Stages Of Collision Research Articles

Pre-equilibrium photons from the early stages of heavy-ion collisions

We use QCD kinetic theory to compute photon production in the chemically equilibrating Quark-Gluon Plasma created in the early stages of high-energy heavy-ion collisions. We do a detailed comparison of pre-equilibrium photon rates to the thermal photon production. We show that the photon spectrum radiated from a hydrodynamic attractor evolution satisfies a simple scaling form in terms of the specific shear viscosity η/s and entropy density dS/dζ ∼ (Tτ1/3)3/2∞. We confirm the analytical predictions with numerical kinetic theory simulations. We use the extracted scaling function to compute the pre-equilibrium photon contribution in sNN\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sqrt{s_{NN}} $$\\end{document} = 2.76 TeV 0–20% PbPb collisions. We demonstrate that our matching procedure allows for a smooth switching from pre-equilibrium kinetic to thermal hydrodynamic photon production. Finally, our publicly available implementation can be straightforwardly added to existing heavy ion models.

Crustal evolution of a continental magmatic arc from subduction to collision: A case study in the Gangdese arc, southern Tibetan Plateau

Magmatic arcs are the main environment where continental crust is created on the post-Archean Earth; however, how juvenile arc crust evolves into mature continental crust is still controversial. In this study, we report new bulk-rock major and trace elements, Sr-Nd isotopes, and zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes from a large suite of granites collected from the eastern segment of the Gangdese arc, southern Tibetan Plateau, which record a complete history of arc crust evolution from Mesozoic subduction to Cenozoic collision. These new data show that Gangdese crust-derived granites generated during the subduction to collisional stages record significant geochemical changes with age, indicating that the bulk composition, lithological makeup, and thicknesses of the arc crust evolved over time. Here, we propose that the Gangdese arc had a thick juvenile crust with a small volume of ancient crustal components during late-stage subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean, a thin juvenile crust with heterogeneously distributed ancient crustal materials during early collision, and a thick juvenile crust with minor proportions of ancient rocks during late collision. This implies that the arc experienced episodes of crustal thickening during the Late Cretaceous and Eocene, interspersed by periods of thinning during the Paleocene and Miocene, and several discrete episodes of partial melting in the lower arc crust, and cycling or recycling of juvenile and ancient crustal materials within the arc crust and between the crust and mantle. We suggest that shallow subduction of the Neo-Tethys during the Late Cretaceous promoted tectonic thickening of the arc crust, partial melting of lower crust, and formation of high Sr/Y granites. After the onset of the Indo-Asian collision, breakoff of the subducted Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab during the Paleocene/early Eocene allowed thinning of the overlying arc crust and generation of granites derived from juvenile and ancient crustal sources. Continued underthrusting of the Indian continental crust and subsequent delamination of thickened lithospheric mantle led to thickening and thinning of the arc crust, respectively, and partial melting of thickened lower crust and generation of high Sr/Y granites during the Oligocene and Miocene. Using the Gangdese as an analogue for post-Archean continental margins, we suggest that the repeated thickening and thinning of arc crust, and associated multistage remelting of the lower arc crust, and material cycling or recycling within the crust and between the crust and mantle from subduction to collision are common processes that drive maturation of juvenile arc crust.

Polarized photons from the early stages of relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Polarized photons from the early stages of relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Eocene crustal thickening in the Tethyan Himalaya: Insights from Barrovian metamorphism and granite geochemistry from the Ramba area

