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The measurement of the mass differences for systems bound by the strong force has reached a very high precision with protons and anti-protons1,2. The extension of such measurement from (anti-)baryons to (anti-)nuclei allows one to probe any difference in the interactions between nucleons and anti-nucleons encoded in the (anti-)nuclei masses. This force is a remnant of the underlying strong interaction among quarks and gluons and can be described by effective theories3, but cannot yet be directly derived from quantum chromodynamics. Here we report a measurement of the difference between the ratios of the mass and charge of deuterons (d) and anti-deuterons (), and 3He and nuclei carried out with the ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment)4 detector in Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 2.76 TeV. Our direct measurement of the mass-over-charge differences confirms CPT invariance to an unprecedented precision in the sector of light nuclei5,6. This fundamental symmetry of nature, which exchanges particles with anti-particles, implies that all physics laws are the same under the simultaneous reversal of charge(s) (charge conjugation C), reflection of spatial coordinates (parity transformation P) and time inversion (T).
The ALICE Zero Degree Calorimeter system (ZDC) is composed of two identical sets of calorimeters, placed at opposite sides with respect to the interaction point, 114 meters away from it, complemented by two small forward electromagnetic calorimeters (ZEM). Each set of detectors consists of a neutron (ZN) and a proton (ZP) ZDC. They are placed at zero degrees with respect to the LHC axis and allow to detect particles emitted close to beam direction, in particular neutrons and protons emerging from hadronic heavy-ion collisions (spectator nucleons) and those emitted from electromagnetic processes. For neutrons emitted by these two processes, the ZN calorimeters have nearly 100% acceptance.
During the √sNN = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb data-taking, the ALICE Collaboration studied forward neutron emission with a dedicated trigger, requiring a minimum energy deposition in at least one of the two ZN. By exploiting also the information of the two ZEM calorimeters it has been possible to separate the contributions of electromagnetic and hadronic processes and to study single neutron vs. multiple neutron emission.
The measured cross sections of single and mutual electromagnetic dissociation of Pb nuclei at √sNN = 2.76 TeV, with neutron emission, are σsingle EMD = 187:4 ± 0.2 (stat.)−11.2+13.2 (syst.) b and σmutual EMD = 5.7 ± 0.1 (stat.) ±0.4 (syst.) b, respectively [1]. This is the first measurement of electromagnetic dissociation of 208Pb nuclei at the LHC energies, allowing a test of electromagnetic dissociation theory in a new energy regime. The experimental results are compared to the predictions from a relativistic electromagnetic dissociation model.
We have performed the first measurement of the coherent ψ(2S) photo-production cross section in ultra-peripheral PbPb collisions at the LHC. This charmonium excited state is reconstructed via the ψ(2S)→l+l− and ψ(2S)→J/ψπ+π− decays, where the J/ψ decays into two leptons. The analysis is based on an event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 22 μb−1. The cross section for coherent ψ(2S) production in the rapidity interval −0.9<y<0.9 is dσψ(2S)coh/dy=0.83±0.19(stat+syst) mb. The ψ(2S) to J/ψ coherent cross section ratio is 0.34−0.07+0.08(stat+syst). The obtained results are compared to predictions from theoretical models.
Charged jet production cross sections in p–Pb collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the LHC are presented. Using the anti-kT algorithm, jets have been reconstructed in the central rapidity region from charged particles with resolution parameters R=0.2 and R=0.4. The reconstructed jets have been corrected for detector effects and the underlying event background. To calculate the nuclear modification factor, RpPb, of charged jets in p–Pb collisions, a pp reference was constructed by scaling previously measured charged jet spectra at s=7 TeV. In the transverse momentum range 20≤pT,chjet≤120 GeV/c, RpPb is found to be consistent with unity, indicating the absence of strong nuclear matter effects on jet production. Major modifications to the radial jet structure are probed via the ratio of jet production cross sections reconstructed with the two different resolution parameters. This ratio is found to be similar to the measurement in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV and to the expectations from PYTHIA pp simulations and NLO pQCD calculations at √sNN=5.02 TeV.
We present measurements of two-particle correlations with neutral pion trigger particles of transverse momenta 8<pTtrig<16 GeV/c and associated charged particles of 0.5<pTassoc<10 GeV/c versus the azimuthal angle difference Δφ at midrapidity in pp and central Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV with ALICE. The new measurements exploit associated charged hadrons down to 0.5 GeV/c, which significantly extends our previous measurement that only used charged hadrons above 3 GeV/c. After subtracting the contributions of the flow background, v2 to v5, the per-trigger yields are extracted for |Δφ|<0.7 on the near and for |Δφ−π|<1.1 on the away side. The ratio of per-trigger yields in Pb–Pb to those in pp collisions, IAA, is measured on the near and away side for the 0–10% most central Pb–Pb collisions. On the away side, the per-trigger yields in Pb–Pb are strongly suppressed to the level of IAA≈0.6 for pTassoc>3 GeV/c, while with decreasing momenta an enhancement develops reaching about 5 at low pTassoc. On the near side, an enhancement of IAA between 1.2 at the highest to 1.8 at the lowest pTassoc is observed. The data are compared to parton-energy-loss predictions of the JEWEL and AMPT event generators, as well as to a perturbative QCD calculation with medium-modified fragmentation functions. All calculations qualitatively describe the away-side suppression at high pTassoc. Only AMPT captures the enhancement at low pTassoc, both on the near and away side. However, it also underpredicts IAA above 5 GeV/c, in particular on the near-side.
The elliptic flow, v2, of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4) is measured in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The scalar product, two- and four-particle Q cumulants and Lee–Yang zeros methods are used. The dependence of the v2 of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays on the collision centrality, in the range 0–40%, and on transverse momentum, pT, is studied in the interval 3<pT<10 GeV/c. A positive v2 is observed with the scalar product and two-particle Q cumulants in semi-central collisions (10–20% and 20–40% centrality classes) for the pT interval from 3 to about 5 GeV/c with a significance larger than 3σ, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The v2 magnitude tends to decrease towards more central collisions and with increasing pT. It becomes compatible with zero in the interval 6<pT<10 GeV/c. The results are compared to models describing the interaction of heavy quarks and open heavy-flavour hadrons with the high-density medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions.
The first study of ϕ-meson production in p–Pb collisions at forward and backward rapidity, at a nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass energy √sNN=5.02 TeV, has been performed with the ALICE apparatus at the LHC. The ϕ-mesons have been identified in the dimuon decay channel in the transverse momentum (pT) range 1<pT<7 GeV/c, both in the p-going (2.03<y<3.53) and the Pb-going (−4.46<y<−2.96) directions — where y stands for the rapidity in the nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass — the integrated luminosity amounting to 5.01±0.19 nb−1 and 5.81±0.20 nb−1, respectively, for the two data samples. Differential cross sections as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity are presented. The forward–backward ratio for ϕ-meson production is measured for 2.96<|y|<3.53, resulting in a ratio ∼0.5 with no significant pT dependence within the uncertainties. The pT dependence of the ϕ nuclear modification factor RpPb exhibits an enhancement up to a factor 1.6 at pT=3–4 GeV/c in the Pb-going direction. The pT dependence of the ϕ-meson cross section in pp collisions at √s=2.76 TeV, which is used to determine a reference for the p–Pb results, is also presented here for 1<pT<5 GeV/c and 2.5<y<4, for a 78±3 nb−1 integrated luminosity sample.
Results on the production of 4He and Image 1 nuclei in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76TeV in the rapidity range |y|<1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0–10% central events are found to be dN/dyHe4=(0.8±0.4(stat)±0.3(syst))×10−6 and Image 2, respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (Tchem=156MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of Image 3 is 1.4±0.8(stat)±0.5(syst).
Transverse momentum (pT ) spectra of charged particles at mid-pseudorapidity in Xe–Xe collisions at √sNN=5.44TeV measured with the ALICE apparatus at the Large Hadron Collider are reported. The kinematic range 0.15<pT<50GeV/c and |η|<0.8 is covered. Results are presented in nine classes of collision centrality in the 0–80% range. For comparison, a pp reference at the collision energy of √s=5.44 TeV is obtained by interpolating between existing pp measurements at √s=5.02 and 7 TeV. The nuclear modification factors in central Xe–Xe collisions and Pb–Pb collisions at a similar center-of-mass energy of √sNN=5.02 TeV, and in addition at 2.76 TeV, at analogous ranges of charged particle multiplicity density 〈dNch/dη〉 show a remarkable similarity at pT>10 GeV/c. The centrality dependence of the ratio of the average transverse momentum 〈pT〉 in Xe–Xe collisions over Pb–Pb collision at √s=5.02 TeV is compared to hydrodynamical model calculations.
In ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions, the event-by-event variation of the elliptic flow v2 reflects fluctuations in the shape of the initial state of the system. This allows to select events with the same centrality but different initial geometry. This selection technique, Event Shape Engineering, has been used in the analysis of charge-dependent two- and three-particle correlations in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV. The two-particle correlator 〈cos(φα−φβ)〉, calculated for different combinations of charges α and β, is almost independent of v2 (for a given centrality), while the three-particle correlator 〈cos(φα+φβ−2Ψ2)〉 scales almost linearly both with the event v2 and charged-particle pseudorapidity density. The charge dependence of the three-particle correlator is often interpreted as evidence for the Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME), a parity violating effect of the strong interaction. However, its measured dependence on v2 points to a large non-CME contribution to the correlator. Comparing the results with Monte Carlo calculations including a magnetic field due to the spectators, the upper limit of the CME signal contribution to the three-particle correlator in the 10–50% centrality interval is found to be 26–33% at 95% confidence level.
The ALICE Collaboration reports the measurement of semi-inclusive distributions of charged-particle jets recoiling from a high-transverse momentum trigger hadron in p–Pb collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV. Jets are reconstructed from charged-particle tracks using the anti-kT algorithm with resolution parameter R=0.2 and 0.4. A data-driven statistical approach is used to correct the uncorrelated background jet yield. Recoil jet distributions are reported for jet transverse momentum 15<pT,jetch<50GeV/c and are compared in various intervals of p–Pb event activity, based on charged-particle multiplicity and zero-degree neutral energy in the forward (Pb-going) direction. The semi-inclusive observable is self-normalized and such comparisons do not require the interpretation of p–Pb event activity in terms of collision geometry, in contrast to inclusive jet observables. These measurements provide new constraints on the magnitude of jet quenching in small systems at the LHC. In p–Pb collisions with high event activity, the average medium-induced out-of-cone energy transport for jets with R=0.4 and 15<pT,jetch<50GeV/c is measured to be less than 0.4 GeV/c at 90% confidence, which is over an order of magnitude smaller than a similar measurement for central Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76TeV. Comparison is made to theoretical calculations of jet quenching in small systems, and to inclusive jet measurements in p–Pb collisions selected by event activity at the LHC and in d–Au collisions at RHIC.
The production of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays in p–Pb collisions at t √sNN=5.02 TeV was studied for 2<pT<16 GeV/c with the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC. The measurement was performed at forward (p-going direction) and backward (Pb-going direction) rapidity, in the ranges of rapidity in the centre-of-mass system (cms) 2.03<ycms<3.53 and −4.46<ycms<−2.96, respectively. The production cross sections and nuclear modification factors are presented as a function of transverse momentum (pT). At forward rapidity, the nuclear modification factor is compatible with unity while at backward rapidity, in the interval 2.5<pT<3.5 GeV/c, it is above unity by more than 2σ. The ratio of the forward-to-backward production cross sections is also measured in the overlapping interval 2.96<|ycms|<3.53 and is smaller than unity by 3.7σ in 2.5<pT<3.5 GeV/c. The data are described by model calculations including cold nuclear matter effects.
We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central √sNN=2.76 TeV Pb–Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as v2ch jet. Jet finding is performed employing the anti-kT algorithm with a resolution parameter R=0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero v2ch jet is observed in semi-central collisions (30–50% centrality) for 20<pTch jet<90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the v2 of single charged particles at high pT. Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions.
We present measurements of the elliptic (v2), triangular (v3) and quadrangular (v4) anisotropic azimuthal flow over a wide range of pseudorapidities (−3.5<η<5). The measurements are performed with Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV using the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The flow harmonics are obtained using two- and four-particle correlations from nine different centrality intervals covering central to peripheral collisions. We find that the shape of vn(η) is largely independent of centrality for the flow harmonics n=2–4, however the higher harmonics fall off more steeply with increasing |η|. We assess the validity of extended longitudinal scaling of v2 by comparing to lower energy measurements, and find that the higher harmonic flow coefficients are proportional to the charged particle densities at larger pseudorapidities. Finally, we compare our measurements to both hydrodynamical and transport models, and find they both have challenges when it comes to describing our data.
The centrality dependence of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density measured with ALICE in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV over a broad pseudorapidity range is presented. This Letter extends the previous results reported by ALICE to more peripheral collisions. No strong change of the overall shape of charged-particle pseudorapidity density distributions with centrality is observed, and when normalised to the number of participating nucleons in the collisions, the evolution over pseudorapidity with centrality is likewise small. The broad pseudorapidity range (−3.5<η<5) allows precise estimates of the total number of produced charged particles which we find to range from 162±22(syst.) to 17170±770(syst.) in 80–90% and 0–5% central collisions, respectively. The total charged-particle multiplicity is seen to approximately scale with the number of participating nucleons in the collision. This suggests that hard contributions to the charged-particle multiplicity are limited. The results are compared to models which describe dNch/dη at mid-rapidity in the most central Pb–Pb collisions and it is found that these models do not capture all features of the distributions.
The production of charged pions, kaons and (anti)protons has been measured at mid-rapidity (−0.5<y<0) in p–Pb collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV using the ALICE detector at the LHC. Exploiting particle identification capabilities at high transverse momentum (pT), the previously published pT spectra have been extended to include measurements up to 20 GeV/c for seven event multiplicity classes. The pT spectra for pp collisions at s=7 TeV, needed to interpolate a pp reference spectrum, have also been extended up to 20 GeV/c to measure the nuclear modification factor (RpPb) in non-single diffractive p–Pb collisions. At intermediate transverse momentum (2<pT<10 GeV/c) the proton-to-pion ratio increases with multiplicity in p–Pb collisions, a similar effect is not present in the kaon-to-pion ratio. The pT dependent structure of such increase is qualitatively similar to those observed in pp and heavy-ion collisions. At high pT (>10 GeV/c), the particle ratios are consistent with those reported for pp and Pb–Pb collisions at the LHC energies. At intermediate pT the (anti)proton RpPb shows a Cronin-like enhancement, while pions and kaons show little or no nuclear modification. At high pT the charged pion, kaon and (anti)proton RpPb are consistent with unity within statistical and systematic uncertainties.
The interaction between Λ baryons and kaons/antikaons is a crucial ingredient for the strangeness S=0 and S=−2 sector of the meson–baryon interaction at low energies. In particular, the ΛK‾ might help in understanding the origin of states such as the Ξ(1620), whose nature and properties are still under debate. Experimental data on Λ–K and Λ–K‾ systems are scarce, leading to large uncertainties and tension between the available theoretical predictions constrained by such data. In this Letter we present the measurements of Λ–K⊕+Λ‾–K− and Λ–K⊕−Λ‾–K+ correlations obtained in the high-multiplicity triggered data sample in pp collisions at s=13 TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. The correlation function for both pairs is modeled using the Lednický–Lyuboshits analytical formula and the corresponding scattering parameters are extracted. The Λ–K⊕−Λ‾–K+ correlations show the presence of several structures at relative momenta k⁎ above 200 MeV/c, compatible with the Ω baryon, the Ξ(1690), and Ξ(1820) resonances decaying into Λ–K− pairs. The low k⁎ region in the Λ–K⊕−Λ‾–K+ also exhibits the presence of the Ξ(1620) state, expected to strongly couple to the measured pair. The presented data allow to access the ΛK+ and ΛK− strong interaction with an unprecedented precision and deliver the first experimental observation of the Ξ(1620) decaying into ΛK−.
The pseudorapidity (η) and transverse-momentum (pT) distributions of charged particles produced in proton–proton collisions are measured at the centre-of-mass energy √s=13 TeV. The pseudorapidity distribution in |η|<1.8 is reported for inelastic events and for events with at least one charged particle in |η|<1. The pseudorapidity density of charged particles produced in the pseudorapidity region |η|<0.5 is 5.31±0.18 and 6.46±0.19 for the two event classes, respectively. The transverse-momentum distribution of charged particles is measured in the range 0.15<pT<20 GeV/c and |η|<0.8 for events with at least one charged particle in |η|<1. The evolution of the transverse momentum spectra of charged particles is also investigated as a function of event multiplicity. The results are compared with calculations from PYTHIA and EPOS Monte Carlo generators.
We present results of a search for two hypothetical strange dibaryon states, i.e. the H-dibaryon and the possible Λn‾ bound state. The search is performed with the ALICE detector in central (0–10%) Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV, by invariant mass analysis in the decay modes Λn‾→d‾π+ and H-dibaryon →Λpπ−. No evidence for these bound states is observed. Upper limits are determined at 99% confidence level for a wide range of lifetimes and for the full range of branching ratios. The results are compared to thermal, coalescence and hybrid UrQMD model expectations, which describe correctly the production of other loosely bound states, like the deuteron and the hypertriton.
