Strong Final State Interactions Research Articles

Femtoscopy measurements of two-kaon combinations in Au+Au collisions at the STAR experiment

Abstract. Relativistic heavy-ion collisions can study the properties of nuclear matter in high-energy experiments like the STAR experiment. One of the methods to learn about the properties of the bulk matter is the femtoscopy technique, which relies on information carried by the particles produced during the collisions. The emission source parameters, like space-time characteristics, can be extracted using the technique. High statistics data from RHIC make it possible to study the correlations between strange particles, like charged and neutral kaons. The pair-wise interactions between the identical kaons that form the basis for femtoscopy are quantum statistics and the Coulomb interaction for K±K±, and quantum statistics and the final-state interaction (FSI) through the f0(980)/a0(980) threshold resonances for KS0KS0. The interactions between non-identical kaons pairs of KS0K± are essential, as the strong FSI is described only by the a0(98O) resonance, which could be a four-quark state. These proceedings will present the femtoscopic measurements of strange particles with charged and neutral kaons correlations in Au+Au collisions at the RHIC energy.

Collectivity in Ultraperipheral Pb+Pb Collisions at the Large Hadron Collider.

We present the first full (3+1)D dynamical simulations of ultraperipheral Pb+Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. Extrapolating from p+Pb collisions, we explore whether a quasireal photon γ^{*} interacting with the lead nucleus in an ultraperipheral collision can create a many-body system exhibiting fluid behavior. Assuming strong final-state interactions, we provide model results for charged hadron multiplicity, identified particle mean transverse momenta, and charged hadron anisotropic flow coefficients, and compare them with experimental data from the ALICE and ATLAS Collaborations. The elliptic flow hierarchy between p+Pb and γ^{*}+Pb collisions is dominated by the difference in longitudinal flow decorrelations and reproduces the experimental data well. We have demonstrated that our theoretical framework provides a quantitative tool to study particle production and collectivity for all system sizes, ranging from central heavy-ion collisions to small asymmetric collision systems at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider and even at the future Electron-Ion Collider.

Investigation of K+K− pairs in the effective mass region near 2mK

The DIRAC experiment at CERN investigated in the reaction p(24 GeV/c)+Ni the particle pairs K+K−,π+π−, and pp¯ with relative momentum Q in the pair system less than 100 MeV/c. Because of background influence studies, DIRAC explored three subsamples of K+K− pairs, obtained by subtracting-using the time-of-flight (TOF) technique-the background from initial Q distributions with K+K− sample fractions more than 70%, 50%, and 30%. The corresponding pair distributions in Q and in its longitudinal projection QL were analyzed first in a Coulomb model, which takes into account only the Coulomb final-state interaction (FSI) and assuming pointlike pair production. This Coulomb model analysis leads to a K+K− yield increase of about four at QL=0.5 MeV/c compared to 100 MeV/c. In order to study contributions from strong interaction, a second more sophisticated model was applied, considering also strong FSI via the resonances f0(980) and a0(980) and a variable distance r* between the produced K mesons besides Coulomb FSI. This analysis was based on three different parameter sets for the pair production. For the 70% subsample and with the best parameters, 3680±370 K+K− pairs were found to be compared to 3900±410 K+K− extracted by means of the Coulomb model. Knowing the efficiency of the TOF cut for background suppression, the total number of detected K+K− pairs was evaluated to be around 40000±10%, which agrees with the result from the 30% subsample. The K+K− pair number in the 50% subsample differs from the two other values by about three standard deviations, confirming—as discussed in the paper—that experimental data in this subsample is less reliable. In summary, the upgraded DIRAC experiment observed increased K+K− production at small relative momentum Q. The pair distribution in Q is well described by Coulomb FSI, whereas a potential influence from strong interaction in this Q region is insignificant within experimental errors.2 MoreReceived 12 May 2022Accepted 15 July 2022DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.106.032006Published 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 AreasBound statesQuantum chromodynamicsScattering theoryStrong interactionTechniquesParticle productionParticles & FieldsAtomic, Molecular & Optical

K[formula omitted]K[formula omitted] and K[formula omitted]K± femtoscopy in pp collisions at [formula omitted] and 13 TeV