Magmatism, structures, and metamorphism in the Ramba dome of the Tethyan Himalaya were investigated to shed light on orogenic processes during the early stages of the India-Asia collision. Deformed granite dikes in the dome envelope yield zircon U-Pb ages of ca. 45 Ma. These Eocene granites have adakitic, Na-rich compositions (K2O/Na2O = 0.20−0.61), weak to no Eu anomaly, enrichment in Sr, depletion in heavy rare earth elements and Y, and low MgO and Mg# contents. These characteristics contrast with the Miocene potassic granites in the core of the dome and suggest that the Eocene adakites were derived from the high-pressure melting of crustal amphibolites in a thick crust. The mica schists of the dome envelope have an early foliation (S1) that is overprinted by upright folds (F2). Phase-equilibria modeling of garnet and staurolite mica schists suggests a Barrovian-type, prograde P-T evolution in association with S1, with peak conditions of 6.7−7.2 kbar/590−605 °C and 7.3−7.8 kbar/650−670 °C, respectively, which are typical of crustal thickening metamorphism. Monazites from S1-dominated staurolite mica schists yield metamorphic ages of ca. 51−49 Ma, while those from the late foliation (S2) that transposed S1 give younger ages of ca. 10 Ma. The integration of geochemical, structural, metamorphic, and geochronological data suggests that peak Barrovian D1 metamorphism and adakitic magmatism occurred in the Eocene in response to crustal thickening. The results provide critical constraints for addressing the crustal shortening deficit of the region.

Modelling and simulation study on dynamic pollution accumulation process of composite insulator

AbstractWith the widespread application of composite insulators in transmission lines, exploring the accumulation mechanism of pollution particles on composite insulator surfaces is of importance to ensure the safe and steady operation of the power system. Addressing the current theoretical shortcomings, this study categorises the accumulation process of particles on the insulator surface into three stages, namely ‘spatial motion’, ‘surface collision’, and ‘surface motion’. The motion and rotation velocities in a multi‐physics field are calculated in the spatial motion stage. In the surface collision stage, a parameter called ‘neck height’ is introduced to determine the optimum mechanics theory, and the normal deposition criterion is established. For the surface motion stage, the sliding displacement and rolling displacement on the surface are calculated based on the rotation speed of the particles. A dynamic pollution accumulation model of the composite insulator is established based on the normal deposition criterion and tangential displacement. Finally, numerical simulations are performed by using the finite element method. Simulation results show that the proposed model agrees with the actual insulator pollution accumulation, and the deposition model is still applicable for various types of composite insulators operating in different applied voltages. The deposition probability of particles increases with the increasing particle size. In the surface motion stage, particle displacement increases with particle size and wind velocity.

Heavy quark diffusion coefficient in heavy-ion collisions via kinetic theory

We compute the heavy quark momentum diffusion coefficient κ using QCD kinetic theory for a system going through bottom-up isotropization in the initial stages of a heavy ion collision. We find that the values of κ are within 30% from a thermal system at the same energy density. When matching for other quantities we observe considerably larger deviations. We also observe that the diffusion coefficient in the transverse direction is larger at high occupation numbers, whereas for an underoccupied system the longitudinal diffusion coefficient dominates. The behavior of the diffusion coefficient can be understood on a qualitative level based on the Debye mass mD and the effective temperature of soft modes T*. Our findings for the kinetic evolution of κ in different directions can be used in phenomenological descriptions of heavy quark diffusion and quarkonium dynamics to include the impact of preequilibrium stages. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Titanite geochemistry traces extreme differentiation of granitic magma in the collisional orogen

The genesis of granitic magma is important for the growth and evolution of continental crust. However, whether and how granitic magma can undergo efficient crystal fractionation from partial melting at the source to magma emplacement in the shallow crust level are still controversial. To address this problem, a combined study of whole-rock and titanite geochemistry was carried out for syn-exhumation granites from the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt in eastern China. These high-Si granites were produced by partial melting of the deeply subducted continental crust. Significant geochemical differentiation has been revealed in these granites. Titanite in the granites can be divided into anatectic and magmatic origins, according to the Fe/Al ratios and trace element compositions. Both types of titanite yield similar UPb ages ranging from 209 ± 23 Ma to 233 ± 26 Ma, corresponding to the late collisional stage of the Sulu orogen. These titanite domains generally have consistent εNd(t) values, suggesting that they formed in a nearly closed system without significant magma mixing of different sources. The highly variable Nb/Ta ratios of titanite show good correlations with FeO, Al2O3, Ta, Sr, LREE and (Lu/Gd)N. This interesting feature is ascribed to the extensive crystal fractionation of titanite, plagioclase and allanite/epidote during magma evolution. The results suggest that the highly silicic granitic melts can experience extensive crystal separation from the liquid during granitic magma differentiation. This study shows that accessory minerals such as titanite play a key role in constraining the geochemical differentiation of granitic melts. Furthermore, titanite geochemistry has the potential to decode the complex processes from partial melting at the source to magma differentiation at shallow crust level in collisional orogens.