The production of the hypertriton nuclei HΛ3 and H‾Λ¯3 has been measured for the first time in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV with the ALICE experiment at LHC. The pT-integrated HΛ3 yield in one unity of rapidity, dN/dy×B.R.(HΛ3→He3,π−)=(3.86±0.77(stat.)±0.68(syst.))×10−5 in the 0–10% most central collisions, is consistent with the predictions from a statistical thermal model using the same temperature as for the light hadrons. The coalescence parameter B3 shows a dependence on the transverse momentum, similar to the B2 of deuterons and the B3 of 3He nuclei. The ratio of yields S3=HΛ3/(He3×Λ/p) was measured to be S3=0.60±0.13(stat.)±0.21(syst.) in 0–10% centrality events; this value is compared to different theoretical models. The measured S3 is compatible with thermal model predictions. The measured HΛ3 lifetime, τ=181−39+54(stat.)±33(syst.)ps is in agreement within 1σ with the world average value.
The knowledge of the material budget with a high precision is fundamental for measurements of direct photon production using the photon conversion method due to its direct impact on the total systematic uncertainty. Moreover, it influences many aspects of the charged-particle reconstruction performance. In this article, two procedures to determine data-driven corrections to the material-budget description in ALICE simulation software are developed. One is based on the precise knowledge of the gas composition in the Time Projection Chamber. The other is based on the robustness of the ratio between the produced number of photons and charged particles, to a large extent due to the approximate isospin symmetry in the number of produced neutral and charged pions. Both methods are applied to ALICE data allowing for a reduction of the overall material budget systematic uncertainty from 4.5% down to 2.5%. Using these methods, a locally correct material budget is also achieved. The two proposed methods are generic and can be applied to any experiment in a similar fashion.
Results on the transverse spherocity dependence of light-flavor particle production (π, K, p, ϕ, K∗0, K0S, Λ, Ξ) at midrapidity in high-multiplicity pp collisions at s√=13 TeV were obtained with the ALICE apparatus. The transverse spherocity estimator (SpT=1O) categorizes events by their azimuthal topology. Utilizing narrow selections on SpT=1O, it is possible to contrast particle production in collisions dominated by many soft initial interactions with that observed in collisions dominated by one or more hard scatterings. Results are reported for two multiplicity estimators covering different pseudorapidity regions. The SpT=1O estimator is found to effectively constrain the hardness of the events when the midrapidity (|η|<0.8) estimator is used. The production rates of strange particles are found to be slightly higher for soft isotropic topologies, and severely suppressed in hard jet-like topologies. These effects are more pronounced for hadrons with larger mass and strangeness content, and observed when the topological selection is done within a narrow multiplicity interval. This demonstrates that an important aspect of the universal scaling of strangeness enhancement with final-state multiplicity is that high-multiplicity collisions are dominated by soft, isotropic processes. On the contrary, strangeness production in events with jet-like processes is significantly reduced. The results presented in this article are compared with several QCD-inspired Monte Carlo event generators. Models that incorporate a two-component phenomenology, either through mechanisms accounting for string density, or thermal production, are able to describe the observed strangeness enhancement as a function of SpT=1O.
Long- and short-range correlations for pairs of charged particles are studied via two-particle angular correlations in pp collisions at s√=13 TeV and p−Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV. The correlation functions are measured as a function of relative azimuthal angle Δφ and pseudorapidity separation Δη for pairs of primary charged particles within the pseudorapidity interval |η|<0.9 and the transverse-momentum interval 1<pT<4 GeV/c. Flow coefficients are extracted for the long-range correlations (1.6<|Δη|<1.8) in various high-multiplicity event classes using the low-multiplicity template fit method. The method is used to subtract the enhanced yield of away-side jet fragments in high-multiplicity events. These results show decreasing flow signals toward lower multiplicity events. Furthermore, the flow coefficients for events with hard probes, such as jets or leading particles, do not exhibit any significant changes compared to those obtained from high-multiplicity events without any specific event selection criteria. The results are compared with hydrodynamic-model calculations, and it is found that a better understanding of the initial conditions is necessary to describe the results, particularly for low-multiplicity events.
Modification of charged-particle jets in event-shape engineered Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV
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Charged-particle jet yields have been measured in semicentral Pb−Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision sNN−−−√=5 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. These yields are reported as a function of the jet transverse momentum, and further classified by their angle with respect to the event plane and the event shape, characterized by ellipticity, in an effort to study the path-length dependence of jet quenching. Jets were reconstructed at midrapidity from charged-particle tracks using the anti-kT algorithm with resolution parameters R= 0.2 and 0.4, with event-plane angle and event-shape values determined using information from forward scintillating detectors. The results presented in this letter show that, in semicentral Pb−Pb collisions, there is no significant difference between jet yields in predominantly isotropic and elliptical events. However, out-of-plane jets are observed to be more suppressed than in-plane jets. Further, this relative suppression is greater for low transverse momentum (< 50 GeV/c) R= 0.2 jets produced in elliptical events, with out-of-plane to in-plane jet-yield ratios varying up to 5.2σ between different event-shape classes. These results agree with previous studies indicating that jets experience azimuthally anisotropic suppression when traversing the QGP medium, and can provide additional constraints on the path-length dependence of jet energy loss.
The pseudorapidity dependence of elliptic (v2), triangular (v3), and quadrangular (v4) flow coefficients of charged particles measured in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV and in Xe-Xe collisions at sNN−−−√=5.44 TeV with ALICE at the LHC are presented. The measurements are performed in the pseudorapidity range −3.5<η<5 for various centrality intervals using two- and multi-particle cumulants with the subevent method. The flow probability density function (p.d.f.) is studied with the ratio of flow coefficient v2 calculated with four- and two-particle cumulant, and suggests that the variance of flow p.d.f. is independent of pseudorapidity. The decorrelation of the flow vector in the longitudinal direction is probed using two-particle correlations. The results measured with respect to different reference regions in pseudorapidity exhibit differences, argued to be a result of saturating decorrelation effect above a certain pseudorapidity separation, in contrast to previous publications which assign this observation to non-flow effects. The results are compared to 3+1 dimensional hydrodynamic and the AMPT transport model calculations. Neither of the models is able to simultaneously describe the pseudorapidity dependence of measurements of anisotropic flow and its fluctuations. The results presented in this work highlight shortcomings in our current understanding of initial conditions and subsequent system expansion in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, they provide input for its improvement.
Measurements of inclusive charged-particle jet production in pp and p-Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV and the corresponding nuclear modification factor RchjetpPb are presented, using data collected with the ALICE detector at the LHC. Jets are reconstructed in the central rapidity region |ηjet|<0.5 from charged particles using the anti-kT algorithm with resolution parameters R=0.2, 0.3, and 0.4. The pT-differential inclusive production cross section of charged-particle jets, as well as the corresponding cross-section ratios, are reported for pp and p-Pb collisions in the transverse momentum range 10<pchT,jet<140 GeV/c and 10<pchT,jet<160 GeV/c, respectively, together with the nuclear modification factor RchjetpPb in the range 10<pchT,jet<140 GeV/c. The analysis extends the pT range of the previously-reported charged-particle jet measurements by the ALICE Collaboration. The nuclear modification factor is found to be consistent with one and independent of the jet resolution parameter with the improved precision of this study, indicating that the possible influence of cold nuclear matter effects on the production cross section of charged-particle jets in p-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV is smaller than the current precision. The obtained results are in agreement with other minimum bias jet measurements available for RHIC and LHC energies, and are well reproduced by the NLO perturbative QCD POWHEG calculations with parton shower provided by PYTHIA8 as well as by JETSCAPE simulations.
n this Letter, the first measurement of the inelastic cross section for antitriton−nucleus interactions is reported, covering the momentum range of 0.8≤p<2.4 GeV/c. The measurement is carried out using data recorded with the ALICE detector in pp and Pb−Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon of 13 TeV and 5.02 TeV, respectively. The detector material serves as an absorber for antitriton nuclei. The raw yield of (anti)triton nuclei measured with the ALICE apparatus is compared to the results from detailed ALICE simulations based on the GEANT4 toolkit for the propagation of (anti)particles through matter, allowing one to quantify the inelastic interaction probability in the detector material. This analysis complements the measurement of the inelastic cross section of antinuclei up to A=3 carried out by the ALICE Collaboration, and demonstrates the feasibility of the study of the isospin dependence of inelastic interaction cross section with the analysis techniques presented in this Letter.
In this Letter, the first measurement of the inelastic cross section for antitriton−nucleus interactions is reported, covering the momentum range of 0.8≤p<2.4 GeV/c. The measurement is carried out using data recorded with the ALICE detector in pp and Pb−Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon of 13 TeV and 5.02 TeV, respectively. The detector material serves as an absorber for antitriton nuclei. The raw yield of (anti)triton nuclei measured with the ALICE apparatus is compared to the results from detailed ALICE simulations based on the GEANT4 toolkit for the propagation of (anti)particles through matter, allowing one to quantify the inelastic interaction probability in the detector material. This analysis complements the measurement of the inelastic cross section of antinuclei up to A=3 carried out by the ALICE Collaboration, and demonstrates the feasibility of the study of the isospin dependence of inelastic interaction cross section with the analysis techniques presented in this Letter.