Femtoscopic correlations with the particle pair combinations KS0KS0 and KS0K± are studied in pp collisions at s=5.02 and 13 TeV by the ALICE experiment. At both energies, boson source parameters are extracted for both pair combinations, by fitting models based on Gaussian size distributions of the sources, to the measured two-particle correlation functions. The interaction model used for the KS0KS0 analysis includes quantum statistics and strong final-state interactions through the f0(980) and a0(980) resonances. The model used for the KS0K± analysis includes only the final-state interaction through the a0 resonance. Source parameters extracted in the present work are compared with published values from pp collisions at s=7 TeV and the different pair combinations are found to be consistent. From the observation that the strength of the KS0KS0 correlations is significantly greater than the strength of the KS0K± correlations, the new results are compatible with the a0 resonance being a tetraquark state of the form (q1,q2‾,s,s‾), where q1 and q2 are u or d quarks.

Satellite Excitations and Final State Interactions in Atomic Photoionization

Satellite excitations and final state configuration interactions appear due to the many-electron correlations and result in a photoelectron spectrum complex final state structure instead of single lines corresponding to one-hole states. In the present work, both processes are considered in a framework of the many-body perturbation theory, and two techniques, namely the spectral function and CI (configuration interaction) methods are considered. It is shown that for the calculation of satellite lineshapes and low-energy Auger decay, the spectral function method is more appropriate, but in the case of strong final state interactions, the methods of solution of Dyson equation or secular matrix are superior. The results obtained for satellites and low energy Auger decay in the Ne 1s, Ne 2p photoelectron spectra, the Co 3s, and the Th 5p photoelectron spectra are in agreement with the experimental data.

Nuclear Matter Effects on Jet Production at Electron-Ion Colliders.

Jet production and jet substructure in reactions with nuclei at future electron-ion colliders will play a preeminent role in the exploration of nuclear structure and the evolution of parton showers in strongly interacting matter. In the framework of soft-collinear effective theory, generalized to include in-medium interactions, we present the first theoretical study of inclusive jet cross sections and the jet charge at the electron-ion collider. Predictions for the modification of these observables in electron-gold relative to electron-proton collisions reveal how the flexible center-of-mass energies and kinematic coverage at this new facility can be used to enhance the signal and maximize the impact of the electron-nucleus program. Importantly, we demonstrate theoretically how to disentangle the effects from nuclear parton distribution functions and the ones that arise from strong final-state interactions between the jet and the nuclear medium.

ΛK femtoscopy in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV

The first measurements of the scattering parameters of ΛK pairs in all three charge combinations (ΛK+, ΛK−, and ΛKS0) are presented. The results are achieved through a femtoscopic analysis of ΛK correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV recorded by ALICE at the Large Hadron Collider. The femtoscopic correlations result from strong final-state interactions and are fit with a parametrization allowing for both the characterization of the pair emission source and the measurement of the scattering parameters for the particle pairs. Extensive studies with the THERMINATOR 2 event generator provide a good description of the nonfemtoscopic background, which results mainly from collective effects, with unprecedented precision. Furthermore, together with HIJING simulations, this model is used to account for contributions from residual correlations induced by feed-down from particle decays. The extracted scattering parameters indicate that the strong force is repulsive in the ΛK+ interaction and attractive in the ΛK− interaction. The data hint that the ΛKS0 interaction is attractive; however, the uncertainty of the result does not permit such a decisive conclusion. The results suggest an effect arising either from different quark-antiquark interactions between the pairs (ss¯ in ΛK+ and uu¯ in ΛK−) or from different net strangeness for each system (S=0 for ΛK+, and S=−2 for ΛK−). Finally, the ΛK systems exhibit source radii larger than expected from extrapolation from identical particle femtoscopic studies. This effect is interpreted as resulting from the separation in space-time of the single-particle Λ and K source distributions.3 MoreReceived 5 June 2020Accepted 30 March 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.103.055201Published 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.©2021 CERN, for the ALICE CollaborationPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasParticle & resonance productionParticle correlations & fluctuationsParticle interactionsRelativistic heavy-ion collisionsNuclear Physics

Sensitivity analysis for observables of the chiral magnetic effect using a multiphase transport model