Thermal conductivity of evolving quark-gluon plasma in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field

The effect of the temperature evolution of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) on its thermal conductivity and elliptic flow is investigated here in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field. Thermal conductivity plays a vital role in the cooling rate of the medium or its temperature evolution. The magnetic field produced during the early stages of (noncentral) heavy-ion collisions decays with time, where electrical conductivity plays a significant role. As the medium expands, the electrical and thermal properties change, reflecting the effect in various observables. In this study, we have calculated the thermal conductivity of the QGP medium, incorporating the effects of temperature and magnetic field evolution. We discovered that conductivity significantly depends on the cooling rate, and its value increases due to temperature evolution. Furthermore, the influence of these evolutions on the elliptic flow coefficient is measured, and elliptic flow decreases due to the evolution. We also extend our study for the case of Gubser flow, where, along with the longitudinal Bjorken expansion, the radially transverse expansion is also present. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Electronic stopping in ternary material SiCN: Anomalous behavior of slow channeling helium ions

By performing time-dependent density functional theory simulations, we reveal an anomalous deviation from linear low-velocity electronic stopping for slow channeling helium ions in the ternary material SiCN. We ascribe the deviation behavior that occurs upon helium ion irradiated SiCN to trapped electrons in the final stage of collision. The result show that the electron trapping for the exit-side of the material is more sensitive to the projectile velocity than that for the entrance-side, and that this has a corresponding relationship with nonlinear electronic stopping. In addition, our calculations reveal enhanced nonlinear electronic stopping to the off-center channels, particularly near the C/N layers. We propose the increased electron excitation for the increased charge density channel under a small impact parameter as the most plausible explanation for this behavior.

Spinodal enhancement of fluctuations in nucleus-nucleus collisions

Subensemble Acceptance Method (SAM) [1, 2] is an essential link between measured event-by-event fluctuations and their grand canonical theoretical predictions such as lattice QCD. The method allows quantifying the global conservation law effects in fluctuations. In its basic formulation, SAM requires a sufficiently large system such as created in central nucleus-nucleus collisions and sufficient space-momentum correlations. Directly in the spinodal region of the First Order Phase Transition (FOPT) different approximations should be used that account for finite size effects. Thus, we present the generalization of SAM applicable in both the pure phases, metastable and unstable regions of the phase diagram [3]. Obtained analytic formulas indicate the enhancement of fluctuations due to crossing the spinodal region of FOPT and are tested using molecular dynamics simulations. A rather good agreement is observed. Using transport model calculations with interaction potential we show that the spinodal enhancement of fluctuations survives till the later stages of collision via the memory effect [4]. However, at low collision energies the space-momentum correlation is not strong enough for this signal to be transferred to second and third order cumulants measured in momentum subspace. This result agrees well with recent HADES data on proton number fluctuations at √SNN = 2.4 GeV which are found to be consistent with the binomial momentum space acceptance [5].

Collective dynamics - Theoretical overview

I overview the recent progress of phenomenological studies exploring collective dynamics in relativistic nuclear collisions to understand various QCD properties. Originally, collectivity was interpreted as a manifestation of the hydrodynamic behaviour of the QGP as a response to the initial collision geometry. Over the past decade, however, particularly following the experimental observation of momentum azimuthal anisotropy in small colliding systems, pioneering studies have demonstrated the possibility of other interpretations. In this talk, I highlight recent studies aimed at understanding various QCD properties at different collision stages through the lens of collectivity and emphasize the importance of establishing Monte Carlo event generators for relativistic nuclear collisions.