The interaction between Λ baryons and kaons/antikaons is a crucial ingredient for the strangeness S=0 and S=−2 sector of the meson--baryon interaction at low energies. In particular, the ΛK¯¯¯¯ might help in understanding the origin of states such as the Ξ(1620), whose nature and properties are still under debate. Experimental data on Λ−K and Λ−K¯¯¯¯ systems are scarce, leading to large uncertainties and tension between the available theoretical predictions constrained by such data. In this Letter we present the measurements of Λ−K+⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K− and Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ correlations obtained in the high-multiplicity triggered data sample in pp collisions at s√=13 TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. The correlation function for both pairs is modeled using the Lednicky−Lyuboshits analytical formula and the corresponding scattering parameters are extracted. The Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ correlations show the presence of several structures at relative momenta k∗ above 200 MeV/c, compatible with the Ω baryon, the Ξ(1690), and Ξ(1820) resonances decaying into Λ−K− pairs. The low k∗ region in the Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ also exhibits the presence of the Ξ(1620) state, expected to strongly couple to the measured pair. The presented data allow to access the ΛK+ and ΛK− strong interaction with an unprecedented precision and deliver the first experimental observation of the Ξ(1620) decaying into ΛK−.
The interaction between Λ baryons and kaons/antikaons is a crucial ingredient for the strangeness S=0 and S=−2 sector of the meson--baryon interaction at low energies. In particular, the ΛK¯¯¯¯ might help in understanding the origin of states such as the Ξ(1620), whose nature and properties are still under debate. Experimental data on Λ−K and Λ−K¯¯¯¯ systems are scarce, leading to large uncertainties and tension between the available theoretical predictions constrained by such data. In this Letter we present the measurements of Λ−K+⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K− and Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ correlations obtained in the high-multiplicity triggered data sample in pp collisions at s√=13 TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. The correlation function for both pairs is modeled using the Lednicky−Lyuboshits analytical formula and the corresponding scattering parameters are extracted. The Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ correlations show the presence of several structures at relative momenta k∗ above 200 MeV/c, compatible with the Ω baryon, the Ξ(1690), and Ξ(1820) resonances decaying into Λ−K− pairs. The low k∗ region in the Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ also exhibits the presence of the Ξ(1620) state, expected to strongly couple to the measured pair. The presented data allow to access the ΛK+ and ΛK− strong interaction with an unprecedented precision and deliver the first experimental observation of the Ξ(1620) decaying into ΛK−.
The interaction between Λ baryons and kaons/antikaons is a crucial ingredient for the strangeness S=0 and S=−2 sector of the meson−baryon interaction at low energies. In particular, the ΛK¯¯¯¯ might help in understanding the origin of states such as the Ξ(1620), whose nature and properties are still under debate. Experimental data on Λ−K and Λ−K¯¯¯¯ systems are scarce, leading to large uncertainties and tension between the available theoretical predictions constrained by such data. In this Letter we present the measurements of Λ−K+⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K− and Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ correlations obtained in the high-multiplicity triggered data sample in pp collisions at s√=13 TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. The correlation function for both pairs is modeled using the Lednicky−Lyuboshits analytical formula and the corresponding scattering parameters are extracted. The Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ correlations show the presence of several structures at relative momenta k∗ above 200 MeV/c, compatible with the Ω baryon, the Ξ(1690), and Ξ(1820) resonances decaying into Λ−K− pairs. The low k∗ region in the Λ−K−⊕Λ¯¯¯¯−K+ also exhibits the presence of the Ξ(1620) state, expected to strongly couple to the measured pair. The presented data allow to access the ΛK+ and ΛK− strong interaction with an unprecedented precision and deliver the first experimental observation of the Ξ(1620) decaying into ΛK−.
The first measurement of the cross section for incoherent photonuclear production of J/ψ vector meson as a function of the Mandelstam |t| variable is presented. The measurement was carried out with the ALICE detector at midrapidity, |y|<0.8, using ultra-peripheral collisions of Pb nuclei at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV. This rapidity interval corresponds to a Bjorken-x range (0.3−1.4)×10−3. Cross sections are reported in five |t| intervals in the range 0.04<|t|<1~GeV2 and compared to the predictions of different models. Models that ignore quantum fluctuations of the gluon density in the colliding hadron predict a |t|-dependence of the cross section much steeper than in data. The inclusion of such fluctuations in the same models provides a better description of the data.
The measurements of the inclusive J/ψ yield at midrapidity (|y|<0.9) and forward rapidity (2.5 <y< 4) in Pb−Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC are reported. The inclusive J/ψ production yields and nuclear modification factors, RAA, are measured as a function of the collision centrality, J/ψ transverse momentum (pT), and rapidity. The J/ψ average transverse momentum and squared transverse momentum (⟨pT⟩ and ⟨p2T⟩) are evaluated as a function of the centrality at midrapidity. Compared to the previous ALICE publications, here the entire Pb−Pb collisions dataset collected during the LHC Run 2 is used, which improves the precision of the measurements and extends the pT coverage. The pT-integrated RAA shows a hint of an increasing trend towards unity from semicentral to central collisions at midrapidity, while it is flat at forward rapidity. The pT-differential RAA shows a strong suppression at high pT with less suppression at low pT where it reaches a larger value at midrapidity compared to forward rapidity. The ratio of the pT-integrated yields of J/ψ to those of D0 mesons is reported for the first time for the central and semicentral event classes at midrapidity. Model calculations implementing charmonium production via the coalescence of charm quarks and antiquarks during the fireball evolution (transport models) or in a statistical approach with thermal weights are in good agreement with the data at low pT. At higher pT, the data are well described by transport models and a model based on energy loss in the strongly-interacting medium produced in nuclear collisions at the LHC.
The production cross section of inclusive J/ψ pairs in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy s√=13 TeV is measured with ALICE. The measurement is performed for J/ψ in the rapidity interval 2.5<y<4.0 and for transverse momentum pT>0. The production cross section of inclusive J/ψ pairs is reported to be 10.3±2.3(stat.)±1.3(syst.) nb in this kinematic interval. The contribution from non-prompt J/ψ (i.e. originated from beauty-hadron decays) to the inclusive sample is evaluated. The effective double-parton scattering cross section is computed, neglecting the single-parton scattering contribution.
The production cross section of inclusive J/ψ pairs in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy s√=13 TeV is measured with ALICE. The measurement is performed for J/ψ in the rapidity interval 2.5<y<4.0 and for transverse momentum pT>0. The production cross section of inclusive J/ψ pairs is reported to be 10.3±2.3(stat.)±1.3(syst.) nb in this kinematic interval. The contribution from non-prompt J/ψ (i.e. originated from beauty-hadron decays) to the inclusive sample is evaluated. The effective double-parton scattering cross section is computed, neglecting the single-parton scattering contribution.
Transverse momentum (pT) spectra of pions, kaons, and protons up to pT=20 GeV/c have been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV using the ALICE detector for six different centrality classes covering 0-80%. The proton-to-pion and the kaon-to-pion ratios both show a distinct peak at pT≈3 GeV/c in central Pb-Pb collisions that decreases towards more peripheral collisions. For pT>10 GeV/c, the nuclear modification factor is found to be the same for all three particle species in each centrality interval within systematic uncertainties of 10-20%. This suggests there is no direct interplay between the energy loss in the medium and the particle species composition in the hard core of the quenched jet. For pT<10 GeV/c, the data provide important constraints for models aimed at describing the transition from soft to hard physics.
Measurements of the production of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays in pp collisions at s√=13 TeV at midrapidity with the ALICE detector are presented down to a transverse momentum (pT) of 0.2 GeV/c and up to pT=35 GeV/c, which is the largest momentum range probed for inclusive electron measurements in ALICE. In p−Pb collisions, the production cross section and the nuclear modification factor of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays are measured in the pT range 0.5<pT<26 GeV/c at sNN−−−√=8.16 TeV. The nuclear modification factor is found to be consistent with unity within the statistical and systematic uncertainties. In both collision systems, first measurements of the yields of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays in different multiplicity intervals normalised to the multiplicity-integrated yield (self-normalised yield) at midrapidity are reported as a function of the self-normalised charged-particle multiplicity estimated at midrapidity. The self-normalised yields in pp and p−Pb collisions grow faster than linear with the self-normalised multiplicity. A strong pT dependence is observed in pp collisions, where the yield of high-pT electrons increases faster as a function of multiplicity than the one of low-pT electrons. The measurement in p−Pb collisions shows no pT dependence within uncertainties. The self-normalised yields in pp and p−Pb collisions are compared with measurements of other heavy-flavour, light-flavour, and strange particles, and with Monte Carlo simulations.
Transverse momentum (pT) spectra of pions, kaons, and protons up to pT=20 GeV/c have been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV using the ALICE detector for six different centrality classes covering 0-80%. The proton-to-pion and the kaon-to-pion ratios both show a distinct peak at pT≈3 GeV/c in central Pb-Pb collisions that decreases towards more peripheral collisions. For pT>10 GeV/c, the nuclear modification factor is found to be the same for all three particle species in each centrality interval within systematic uncertainties of 10-20%. This suggests there is no direct interplay between the energy loss in the medium and the particle species composition in the hard core of the quenched jet. For pT<10 GeV/c, the data provide important constraints for models aimed at describing the transition from soft to hard physics.