Because the traditional observable of charge-dependent azimuthal correlator $\gamma$ contains both contributions from the chiral magnetic effect (CME) and its background, a new observable of $R_{\Psi_{m}}$ has been recently proposed which is expected to be able to distinguish the CME from the background. In this study, we apply two methods to calculate $R_{\Psi_{m}}$ using a multiphase transport model without or with introducing a percentage of CME-induced charge separation. We demonstrate that the shape of final $R_{\Psi_{2}}$ distribution is flat for the case without the CME, but concave for that with an amount of the CME, because the initial CME signal survives from strong final state interactions. By comparing the responses of $R_{\Psi_{2}}$ and $\gamma$ to the strength of the initial CME, we observe that two observables show different nonlinear sensitivities to the CME. We find that the shape of $R_{\Psi_{2}}$ has an advantage in measuring a small amount of the CME, although it requires large event statistics.

Polarization in (quasi-)two-body decays and new physics

We consider two-body and quasi-two-body decays of the type f_1 rightarrow f_2 B, where f_1 and f_2 are spin-1/2 fermions and B a spin-0 or spin-1 boson. After recalling the non-covariant formalism for decay amplitudes, we derive the expression of the differential decay width and of the polarizations of the final spinning particles, both on- and off-shell. We find an intriguing geometrical interpretation of the results about the polarization. We also illustrate some methods for measuring the polarizations of the resonances and for optimizing data analysis. Then we propose applications to semi-leptonic weak decays, with a major attention to the T-odd component of the polarization; this may help to find, simultaneously, possible time-reversal violations and hints to physics beyond the standard model. We suggest also a CPT test. Last, we discuss some T-odd observables for the production process of f_1 and for the study of the strong final state interactions of non-leptonic decays.

Feasibility of studying the resonance using femtoscopy

The feasibility of using femtoscopy to experimentally study the resonance is considered. The resonance is challenging to study due to its broad width and proximity in mass to the , both of which predominantly decay via the πK channel. One of the main interests in the is that it is considered a candidate for a tetraquark state. It is proposed to use two-particle femtoscopic methods with pairs produced in proton–proton and heavy ion collisions assuming a strong final-state interaction between them due to elastic scattering and/or via the resonance. Calculations of correlation functions are made to estimate the strength of these final-state interactions and to see if this signal can be adequately separated from the background. A possible signature of diquark versus tetraquark behavior of the final-state interaction is also discussed.

On the pair correlations of neutral K, D, B and Bs mesons with close momenta produced in inclusive multiparticle processes

The phenomenological structure of inclusive cross-sections of the production of two neutral K mesons in hadron–hadron, hadron–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions is theoretically investigated taking into account the strangeness conservation in strong and electromagnetic interactions. Relations describing the dependence of the correlations of two short-lived and two long-lived neutral kaons $K_S^0K_S^0,K_L^0K_L^0$ and the correlations of “mixed” pairs $K_S^0K_L^0$ at small relative momenta upon the space-time parameters of the generation region of K0 and K̅0 mesons have been obtained. These relations involve the contributions of Bose-statistics and S -wave strong final-state interaction of two K0 (K̅0) mesons as well as of the K0 and K̅0 mesons, and also the additional contribution of transitions K+K– → K0 K̅0, and they depend upon the relative fractions of generated pairs K0K0, K̅0 K̅0 and K0 K̅0. It is shown that under the strangeness conservation the correlation functions of the pairs $K_S^0K_S^0$ and $K_L^0K_L^0$, produced in the same inclusive process, coincide, and the difference between the correlation functions of the pairs $K_S^0K_S^0$ and $K_S^0K_L^0$ is conditioned exclusively by the production of the pairs of non-identical neutral kaons K0 K̅0. For comparison, analogous correlations for the pairs of neutral heavy mesons D0, B0 and $B_s^0$, generated in multiple inclusive processes with charm (beauty) conservation, are also theoretically analyzed. These correlations are described by quite similar expressions: in particular, just as for K0 mesons, the correlation functions for the pairs of states with the same CP parity (RS S = RLL) and with different CP parity (RS L) do not coincide, and the difference between them is conditioned exclusively by the production of pairs D0 D̅0, B0B̅0 and $B_s^0\bar B_s^0$. However, contrary to the case of K0 mesons, here the distinction of CP-even and CP-odd states encounters difficulties – due to the insignificant differences of their lifetimes and the relatively small probability of purely CP-even and CP-odd decay channels. Nevertheless, one may hope that it will become possible at future colliders.