Photon-triggered jets as probes of multi-stage jet modification

Prompt photons are created in the early stages of heavy ion collisions and traverse the QGP medium without any interaction. Therefore, photontriggered jets can be used to study the jet quenching in the QGP medium. In this work, photon-triggered jets are studied through different jet and jet substructure observables for different collision systems and energies using the JETSCAPE framework. Since the multistage evolution used in the JETSCAPE framework is adequate to describe a wide range of experimental observables simultaneously using the same parameter tune, we use the same parameters tuned for jet and leading hadron studies. The same isolation criteria used in the experimental analysis are used to identify prompt photons for better comparison. For the first time, high-accuracy JETSCAPE results are compared with multi-energy LHC and RHIC measurements to better understand the deviations observed in prior studies. This study highlights the importance of multistage evolution for the simultaneous description of experimental observables through different collision systems and energies using a single parameter tune.

Generalized angularities measurements from STAR at √SNN = 200 GeV

Jets are produced in early stages of heavy-ion collisions and undergo modified showering in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) medium relative to a vacuum case. These modifications can be measured using observables like jet momentum profile and generalized angularities to study the details of jetmedium interactions. Jet momentum profile (ρ(r)) encodes radially differential information about jet broadening and has shown migration of charged energy towards the jet periphery in Pb+Pb collisions at the LHC. Measurements of generalized angularities (girth g and momentum dispersion pTD) and LeSub (difference between leading and subleading constituents) from Pb+Pb collisions at the LHC show harder, or more quark-like jet fragmentation, in the presence of the medium. Measuring these distributions in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC will help us further characterize the jet-medium interactions in a phase-space region complimentary to that of the LHC. In this contribution, we present the first measurements of fully corrected g, pTD and LeSub observables using hard-core jets in Au+Au collisions at √SNN = 200 GeV, collected by the STAR experiment at RHIC.

Pre-equilibrium Photon and Dilepton Production

We use QCD kinetic theory to compute photon and dilepton production in the chemically equilibrating out-of-equilibrium quark-gluon plasma created in the early stages of high-energy heavy-ion collisions. We derive universal scaling functions for the pre-equilibrium spectra of photons and dileptons. These scaling functions can be used to make realistic predictions for the pre-equilibrium emission and consequently establish the significance of the preequilibrium phase for the production of electromagnetic probes in heavy-ion collisions.

Photon-photon correlations in Ag+Ag collisions at √SNN = 2.55 GeV

Abstract. Photons, as penetrative probes, can deliver information about early stages of heavy-ion collisions, in contrast to hadrons, whose kinematics are determined after the freeze-out era. Given that, they provide access to quantities inaccessible for many other particle species. However, due to technical challenges of photon detection and dominance of photons from particle decays, exploiting their properties requires significant effort. Femtoscopy, a technique used to investigate the space-time characteristics of the source area, is sensitive to the emission sequence of studied particles. Hence, it can be utilized as a tool to separate photons originating from different sources. Studying femto-scopic correlations of photons can offer a new and unique perspective on source parameters before kinematic freeze-out. Using data from Ag+Ag collisions at √SNN = 2.55 GeV, collected by the HADES spectrometer, a preliminary study of photon-photon correlations was performed.

Vector meson polarisation in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC

Heavy quarks, i.e. charm and beauty, are produced in the initial stage of heavy-ion collisions, on a time scale shorter than the medium formation time, and are sensitive to the large initial magnetic field produced perpendicular to the reaction plane, defined by the impact parameter direction and beam direction, in non-central heavy-ion collisions. In the presence of a large initial magnetic field, the charm quark can be polarised. The quark polarisation is then expected to be transferred to the hadron in the hadronisation process. We will present the first measurement of D*+ polarisation in Pb–Pb collisions at √SNN = 5.02 TeV, exploiting the large data sample collected by the ALICE Collaboration during the LHC Run 2 and we will compare these new results with the existing J/ψ polarisation measurements.