Transverse momentum (pT) spectra of pions, kaons, and protons up to pT=20 GeV/c have been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV using the ALICE detector for six different centrality classes covering 0-80%. The proton-to-pion and the kaon-to-pion ratios both show a distinct peak at pT≈3 GeV/c in central Pb-Pb collisions that decreases towards more peripheral collisions. For pT>10 GeV/c, the nuclear modification factor is found to be the same for all three particle species in each centrality interval within systematic uncertainties of 10-20%. This suggests there is no direct interplay between the energy loss in the medium and the particle species composition in the hard core of the quenched jet. For pT<10 GeV/c, the data provide important constraints for models aimed at describing the transition from soft to hard physics.
Transverse momentum (pT) spectra of pions, kaons, and protons up to pT=20 GeV/c have been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV using the ALICE detector for six different centrality classes covering 0-80%. The proton-to-pion and the kaon-to-pion ratios both show a distinct peak at pT≈3 GeV/c in central Pb-Pb collisions that decreases towards more peripheral collisions. For pT>10 GeV/c, the nuclear modification factor is found to be the same for all three particle species in each centrality interval within systematic uncertainties of 10-20%. This suggests there is no direct interplay between the energy loss in the medium and the particle species composition in the hard core of the quenched jet. For pT<10 GeV/c, the data provide important constraints for models aimed at describing the transition from soft to hard physics.
Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5<|η|<4.0) and associated particles in the central range (|η|<1.0) are measured with the ALICE detector in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The trigger particles are reconstructed using the muon spectrometer, and the associated particles by the central barrel tracking detectors. In high-multiplicity events, the double-ridge structure, previously discovered in two-particle angular correlations at midrapidity, is found to persist to the pseudorapidity ranges studied in this Letter. The second-order Fourier coefficients for muons in high-multiplicity events are extracted after jet-like correlations from low-multiplicity events have been subtracted. The coefficients are found to have a similar transverse momentum (pT) dependence in p-going (p-Pb) and Pb-going (Pb-p) configurations, with the Pb-going coefficients larger by about 16±6%, rather independent of pT within the uncertainties of the measurement. The data are compared with calculations using the AMPT model, which predicts a different pT and η dependence than observed in the data. The results are sensitive to the parent particle v2 and composition of reconstructed muon tracks, where the contribution from heavy flavour decays are expected to dominate at pT>2 GeV/c.
Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5<|η|<4.0) and associated particles in the central range (|η|<1.0) are measured with the ALICE detector in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The trigger particles are reconstructed using the muon spectrometer, and the associated particles by the central barrel tracking detectors. In high-multiplicity events, the double-ridge structure, previously discovered in two-particle angular correlations at midrapidity, is found to persist to the pseudorapidity ranges studied in this Letter. The second-order Fourier coefficients for muons in high-multiplicity events are extracted after jet-like correlations from low-multiplicity events have been subtracted. The coefficients are found to have a similar transverse momentum (pT) dependence in p-going (p-Pb) and Pb-going (Pb-p) configurations, with the Pb-going coefficients larger by about 16±6%, rather independent of pT within the uncertainties of the measurement. The data are compared with calculations using the AMPT model, which predicts a different pT and η dependence than observed in the data. The results are sensitive to the parent particle v2 and composition of reconstructed muon tracks, where the contribution from heavy flavour decays are expected to dominate at pT>2 GeV/c.
Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5<|η|<4.0) and associated particles in the central range (|η|<1.0) are measured with the ALICE detector in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The trigger particles are reconstructed using the muon spectrometer, and the associated particles by the central barrel tracking detectors. In high-multiplicity events, the double-ridge structure, previously discovered in two-particle angular correlations at midrapidity, is found to persist to the pseudorapidity ranges studied in this Letter. The second-order Fourier coefficients for muons in high-multiplicity events are extracted after jet-like correlations from low-multiplicity events have been subtracted. The coefficients are found to have a similar transverse momentum (pT) dependence in p-going (p-Pb) and Pb-going (Pb-p) configurations, with the Pb-going coefficients larger by about 16±6%, rather independent of pT within the uncertainties of the measurement. The data are compared with calculations using the AMPT model, which predicts a different pT and η dependence than observed in the data. The results are sensitive to the parent particle v2 and composition of reconstructed muon tracks, where the contribution from heavy flavour decays are expected to dominate at pT>2 GeV/c.
Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5<|η|<4.0) and associated particles in the central range (|η|<1.0) are measured with the ALICE detector in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The trigger particles are reconstructed using the muon spectrometer, and the associated particles by the central barrel tracking detectors. In high-multiplicity events, the double-ridge structure, previously discovered in two-particle angular correlations at midrapidity, is found to persist to the pseudorapidity ranges studied in this Letter. The second-order Fourier coefficients for muons in high-multiplicity events are extracted after jet-like correlations from low-multiplicity events have been subtracted. The coefficients are found to have a similar transverse momentum (pT) dependence in p-going (p-Pb) and Pb-going (Pb-p) configurations, with the Pb-going coefficients larger by about 16±6%, rather independent of pT within the uncertainties of the measurement. The data are compared with calculations using the AMPT model, which predicts a different pT and η dependence than observed in the data. The results are sensitive to the parent particle v2 and composition of reconstructed muon tracks, where the contribution from heavy flavour decays are expected to dominate at pT>2 GeV/c.
We have has performed the first measurement of the coherent ψ(2S) photo-production cross section in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. This charmonium excited state is reconstructed via the ψ(2S) →l+l− and ψ(2S) → J/ψπ+π− decays, where the J/ψ decays into two leptons. The analysis is based on an event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 22 μb−1. The cross section for coherent ψ(2S) production in the rapidity interval −0.9<y<0.9 is dσcohψ(2S)/dy=0.83±0.19(stat+syst) mb. The ψ(2S) to J/ψ coherent cross section ratio is 0.34+0.08−0.07(stat+syst). The obtained results are compared to predictions from theoretical models.
We have has performed the first measurement of the coherent ψ(2S) photo-production cross section in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. This charmonium excited state is reconstructed via the ψ(2S) →l+l− and ψ(2S) → J/ψπ+π− decays, where the J/ψ decays into two leptons. The analysis is based on an event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 22 μb−1. The cross section for coherent ψ(2S) production in the rapidity interval −0.9<y<0.9 is dσcohψ(2S)/dy=0.83±0.19(stat+syst) mb. The ψ(2S) to J/ψ coherent cross section ratio is 0.34+0.08−0.07(stat+syst). The obtained results are compared to predictions from theoretical models.
The production of J/ψ and ψ(2S) was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The measurement was performed at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4) down to zero transverse momentum (pT) in the dimuon decay channel. Inclusive J/ψ yields were extracted in different centrality classes and the centrality dependence of the average pT is presented. The J/ψ suppression, quantified with the nuclear modification factor (RAA), was studied as a function of centrality, transverse momentum and rapidity. Comparisons with similar measurements at lower collision energy and theoretical models indicate that the J/ψ production is the result of an interplay between color screening and recombination mechanisms in a deconfined partonic medium, or at its hadronization. Results on the ψ(2S) suppression are provided via the ratio of ψ(2S) over J/ψ measured in pp and Pb-Pb collisions.
The production of J/ψ and ψ(2S) was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The measurement was performed at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4) down to zero transverse momentum (pT) in the dimuon decay channel. Inclusive J/ψ yields were extracted in different centrality classes and the centrality dependence of the average pT is presented. The J/ψ suppression, quantified with the nuclear modification factor (RAA), was studied as a function of centrality, transverse momentum and rapidity. Comparisons with similar measurements at lower collision energy and theoretical models indicate that the J/ψ production is the result of an interplay between color screening and recombination mechanisms in a deconfined partonic medium, or at its hadronization. Results on the ψ(2S) suppression are provided via the ratio of ψ(2S) over J/ψ measured in pp and Pb-Pb collisions.
The production of J/ψ and ψ(2S) was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The measurement was performed at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4) down to zero transverse momentum (pT) in the dimuon decay channel.
Inclusive J/ψ yields were extracted in different centrality classes and the centrality dependence of the average pT is presented. The J/ψ suppression, quantified with the nuclear modification factor (RAA), was studied as a function of centrality, transverse momentum and rapidity. Comparisons with similar measurements at lower collision energy and theoretical models indicate that the J/ψ production is the result of an interplay between color screening and recombination mechanisms in a deconfined partonic medium, or at its hadronization. Results on the ψ(2S) suppression are provided via the ratio of ψ(2S) over J/ψ measured in pp and Pb-Pb collisions.