Consistent Dalitz plot analysis of Cabibbo-favored [formula omitted] decays

We resume the study of the Cabibbo-favored charmed-meson decays D+→K¯ππ+ in a dispersive framework that satisfies unitarity, analyticity, and crossing symmetry by construction. The formalism explicitly describes the strong final-state interactions between all three decay products and relies on pion–pion and pion–kaon phase shift input. For the first time, we show that the D+→KSπ0π+ Dalitz plot obtained by the BESIII collaboration as well as the D+→K−π+π+ Dalitz plot data by CLEO and FOCUS can be described consistently, exploiting the isospin relation between the two coupled decay channels that provides better constraints on the subtraction constants.

Energy independent scaling of the ridge and final state description of high multiplicity p+p collisions at s=7 and 13 TeV

An energy independent scaling of the near-side ridge yield at a given multiplicity has been observed by the ATLAS and the CMS collaborations in p+p collisions at s = 7 and 13 TeV. Such a striking feature of the data can be successfully explained by approaches based on initial state momentum space correlation generated due to gluon saturation. In this paper, we try to examine if such a scaling is also an inherent feature of the approaches that employ strong final state interaction in p+p collisions. We find that hydrodynamical modeling of p+p collisions using EPOS 3 shows a violation of such scaling. The current study can, therefore, provide important new insights on the origin of long range azimuthal correlations in high multiplicity p+p collisions at the LHC energies.

Baryon-antibaryon annihilation and reproduction in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The quark rearrangement model for baryon-antibaryon annihilation and reproduction ($B\bar B\leftrightarrow 3M$) - incorporated in the Parton-Hadron-String Dynamics (PHSD) transport approach - is extended to the strangeness sector. A derivation of the transition probabilities for the three-body processes is presented and a strangeness suppression factor for the invariant matrix element squared is introduced to account for the higher mass of the strange quark compared to the light up and down quarks. In simulations of the baryon-antibaryon annihilation and reformation in a box with periodic boundary conditions we demonstrate that our numerical implementation fulfills detailed balance on a channel-by-channel basis for more than 2000 individual $2 \leftrightarrow 3$ channels. Furthermore, we study central Pb+Pb collisions within PHSD from 11.7$A$ GeV to 158$A$ GeV and investigate the impact of the additionally implemented reaction channels in the strangeness sector. We find that the new reaction channels have a visible impact essentially only on the rapidity spectra of antibaryons. The spectra with the additional channels in the strangeness sector are closer to the experimental data than without for all antihyperons. Due to the chemical redistribution between baryons/antibaryons and mesons we find a slightly larger production of antiprotons thus moderately overestimating the available experimental data. We additionally address the question if the antibaryon spectra (with strangeness) from central heavy-ion reactions at these energies provide further information on the issue of chiral symmetry restoration and deconfinement. However, by comparing transport results with/without partonic phase as well as including/excluding effects from chiral symmetry restoration we find no convincing signals in the strange antibaryon sector for either transition due to the strong final-state interactions.

Origins of collectivity in small systems

We review recent developments in the theoretical description and understanding of multi-particle correlation measurements in collisions of small projectiles (p/d/3He) with heavy nuclei (Au, Pb) as well as proton+proton collisions. We focus on whether the physical processes responsible for the observed long range rapidity correlations and their azimuthal structure are the same in small systems as in heavy ion collisions. In the latter they are interpreted as generated by the initial spatial geometry being transformed into momentum correlations by strong final state interactions. However, explicit calculations show that also initial state momentum correlations are present and could contribute to observables in small systems. If strong final state interactions are present in small systems, recent developments show that results are sensitive to the shape of the proton and its fluctuations.

