic freezeout temperature and kinetic freezeout volume are observed to be larger in larger collision system which shows its dependence on the size of the interacting system, while transverse flow velocity increase with increasing energy.

Modeling and Correction of Pointing Errors in Gimbals-Type Optical Communication Terminals on Motion Platforms

In free-space optical (FSO) communication, high-precision pointing is a critical technology required for rapid acquisition to reduce link establishment time and increase communication time. FSO communication on a motion platform is necessary to expand the communication area and to promote the establishment of a global communication network. However, the pointing accuracy of an optical communication terminal on a motion platform is low due to numerous error sources and error coupling. This paper evaluates the error sources and proposes a pointing model to avoid problems resulting from error coupling. This proposed pointing model was designed to improve the pointing accuracy of a gimbals-type optical communication terminal (GOCT) on a motion platform. The effectiveness of the proposed pointing model was verified by tracking star experiments. The modified residual error of the proposed point model was 94.8 μrad compared to 1324.2 μrad without correction. Additionally, the modified residual error was 94.8 μrad of the proposed pointing model compared to 140.2 μrad of the existing model. The actual open-loop pointing error was reduced from 150.4 μrad of the existing model to 101.3 μrad of the proposed model. Thus, the pointing accuracy of a GOCT on a motion platform was significantly improved after correction by the proposed pointing model.

Measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries of π0 and electromagnetic jets at forward rapidity in 200 and 500 GeV transversely polarized proton-proton collisions

The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of the transverse single-spin asymmetry (TSSA) of inclusive $\pi^0$ at center-of-mass energies ($\sqrt s$) of 200 GeV and 500 GeV in transversely polarized proton-proton collisions in the pseudo-rapidity region 2.7 to 4.0. The results at the two different energies show a continuous increase of the TSSA with Feynman-$x$, and, when compared to previous measurements, no dependence on $\sqrt s$ from 19.4 GeV to 500 GeV is found. To investigate the underlying physics leading to this large TSSA, different topologies have been studied. $\pi^0$ with no nearby particles tend to have a higher TSSA than inclusive $\pi^0$. The TSSA for inclusive electromagnetic jets, sensitive to the Sivers effect in the initial state, is substantially smaller, but shows the same behavior as the inclusive $\pi^0$ asymmetry as a function of Feynman-$x$. To investigate final-state effects, the Collins asymmetry of $\pi^0$ inside electromagnetic jets has been measured. The Collins asymmetry is analyzed for its dependence on the $\pi^0$ momentum transverse to the jet thrust axis and its dependence on the fraction of jet energy carried by the $\pi^0$. The asymmetry was found to be small in each case for both center-of-mass energies. All the measurements are compared to QCD-based theoretical calculations for transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution functions and fragmentation functions. Some discrepancies are found, which indicates new mechanisms might be involved.

Mechanical Thrombectomy for Distal Occlusions: Efficacy, Functional and Safety Outcomes: Insight from the STAR Collaboration

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the standard of care for the treatment of proximal anterior circulation large vessel occlusions. However, little is known about its efficacy and safety in the treatment of distal intracranial occlusions. This is a multicenter retrospective study of patients treated with MT at 15 comprehensive centers between January 2015 and December 2018. The study cohort was divided into 2 groups based on the location of occlusion (proximal vs. distal). Distal occlusion was defined as occlusion of M3 segment of the middle cerebral artery, any segment of the anterior cerebral artery, or any segment of the posterior cerebral artery. Only isolated distal occlusion was included. Good outcome was defined as 90-day modified Rankin scale score 0-2. A total of 4710 patients were included in this study, of whom 189 (4%) had MT for distal occlusions. Compared with the proximal occlusion group, distal occlusion group had a higher rate of good outcome (45% vs. 36%; P= 0.03) and a lower rate of successful reperfusion (78% vs. 84%; P= 0.04). However, the differences did not retain significance in adjusted models. Otherwise there was no difference in the rate of hemorrhagic complications, mortality, or procedure-related complications between the 2 groups. Successful reperfusion, age, and admission stroke severity emerged as predictors of good functional outcome in the distal occlusion group. Thrombectomies of distal vessels achieve high rate of successful reperfusion with similar safety profile to those in more proximal locations.