We present a measurement of inclusive J/ψ production in p-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV as a function of the centrality of the collision, as estimated from the energy deposited in the Zero Degree Calorimeters. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector down to zero transverse momentum, pT, in the backward (−4.46<ycms<−2.96) and forward (2.03<ycms<3.53) rapidity intervals in the dimuon decay channel and in the mid-rapidity region (−1.37<ycms<0.43) in the dielectron decay channel. The backward and forward rapidity intervals correspond to the Pb-going and p-going direction, respectively. The pT-differential J/ψ production cross section at backward and forward rapidity is measured for several centrality classes, together with the corresponding average pT and p2T values. The nuclear modification factor, QpPb, is presented as a function of centrality for the three rapidity intervals, and, additionally, at backward and forward rapidity, as a function of pT for several centrality classes. At mid- and forward rapidity, the J/ψ yield is suppressed up to 40% compared to that in pp interactions scaled by the number of binary collisions. The degree of suppression increases towards central p-Pb collisions at forward rapidity, and with decreasing pT of the J/ψ. At backward rapidity, the QpPb is compatible with unity within the total uncertainties, with an increasing trend from peripheral to central p-Pb collisions.
We present a measurement of inclusive J/ψ production in p-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV as a function of the centrality of the collision, as estimated from the energy deposited in the Zero Degree Calorimeters. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector down to zero transverse momentum, pT, in the backward (−4.46<ycms<−2.96) and forward (2.03<ycms<3.53) rapidity intervals in the dimuon decay channel and in the mid-rapidity region (−1.37<ycms<0.43) in the dielectron decay channel. The backward and forward rapidity intervals correspond to the Pb-going and p-going direction, respectively. The pT-differential J/ψ production cross section at backward and forward rapidity is measured for several centrality classes, together with the corresponding average pT and p2T values. The nuclear modification factor, QpPb, is presented as a function of centrality for the three rapidity intervals, and, additionally, at backward and forward rapidity, as a function of pT for several centrality classes. At mid- and forward rapidity, the J/ψ yield is suppressed up to 40% compared to that in pp interactions scaled by the number of binary collisions. The degree of suppression increases towards central p-Pb collisions at forward rapidity, and with decreasing pT of the J/ψ. At backward rapidity, the QpPb is compatible with unity within the total uncertainties, with an increasing trend from peripheral to central p-Pb collisions.
We present a measurement of inclusive J/ψ production in p-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV as a function of the centrality of the collision, as estimated from the energy deposited in the Zero Degree Calorimeters. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector down to zero transverse momentum, pT, in the backward (−4.46<ycms<−2.96) and forward (2.03<ycms<3.53) rapidity intervals in the dimuon decay channel and in the mid-rapidity region (−1.37<ycms<0.43) in the dielectron decay channel. The backward and forward rapidity intervals correspond to the Pb-going and p-going direction, respectively. The pT-differential J/ψ production cross section at backward and forward rapidity is measured for several centrality classes, together with the corresponding average pT and p2T values. The nuclear modification factor, QpPb, is presented as a function of centrality for the three rapidity intervals, and, additionally, at backward and forward rapidity, as a function of pT for several centrality classes. At mid- and forward rapidity, the J/ψ yield is suppressed up to 40% compared to that in pp interactions scaled by the number of binary collisions. The degree of suppression increases towards central p-Pb collisions at forward rapidity, and with decreasing pT of the J/ψ. At backward rapidity, the QpPb is compatible with unity within the total uncertainties, with an increasing trend from peripheral to central p-Pb collisions.
The first study of ϕ-meson production in p-Pb collisions at forward and backward rapidity, at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy sNN−−−√=5.02~TeV, has been performed with the ALICE apparatus at the LHC. The ϕ-mesons have been identified in the dimuon decay channel in the transverse momentum (pT) range 1<pT<7 GeV/c, both in the p-going (2.03<y<3.53) and the Pb-going (−4.46<y<−2.96) directions, where y stands for the rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass, the integrated luminosity amounting to 5.01±0.19~nb−1 and 5.81±0.20~nb−1, respectively, for the two data samples. Differential cross sections as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity are presented. The forward-backward ratio for ϕ-meson production is measured for 2.96<|y|<3.53, resulting in a ratio ∼0.5 with no significant pT dependence within the uncertainties. The pT dependence of the ϕ nuclear modification factor RpPb exhibits an enhancement up to a factor 1.6 at pT = 3-4 GeV/c in the Pb-going direction. The pT dependence of the ϕ-meson cross section in pp collisions at s√ = 2.76 TeV, which is used to determine a reference for the p-Pb results, is also presented here for 1<pT<5 GeV/c and 2.5<y<4 for a 78±3~nb−1 integrated luminosity sample.
The first study of ϕ-meson production in p-Pb collisions at forward and backward rapidity, at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy sNN−−−√=5.02~TeV, has been performed with the ALICE apparatus at the LHC. The ϕ-mesons have been identified in the dimuon decay channel in the transverse momentum (pT) range 1<pT<7 GeV/c, both in the p-going (2.03<y<3.53) and the Pb-going (−4.46<y<−2.96) directions, where y stands for the rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass, the integrated luminosity amounting to 5.01±0.19~nb−1 and 5.81±0.20~nb−1, respectively, for the two data samples. Differential cross sections as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity are presented. The forward-backward ratio for ϕ-meson production is measured for 2.96<|y|<3.53, resulting in a ratio ∼0.5 with no significant pT dependence within the uncertainties. The pT dependence of the ϕ nuclear modification factor RpPb exhibits an enhancement up to a factor 1.6 at pT = 3-4 GeV/c in the Pb-going direction. The pT dependence of the ϕ-meson cross section in pp collisions at s√ = 2.76 TeV, which is used to determine a reference for the p-Pb results, is also presented here for 1<pT<5 GeV/c and 2.5<y<4 for a 78±3~nb−1 integrated luminosity sample.
The first measurement of ϕ-meson production in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV has been performed with the ALICE apparatus at the LHC. The ϕ-mesons have been identified in the dimuon decay channel in the transverse momentum (pT) range 1<pT<7 GeV/c, both in the p-going (2.03<y<3.53) and the Pb-going (−4.46<y<−2.96) directions, where y stands for the rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass. Differential cross sections as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity are presented. The forward-backward asymmetry for ϕ-meson production is measured for 2.96<|y|<3.53, resulting in a factor ∼0.5 with no significant pT dependence within the uncertainties. The pT dependence of the ϕ nuclear modification factor RpPb exhibits an enhancement up to a factor 1.6 at pT = 3-4 GeV/c in the Pb-going direction. The pT dependence of the ϕ-meson cross section in pp collisions at s√ = 2.76 TeV, which is used to determine a reference for the p-Pb results, is also presented here for 1<pT<5 GeV/c and 2.5<y<4.
We report on results obtained with the Event Shape Engineering technique applied to Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV. By selecting events in the same centrality interval, but with very different average flow, different initial state conditions can be studied. We find the effect of the event-shape selection on the elliptic flow coefficient v2 to be almost independent of transverse momentum pT, as expected if this effect is due to fluctuations in the initial geometry of the system. Charged hadron, pion, kaon, and proton transverse momentum distributions are found to be harder in events with higher-than-average elliptic flow, indicating an interplay between radial and elliptic flow.
We report on results obtained with the Event Shape Engineering technique applied to Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV. By selecting events in the same centrality interval, but with very different average flow, different initial state conditions can be studied. We find the effect of the event-shape selection on the elliptic flow coefficient v2 to be almost independent of transverse momentum pT, as expected if this effect is due to fluctuations in the initial geometry of the system. Charged hadron, pion, kaon, and proton transverse momentum distributions are found to be harder in events with higher-than-average elliptic flow, indicating an interplay between radial and elliptic flow.
We report on results obtained with the Event Shape Engineering technique applied to Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV. By selecting events in the same centrality interval, but with very different average flow, different initial state conditions can be studied. We find the effect of the event-shape selection on the elliptic flow coefficient v2 to be almost independent of transverse momentum pT, as expected if this effect is due to fluctuations in the initial geometry of the system. Charged hadron, pion, kaon, and proton transverse momentum distributions are found to be harder in events with higher-than-average elliptic flow, indicating an interplay between radial and elliptic flow.
The correlations between different moments of two flow amplitudes, extracted with the recently developed asymmetric cumulants, are measured in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV recorded by the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The magnitudes of the measured observables show a dependence on the different moments as well as on the collision centrality, indicating the presence of nonlinear response in all even moments up to the eighth. Furthermore, the higher-order asymmetric cumulants show different signatures than the symmetric and lower-order asymmetric cumulants. Comparisons with state-of-the-art event generators using two different parametrizations obtained from Bayesian optimization show differences between data and simulations in many of the studied observables, indicating a need for further tuning of the models behind those event generators. These results provide new and independent constraints on the initial conditions and transport properties of the system created in heavy-ion collisions.