Nuclear final-state interactions in deep inelastic scattering off the lightest nuclei

We review recent progress in studies of nuclear final-state interactions in deep inelastic scattering (DIS) off the lightest nuclei tagged by a recoil nucleon. These processes hold a lot of potential for resolving the outstanding issues related to the dynamics of hadronization in QCD. Within the minimal Fock component framework, valid at large Bjorken [Formula: see text], the main features of the theoretical approach based on the virtual nucleon approximation are elaborated. In this approach, the strong final-state interaction of the DIS products with the nuclear fragments is described by an effective eikonal amplitude, whose parameters can be extracted from the analysis of semi-inclusive DIS off the deuteron target. The extraction of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mass dependences of these parameters gives a new observable in studying the QCD structure of DIS final states. Another important feature of tagged DIS off the lightest nuclei is the possibility of performing pole extrapolation with a high degree of accuracy. Such extrapolation allows an extraction of the neutron structure function in a model independent way due to suppression of the final-state interaction in the on-shell limit of the struck nucleon propagator. We review the first application of the pole extrapolation to recent experimental data. Finally, we outline the extension of the framework to inclusive DIS, including a polarized deuteron target as well as its application to the tagged DIS reactions for future experiments at fixed target and collider energies.

Modeling of two-particle femtoscopic correlations at top RHIC energy

The spatial and temporal characteristics of particle emitting source produced in particle and/or nuclear collisions can be measured by using two-particle femtoscopic correlations. These correlations arise due to quantum statistics, Coulomb and strong final state interactions. In this paper we report on the calculations of like-sign pion femtoscopic correlations produced in p+p, p+Au, d+Au, Au+Au at top RHIC energy using Ultra Relativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics Model (UrQMD). Three-dimensional correlation functions are constructed using the Bertsch-Pratt parametrization of the two-particle relative momentum. The correlation functions are studied in several transverse mass ranges. The emitting source radii of charged pions, Rout, Rside, Rlong, are obtained from Gaussian fit to the correlation functions and compared to data from the STAR and PHENIX experiments.

Collectivity in small systems: Initial correlations or final state flow?

I review recent progress in understanding correlation measurements in small collision systems, such as proton+lead and proton+proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and proton+gold, deuteron+gold, and 3He+gold collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). I discuss two distinct theoretical approaches to describing the experimental data on multi-particle correlations. The first attributes the origin of the measured correlations to strong final state interactions, often described by hydrodynamics, the second employs the color glass condensate effective theory and is able to reproduce many features of the data from initial state effects only. I discuss how to distinguish which of the two sources of correlations dominates the experimental observables, and give an outlook on how to make progress on the theory side.

A model-independent analysis of final-state interactions in B ¯ d / s 0 → J / ψ π π $$ {\overline{B}}_{d/s}^0\to J/\psi \pi \pi $$

Exploiting $B$-meson decays for Standard Model tests and beyond requires a precise understanding of the strong final-state interactions that can be provided model-independently by means of dispersion theory. This formalism allows one to deduce the universal pion-pion final-state interactions from the accurately known $\pi\pi$ phase shifts and, in the scalar sector, a coupled-channel treatment with the kaon-antikaon system. In this work an analysis of the decays $\bar B_d^0 \to J/\psi \pi^+\pi^-$ and $\bar B_s^0 \to J/\psi \pi^+\pi^-$ is presented. We find very good agreement with the data up to 1.05 GeV with a number of parameters reduced significantly compared to a phenomenological analysis. In addition, the phases of the amplitudes are correct by construction, a crucial feature when it comes to studies of $CP$ violation in heavy-meson decays.

Femtoscopy with unlike-sign kaons at STAR in 200 GeV Au+Au collisions

In the collisions of heavy ions the nuclear matter can undergo a phase transition from hadrons to a state of deconfined quarks and gluons called the Quak-Gluon Plasma. Femtoscopic measurements of two-particle correlations at small relative momenta reveal information about the space-time characteristics of the system at the moment of particle emission. The correlations result from quantum statistics, final-state Coulomb interactions, and the strong final-state interactions between the emitted particles.It has been predicted that correlations due to the strong final-state interactions in a system where a narrow resonance is present will be sensitive, in the region of the resonance, to the source size and momentum-space correlations. Such a measurement can provide complementary information to the measurements at very low relative momenta. This paper presents the preliminary results of a STAR analysis of unlike-sign kaon femtoscopic correlations in Au+Au collisions at √ s NN = 200 GeV, including the region of ϕ (1020) resonance. The experimental results are compared to a theoretical prediction that includes the treatment of resonance formation due to the final-state interactions.