Methods for a blind analysis of isobar data collected by the STAR collaboration

In 2018, the STAR collaboration collected data from \(_{44}^{96}{\mathrm{Ru}}+_{44}^{96}{\mathrm{Ru}}\) and \(_{40}^{96}{\mathrm{Zr}}+_{40}^{96}{\mathrm{Zr}}\) at \(\sqrt{s_\text {NN}}=200\) GeV to search for the presence of the chiral magnetic effect in collisions of nuclei. The isobar collision species alternated frequently between \(_{44}^{96}{\mathrm{Ru}}+_{44}^{96}{\mathrm{Ru}}\) and \(_{40}^{96}{\mathrm{Zr}}+_{40}^{96}{\mathrm{Zr}}\). In order to conduct blind analyses of studies related to the chiral magnetic effect in these isobar data, STAR developed a three-step blind analysis procedure. Analysts are initially provided a “reference sample” of data, comprised of a mix of events from the two species, the order of which respects time-dependent changes in run conditions. After tuning analysis codes and performing time-dependent quality assurance on the reference sample, analysts are provided a species-blind sample suitable for calculating efficiencies and corrections for individual \(\approx 30\)-min data-taking runs. For this sample, species-specific information is disguised, but individual output files contain data from a single isobar species. Only run-by-run corrections and code alteration subsequent to these corrections are allowed at this stage. Following these modifications, the “frozen” code is passed over the fully un-blind data, completing the blind analysis. As a check of the feasibility of the blind analysis procedure, analysts completed a “mock data challenge,” analyzing data from \({\mathrm{Au}}+{\mathrm{Au}}\) collisions at \(\sqrt{s_\text {NN}}=27\) GeV, collected in 2018. The \({\mathrm{Au}}+{\mathrm{Au}}\) data were prepared in the same manner intended for the isobar blind data. The details of the blind analysis procedure and results from the mock data challenge are presented.

Extraction of the specific shear viscosity of quark-gluon plasma from two-particle transverse momentum correlations

The specific shear viscosity, eta /s, of the quark-gluon plasma formed in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and LHC is estimated based on the progressive longitudinal broadening of transverse momentum two-particle correlators, G_2, reported as a function of collision centrality by the STAR and ALICE experiments. Estimates are computed as a function of collision centrality using the Gavin ansatz which relates the G_2 longitudinal broadening to the specific shear viscosity. Freeze out times required for the use of the ansatz are computed using a linear fit of freeze out times reported as a function of the cubic root of the charged particle pseudorapidity density ({mathrm{d}}N_{mathrm{ch}}/deta )^{1/3}. Estimates of eta /s based on ALICE data exhibit little to no dependence on collision centrality at LHC energy, while estimates obtained from STAR data hint that eta /s might be a function of collision centrality at top RHIC energy.

Comparison of transverse single-spin asymmetries for forward π0 production in polarized pp , pAl and pAu collisions at nucleon pair c.m. energy sNN=200 GeV