The elliptic flow, v2, of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4) is measured in Pb--Pb collisions at sNN−−−√~=~2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The scalar product, two- and four-particle Q cumulants and Lee-Yang zeros methods are used. The dependence of the v2 of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays on the collision centrality, in the range 0--40\%, and on transverse momentum, pT, is studied in the interval 3<pT<10~GeV/c. A positive v2 is observed with the scalar product and two-particle Q cumulants in semi-central collisions (10--20\% and 20--40\% centrality classes) for the pT interval from 3 to about 5 GeV/c. The v2 magnitude tends to decrease towards more central collisions and with increasing pT. It becomes compatible with zero in the interval 6<pT<10 GeV/c. The results are compared to models describing the interaction of heavy quarks and open heavy-flavour hadrons with the high-density medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. The model calculations describe the measured v2 within uncertainties.
The production of prompt charmed mesons D0, D+ and D∗+, and their antiparticles, was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair, sNN−−−√, of 2.76 TeV. The production yields for rapidity |y|<0.5 are presented as a function of transverse momentum, pT, in the interval 1-36 GeV/c for the centrality class 0-10% and in the interval 1-16 GeV/c for the centrality class 30-50%. The nuclear modification factor RAA was computed using a proton-proton reference at s√=2.76 TeV, based on measurements at s√=7 TeV and on theoretical calculations. A maximum suppression by a factor of 5-6 with respect to binary-scaled pp yields is observed for the most central collisions at pT of about 10 GeV/c. A suppression by a factor of about 2-3 persists at the highest pT covered by the measurements. At low pT (1-3 GeV/c), the RAA has large uncertainties that span the range 0.35 (factor of about 3 suppression) to 1 (no suppression). In all pT intervals, the RAA is larger in the 30-50% centrality class compared to central collisions. The D-meson RAA is also compared with that of charged pions and, at large pT, charged hadrons, and with model calculations.
The production of prompt charmed mesons D0, D+ and D∗+, and their antiparticles, was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair, sNN−−−√, of 2.76 TeV. The production yields for rapidity |y|<0.5 are presented as a function of transverse momentum, pT, in the interval 1-36 GeV/c for the centrality class 0-10% and in the interval 1-16 GeV/c for the centrality class 30-50%. The nuclear modification factor RAA was computed using a proton-proton reference at s√=2.76 TeV, based on measurements at s√=7 TeV and on theoretical calculations. A maximum suppression by a factor of 5-6 with respect to binary-scaled pp yields is observed for the most central collisions at pT of about 10 GeV/c. A suppression by a factor of about 2-3 persists at the highest pT covered by the measurements. At low pT (1-3 GeV/c), the RAA has large uncertainties that span the range 0.35 (factor of about 3 suppression) to 1 (no suppression). In all pT intervals, the RAA is larger in the 30-50% centrality class compared to central collisions. The D-meson RAA is also compared with that of charged pions and, at large pT, charged hadrons, and with model calculations.
The production of prompt charmed mesons D0, D+ and D∗+, and their antiparticles, was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair, sNN−−−√, of 2.76 TeV. The production yields for rapidity |y|<0.5 are presented as a function of transverse momentum, pT, in the interval 1-36 GeV/c for the centrality class 0-10% and in the interval 1-16 GeV/c for the centrality class 30-50%. The nuclear modification factor RAA was computed using a proton-proton reference at s√=2.76 TeV, based on measurements at s√=7 TeV and on theoretical calculations. A maximum suppression by a factor of 5-6 with respect to binary-scaled pp yields is observed for the most central collisions at pT of about 10 GeV/c. A suppression by a factor of about 2-3 persists at the highest pT covered by the measurements. At low pT (1-3 GeV/c), the RAA has large uncertainties that span the range 0.35 (factor of about 3 suppression) to 1 (no suppression). In all pT intervals, the RAA is larger in the 30-50% centrality class compared to central collisions. The D-meson RAA is also compared with that of charged pions and, at large pT, charged hadrons, and with model calculations.
Measurement of D+s production and nuclear modification factor in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV
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The production of prompt D+s mesons was measured for the first time in collisions of heavy nuclei with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The analysis was performed on a data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair, sNN−−−√, of 2.76 TeV in two different centrality classes, namely 0-10% and 20-50%. D+s mesons and their antiparticles were reconstructed at mid-rapidity from their hadronic decay channel D+s→ϕπ+, with ϕ→K−K+, in the transverse momentum intervals 4<pT<12 GeV/c and 6<pT<12 GeV/c for the 0-10% and 20-50% centrality classes, respectively. The nuclear modification factor RAA was computed by comparing the pT-differential production yields in Pb-Pb collisions to those in proton-proton (pp) collisions at the same energy. This pp reference was obtained using the cross section measured at s√=7 TeV and scaled to s√=2.76 TeV. The RAA of D+s mesons was compared to that of non-strange D mesons in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions. At high pT (8<pT<12 GeV/c) a suppression of the D+s-meson yield by a factor of about three, compatible within uncertainties with that of non-strange D mesons, is observed. At lower pT (4<pT<8 GeV/c) the values of the D+s-meson RAA are larger than those of non-strange D mesons, although compatible within uncertainties. The production ratios D+s/D0 and D+s\D+ were also measured in Pb-Pb collisions and compared to their values in proton-proton collisions.
Measurement of D+s production and nuclear modification factor in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV
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The production of prompt D+s mesons was measured for the first time in collisions of heavy nuclei with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The analysis was performed on a data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair, sNN−−−√, of 2.76 TeV in two different centrality classes, namely 0-10% and 20-50%. D+s mesons and their antiparticles were reconstructed at mid-rapidity from their hadronic decay channel D+s→ϕπ+, with ϕ→K−K+, in the transverse momentum intervals 4<pT<12 GeV/c and 6<pT<12 GeV/c for the 0-10% and 20-50% centrality classes, respectively. The nuclear modification factor RAA was computed by comparing the pT-differential production yields in Pb-Pb collisions to those in proton-proton (pp) collisions at the same energy. This pp reference was obtained using the cross section measured at s√=7 TeV and scaled to s√=2.76 TeV. The RAA of D+s mesons was compared to that of non-strange D mesons in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions. At high pT (8<pT<12 GeV/c) a suppression of the D+s-meson yield by a factor of about three, compatible within uncertainties with that of non-strange D mesons, is observed. At lower pT (4<pT<8 GeV/c) the values of the D+s-meson RAA are larger than those of non-strange D mesons, although compatible within uncertainties. The production ratios D+s/D0 and D+s\D+ were also measured in Pb-Pb collisions and compared to their values in proton-proton collisions.
Measurement of D+s production and nuclear modification factor in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV
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The production of prompt D+s mesons was measured for the first time in collisions of heavy nuclei with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The analysis was performed on a data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair, sNN−−−√, of 2.76 TeV in two different centrality classes, namely 0-10% and 20-50%. D+s mesons and their antiparticles were reconstructed at mid-rapidity from their hadronic decay channel D+s→ϕπ+, with ϕ→K−K+, in the transverse momentum intervals 4<pT<12 GeV/c and 6<pT<12 GeV/c for the 0-10% and 20-50% centrality classes, respectively. The nuclear modification factor RAA was computed by comparing the pT-differential production yields in Pb-Pb collisions to those in proton-proton (pp) collisions at the same energy. This pp reference was obtained using the cross section measured at s√=7 TeV and scaled to s√=2.76 TeV. The RAA of D+s mesons was compared to that of non-strange D mesons in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions. At high pT (8<pT<12 GeV/c) a suppression of the D+s-meson yield by a factor of about three, compatible within uncertainties with that of non-strange D mesons, is observed. At lower pT (4<pT<8 GeV/c) the values of the D+s-meson RAA are larger than those of non-strange D mesons, although compatible within uncertainties. The production ratios D+s/D0 and D+s\D+ were also measured in Pb-Pb collisions and compared to their values in proton-proton collisions.
Direct photon production at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV was studied in the transverse momentum range 0.9<pT<14 GeV/c. Photons were detected with the highly segmented electromagnetic calorimeter PHOS and via conversions in the ALICE detector material with the e+e− pair reconstructed in the central tracking system. The results of the two methods were combined and direct photon spectra were measured for the 0-20%, 20-40%, and 40-80% centrality classes. For all three classes, agreement was found with perturbative QCD calculations for pT≳5 GeV/c. Direct photon spectra down to pT≈1 GeV/c could be extracted for the 20-40% and 0-20% centrality classes. The significance of the direct photon signal for 0.9<pT<2.1 GeV/c is 2.6σ for the 0-20% class. The spectrum in this pT range and centrality class can be described by an exponential with an inverse slope parameter of (297±12stat±41syst) MeV. State-of-the-art models for photon production in heavy-ion collisions agree with the data within uncertainties.
Direct photon production at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV was studied in the transverse momentum range 0.9<pT<14 GeV/c. Photons were detected with the highly segmented electromagnetic calorimeter PHOS and via conversions in the ALICE detector material with the e+e− pair reconstructed in the central tracking system. The results of the two methods were combined and direct photon spectra were measured for the 0-20%, 20-40%, and 40-80% centrality classes. For all three classes, agreement was found with perturbative QCD calculations for pT≳5 GeV/c. Direct photon spectra down to pT≈1 GeV/c could be extracted for the 20-40% and 0-20% centrality classes. The significance of the direct photon signal for 0.9<pT<2.1 GeV/c is 2.6σ for the 0-20% class. The spectrum in this pT range and centrality class can be described by an exponential with an inverse slope parameter of (297±12stat±41syst) MeV. State-of-the-art models for photon production in heavy-ion collisions agree with the data within uncertainties.