Exploring the hadron gas phase of relativistic heavy-ion collisions at the LHC

The lifetimes of hadronic resonances are comparable to the one of the hadron gas phase created in the late stages of high-energy nuclear collisions. Therefore, a significant fraction of resonances decay inside a high-density medium and their decay daughters rescatter with nearby hadrons destroying their initial kinematic correlations. The competing effect of resonance regeneration via pseudo-elastic interactions of hadrons interplays between the rescattering effect, modifying the measured yields and transverse-momentum spectra of hadronic resonances. These effects are studied by measuring the production yield ratio of resonances to the corresponding long-lived particle as a function of the hadronic lifetime, i.e. charged-particle multiplicity. In addition, measurements of the differential yields of resonances with different masses, quark content, and quantum numbers help in understanding particle production mechanisms, strangeness production, and parton energy loss. This article reports recent ALICE measurements on resonances and the use of the experimental input in a partial chemical equilibrium-based thermal model to constrain the kinetic freezeout temperature. This is a novel procedure that is independent of assumptions on the flow velocity profile and the freeze-out hypersurface.

MODELS FOR THE FORMATION OF POLYPHASE GABBRO-MONZODIORITE MASSIFS OF THE WESTERN SANGILEN IN THE COLLISIONAL AND TRANSTENSIONAL-SHEAR SETTINGS

A model for the formation of intrusions of the collision stage of 525–490 Ma and a model of magmatism of the transtensional shear stage of 465–440 Ma within the Mugur-Chinchilig and Erzin-Naryn blocks of Western Sangilen (Tuva) have been developed to describe the process of crust-mantle interaction. Model experiments confirm petrological data on the presence of multi-level chambers during the formation of the Pravotarlashkinsky and Bashkymugur massifs. The proposed model describes the migration of mantle magmas above the head of the mantle plume at the collision stage and assumes the rise of magmas along a permeable tectonic zone in the mantle lithosphere and crust at the transtensional-shear stage. The modeling results allow us to establish that material from the magma chamber can reach depths of the upper crust in the volume ratio of gabbroids to diorites from 1 : 2 to 3 : 4 and additionally introduce about 5 % of the volume fraction of lower crustal material.The physical parameters of the primary magmas (viscosity, solidus and liquidus temperatures, degree of melting depending on temperature and composition, change in density) were calculated taking into account the real geochemical characteristics of igneous rocks from the polyphase massifs of Western Sangilen.

Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion

The properties of superheavy elements probe extremes of physics and chemistry. They are synthesised at accelerator laboratories using nuclear fusion, where two atomic nuclei collide, stick together (capture), then with low probability evolve to a compact superheavy nucleus. The fundamental microscopic mechanisms controlling fusion are not fully understood, limiting predictive capability. Even capture, considered to be the simplest stage of fusion, is not matched by models. Here we show that collisions of 40Ca with 208Pb, experience an ‘explosion’ of mass and charge transfers between the nuclei before capture, with unexpectedly high probability and complexity. Ninety different partitions of the protons and neutrons between the projectile-like and target-like nuclei are observed. Since each is expected to have a different probability of fusion, the early stages of collisions may be crucial in superheavy element synthesis. Our interpretation challenges the current view of fusion, explains both the successes and failures of current capture models, and provides a framework for improved models.

Modeling the Deposition of Thin Films of Transition Metal Nitrides

This paper presents an overview of studies dedicated to the atomic-discrete modeling of the growth process of film coatings that comprise mononitrides of transition and post-transition metals. The main modeling approaches are the Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics methods as well as their combinations with analytical contributions. The molecular dynamics method is more accurate compared to the Monte Carlo method but has disadvantages related to the time scale. Given this, the adoption of accelerated molecular dynamics methods is viewed as a promising approach for directly simulating the specified processes. These methods can be implemented just after the relaxation of the collision stage in the area of the deposited particle between the deposition events to simulate the realistic density of the incident beam and accompanied long-term mass transfer processes.