The STAR Collaboration reports a measurement of the transverse single-spin asymmetries, $A_{N}$, for neutral pions produced in polarized proton collisions with protons ($pp$), with aluminum nuclei ($p\rm{Al}$) and with gold nuclei ($p\rm{Au}$) at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. Neutral pions are observed in the forward direction relative to the transversely polarized proton beam, in the pseudo-rapidity region $2.7<\eta<3.8$. Results are presented for $\pi^0$s observed in the STAR FMS electromagnetic calorimeter in narrow Feynman x ($x_F$) and transverse momentum ($p_T$) bins, spanning the range $0.17<x_F<0.81$ and $1.7<p_{T}<6.0$ GeV/$c$. For fixed $x_F<0.47$, the asymmetries are found to rise with increasing transverse momentum. For larger $x_F$, the asymmetry flattens or falls as ${p_T}$ increases. Parametrizing the ratio $r(A) \equiv A_N(pA)/A_N(pp)=A^P$ over the kinematic range, the ratio $r(A)$ is found to depend only weakly on $A$, with ${\langle}P{\rangle} = -0.027 \pm 0.005$. No significant difference in $P$ is observed between the low-$p_T$ region, $p_T<2.5$ GeV/$c$, where gluon saturation effects may play a role, and the high-$p_T$ region, $p_T>2.5$ GeV/$c$. It is further observed that the value of $A_N$ is significantly larger for events with a large-$p_T$ isolated $\pi^0$ than for events with a non-isolated $\pi^0$ accompanied by additional jet-like fragments. The nuclear dependence $r(A)$ is similar for isolated and non-isolated $\pi^0$ events.

Centrality determination with a forward detector in the RHIC Beam Energy Scan

Recently, Chatterjee et al used a hadronic transport model to estimate the resolution with which various experimental quantities select the impact parameter of relativistic heavy ion collisions at collision energies relevant to the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Measures based on particle multiplicity at forward rapidity were found to be significantly worse than those based on midrapidity multiplicity. Using the same model, we show that a slightly more sophisticated measure greatly improves the resolution based on forward rapidity particles; this improvement persists even when the model is filtered through a realistic simulation of a recent upgrade detector to the STAR experiment. These results highlight the importance of optimizing centrality measures based on particles detected at forward rapidity, especially for experimental studies that search for a critical point in the QCD phase diagram. Such measurements usually focus on proton multiplicity fluctuations at midrapidity, hence selecting events based on multiplicity at midrapidity raises the possibility of nontrivial autocorrelations.

Study of Proton, Deuteron, and Triton at 54.4 GeV

Transverse momentum spectra of proton, deuteron, and triton in gold-gold (Au-Au) collisions at 54.4 GeV are analyzed in different centrality bins by the blast wave model with Tsallis statistics. The model results are approximately in agreement with the experimental data measured by STAR Collaboration in special transverse momentum ranges. We extracted the kinetic freeze-out temperature, transverse flow velocity, and freeze-out volume from the transverse momentum spectra of the particles. It is observed that the kinetic freeze-out temperature is increasing from the central to peripheral collisions. However, the transverse flow velocity and freeze-out volume decrease from the central to peripheral collisions. The present work reveals the mass dependent kinetic freeze-out scenario and volume differential freeze-out scenario in collisions at STAR Collaboration. In addition, parameter q characterizes the degree of nonequilibrium of the produced system, and it increases from the central to peripheral collisions and increases with mass .

Flow and interferometry results from Au+Au collisions at sNN=4.5 GeV

The beam energy scan (BES) program at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) was extended to energies below sNN=7.7 GeV in 2015 by successful implementation of the fixed-target mode of operation in the STAR (Solenoidal Tracker At RHIC) experiment. In this mode, ions circulate in one ring of the collider and interact with a stationary target at the entrance of the STAR time projection chamber. The first results for Au+Au collisions at sNN=4.5 GeV are presented, demonstrating good performance of all the relevant detector subsystems in fixed-target mode. Results presented here include directed and elliptic flow of identified hadrons, and radii from pion femtoscopy. The latter, together with recent HADES results, reveal a long-sought peak structure that may be caused by the system evolving through a first-order phase transition from quark-gluon plasma to the hadronic phase. Directed and elliptic flow for pions are presented for the first time at this beam energy. Pion and proton elliptic flow show behavior which hints at constituent quark scaling, and demonstrate that a definitive conclusion will be achievable using the full statistics of the ongoing second phase of BES (BES-II). In particular, BES-II to date has recorded fixed-target data sets with two orders of magnitude more events at each of nine energies between sNN=3.0 and 7.7 GeV.13 MoreReceived 29 July 2020Revised 12 December 2020Accepted 2 March 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.103.034908©2021 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasCollective flowParticle correlations & fluctuationsRelativistic heavy-ion collisionsNuclear Physics

The effect of hadronic scatterings on the measurement of vector meson spin alignments in heavy-ion collisions * *The work of D. Y. Shen and J. H. Chen was Supported in part by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB34030000), the Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research (2020B0301030008) and the National Natural Science Foundation

Spin alignments of vector mesons and hyperons in relativistic heavy-ion collisions have been proposed as signals of global polarization. The STAR experiment first observed the polarization. Recently, the ALICE collaboration measured the transverse momentum ( ) and the collision centrality dependence of , and spin alignments during Pb-Pb collisions at = 2.76 TeV. A large signal is observed in the low region of mid-central collisions for , while the signal is much smaller for , and these have not been understood yet. Since vector mesons have different lifetimes and their decay products have different scattering cross sections, they suffer from different hadronic effects. In this paper, we study the effect of hadronic interactions on the spin alignment of , , and mesons in relativistic heavy-ion collisions with a multi-phase transport model. We find that hadronic scatterings lead to a deviation of the observed spin alignment matrix element away from the true value for and mesons (with a bigger effect on ) while the effect is negligible for the meson. The effect depends on the kinematic acceptance: the observed value is lower than the true value when the pseudorapidity ( ) coverage is small, while there is little effect when the coverage is large. Hence, this study provides valuable information to understand the vector meson spin alignment signals observed during the experiments.

Exploring the double-slit interference with linearly polarized photons

The linearly polarized quasi-real photons from the highly Lorentz-contracted Coulomb fields of relativistic heavy ions can fluctuate to quark-antiquark pairs, scatter off a target nucleus and emerge as vector mesons. In the process, the two colliding nuclei can switch roles to act as photon emitter or target, forming a double-slit interference pattern. The product from photoproduction inherits the photon polarization states, leading to the asymmetries of the decay angular distributions. In this letter, we study the interference effect in polarization dimension from the asymmetries of the decay angular distributions for photoprodution in heavy-ion collisions and find a periodic oscillation with the transverse momentum of vector meson, which could reasonably explain the transverse momentum dependence of the 2nd-order modulation in azimuth for the $\rho^{0}$ decay observed by the STAR collaboration.

Reweighting the Sivers function with jet data from STAR

The reweighting procedure that using Bayesian statistics incorporates the information contained in a new data set, without the need of re-fitting, is applied to the quark Sivers function extracted from Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (SIDIS) data. We exploit the recently published single spin asymmetry data for the inclusive jet production in polarized pp collisions from the STAR Collaboration at RHIC, which cover a much wider x region compared to SIDIS measurements. The reweighting method is extended to the case of asymmetric errors and the results show a remarkable improvement of the knowledge of the quark Sivers function.

Dependence of related parameters on centrality and mass in a new treatment for transverse momentum spectra in high energy collisions

We collected the experimental data of transverse momentum spectra of identified particles produced in proton-proton ($p$-$p$), deuteron-gold ($d$-Au or $d$-$A$), gold-gold (Au-Au or $A$-$A$), proton-lead ($p$-Pb or $p$-$A$), and lead-lead (Pb-Pb or $A$-$A$) collisions measured by the ALICE, CMS, LHCb, NA49, NA61/SHINE, PHENIX, and STAR collaborations at different center-of mass energies. The multisource thermal model at the quark level or the participant quark model is used to describe the experimental data. The free parameters, the effective temperature $T$, entropy index-related $n$, and revised index $a_{0}$, in the revised Tsallis--Pareto-type function are extracted at the quark level. In most cases, $T$ and $n$ in central collisions are larger than those in peripheral collisions, and $a_0$ does not change in different centrality classes. With the increase in the mass of produced particle or participant quark, $T$ and $a_0$ increase, and $n$ does not change significantly. The behaviors of related parameters from $p$-$p$, $p(d)$-$A$, and $A$-$A$ collisions are similar.