The centrality dependence of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density measured with ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ over a broad pseudorapidity range is presented. This Letter extends the previous results reported by ALICE to more peripheral collisions. No strong change of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density distributions with centrality is observed, and when normalised to the number of participating nucleons in the collisions, the evolution over pseudorapidity with centrality is likewise small. The broad pseudorapidity range allows precise estimates of the total number of produced charged particles which we find to range from 162±22 (syst.) to 17170±770 (syst.) in 80-90% and 0-5 central collisions, respectively. The total charged-particle multiplicity is seen to approximately scale with the number of participating nucleons in the collision. This suggests that hard contributions to the charged-particle multiplicity are limited. The results are compared to models which describe dNch/dη at mid-rapidity in the most central Pb-Pb collisions and it is found that these models do not capture all features of the distributions.
The centrality dependence of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density measured with ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ over a broad pseudorapidity range is presented. This Letter extends the previous results reported by ALICE to more peripheral collisions. No strong change of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density distributions with centrality is observed, and when normalised to the number of participating nucleons in the collisions, the evolution over pseudorapidity with centrality is likewise small. The broad pseudorapidity range allows precise estimates of the total number of produced charged particles which we find to range from 162±22 (syst.) to 17170±770 (syst.) in 80-90% and 0-5 central collisions, respectively. The total charged-particle multiplicity is seen to approximately scale with the number of participating nucleons in the collision. This suggests that hard contributions to the charged-particle multiplicity are limited. The results are compared to models which describe dNch/dη at mid-rapidity in the most central Pb-Pb collisions and it is found that these models do not capture all features of the distributions.
We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central sNN−−−√ = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as vch jet2. Jet finding is performed employing the anti-kT algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero vch jet2 is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50\% centrality) for 20 < pch jetT < 90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the v2 of single charged particles at high pT. Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions.
We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central sNN−−−√ = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as vch jet2. Jet finding is performed employing the anti-kT algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero vch jet2 is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50\% centrality) for 20 < pch jetT < 90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the v2 of single charged particles at high pT. Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions.
A detailed study of pseudorapidity densities and multiplicity distributions of primary charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions, at s√= 0.9, 2.36, 2.76, 7 and 8 TeV, in the pseudorapidity range |η|<2, was carried out using the ALICE detector. Measurements were obtained for three event classes: inelastic, non-single diffractive and events with at least one charged particle in the pseudorapidity interval |η|<1. The use of an improved track-counting algorithm combined with ALICE's measurements of diffractive processes allows a higher precision compared to our previous publications. A KNO scaling study was performed in the pseudorapidity intervals |η|< 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. The data are compared to other experimental results and to models as implemented in Monte Carlo event generators PHOJET and recent tunes of PYTHIA6, PYTHIA8 and EPOS.
A detailed study of pseudorapidity densities and multiplicity distributions of primary charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions, at s√= 0.9, 2.36, 2.76, 7 and 8 TeV, in the pseudorapidity range |η|<2, was carried out using the ALICE detector. Measurements were obtained for three event classes: inelastic, non-single diffractive and events with at least one charged particle in the pseudorapidity interval |η|<1. The use of an improved track-counting algorithm combined with ALICE's measurements of diffractive processes allows a higher precision compared to our previous publications. A KNO scaling study was performed in the pseudorapidity intervals |η|< 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. The data are compared to other experimental results and to models as implemented in Monte Carlo event generators PHOJET and recent tunes of PYTHIA6, PYTHIA8 and EPOS.
A detailed study of pseudorapidity densities and multiplicity distributions of primary charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions, at s√= 0.9, 2.36, 2.76, 7 and 8 TeV, in the pseudorapidity range |η|<2, was carried out using the ALICE detector. Measurements were obtained for three event classes: inelastic, non-single diffractive and events with at least one charged particle in the pseudorapidity interval |η|<1. The use of an improved track-counting algorithm combined with ALICE's measurements of diffractive processes allows a higher precision compared to our previous publications. A KNO scaling study was performed in the pseudorapidity intervals |η|< 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. The data are compared to other experimental results and to models as implemented in Monte Carlo event generators PHOJET and recent tunes of PYTHIA6, PYTHIA8 and EPOS.
The production of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays was measured as a function of transverse momentum (pT) in minimum-bias p-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The measurement covers the pT interval 0.5<pT<12 GeV/c and the rapidity range −1.06<ycms<0.14 in the centre-of-mass reference frame. The contribution of electrons from background sources was subtracted using an invariant mass approach. The nuclear modification factor RpPb was calculated by comparing the pT-differential invariant cross section in p-Pb collisions to a pp reference at the same centre-of-mass energy, which was obtained by interpolating measurements at s√=2.76 TeV and s√=7 TeV. The RpPb is consistent with unity within uncertainties of about 25%, which become larger for pT below 1 GeV/c. The measurement shows that heavy-flavour production is consistent with binary scaling, so that a suppression in the high-pT yield in Pb-Pb collisions has to be attributed to effects induced by the hot medium produced in the final state. The data in p-Pb collisions are described by recent model calculations that include cold nuclear matter effects.
The production of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays was measured as a function of transverse momentum (pT) in minimum-bias p-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The measurement covers the pT interval 0.5<pT<12 GeV/c and the rapidity range −1.06<ycms<0.14 in the centre-of-mass reference frame. The contribution of electrons from background sources was subtracted using an invariant mass approach. The nuclear modification factor RpPb was calculated by comparing the pT-differential invariant cross section in p-Pb collisions to a pp reference at the same centre-of-mass energy, which was obtained by interpolating measurements at s√=2.76 TeV and s√=7 TeV. The RpPb is consistent with unity within uncertainties of about 25%, which become larger for pT below 1 GeV/c. The data are described by recent model calculations that include cold nuclear matter effects.
We report on two-particle charge-dependent correlations in pp, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions as a function of the pseudorapidity and azimuthal angle difference, Δη and Δφ respectively. These correlations are studied using the balance function that probes the charge creation time and the development of collectivity in the produced system. The dependence of the balance function on the event multiplicity as well as on the trigger and associated particle transverse momentum (pT) in pp, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=7, 5.02, and 2.76 TeV, respectively, are presented. In the low transverse momentum region, for 0.2<pT<2.0 GeV/c, the balance function becomes narrower in both Δη and Δφ directions in all three systems for events with higher multiplicity. The experimental findings favor models that either incorporate some collective behavior (e.g. AMPT) or different mechanisms that lead to effects that resemble collective behavior (e.g. PYTHIA8 with color reconnection). For higher values of transverse momenta the balance function becomes even narrower but exhibits no multiplicity dependence, indicating that the observed narrowing with increasing multiplicity at low pT is a feature of bulk particle production.
We report on two-particle charge-dependent correlations in pp, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions as a function of the pseudorapidity and azimuthal angle difference, Δη and Δφ respectively. These correlations are studied using the balance function that probes the charge creation time and the development of collectivity in the produced system. The dependence of the balance function on the event multiplicity as well as on the trigger and associated particle transverse momentum (pT) in pp, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=7, 5.02, and 2.76 TeV, respectively, are presented. In the low transverse momentum region, for 0.2<pT<2.0 GeV/c, the balance function becomes narrower in both Δη and Δφ directions in all three systems for events with higher multiplicity. The experimental findings favor models that either incorporate some collective behavior (e.g. AMPT) or different mechanisms that lead to effects that resemble collective behavior (e.g. PYTHIA8 with color reconnection). For higher values of transverse momenta the balance function becomes even narrower but exhibits no multiplicity dependence, indicating that the observed narrowing with increasing multiplicity at low pT is a feature of bulk particle production.
We report on two-particle charge-dependent correlations in pp, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions as a function of the pseudorapidity and azimuthal angle difference, Δη and Δφ respectively. These correlations are studied using the balance function that probes the charge creation time and the development of collectivity in the produced system. The dependence of the balance function on the event multiplicity as well as on the trigger and associated particle transverse momentum (pT) in pp, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=7, 5.02, and 2.76 TeV, respectively, are presented. In the low transverse momentum region, for 0.2<pT<2.0 GeV/c, the balance function becomes narrower in both Δη and Δφ directions in all three systems for events with higher multiplicity. The experimental findings favor models that either incorporate some collective behavior (e.g. AMPT) or different mechanisms that lead to effects that resemble collective behavior (e.g. PYTHIA8 with color reconnection). For higher values of transverse momenta the balance function becomes even narrower but exhibits no multiplicity dependence, indicating that the observed narrowing with increasing multiplicity at low pT is a feature of bulk particle production.
We report on the inclusive production cross sections of J/ψ, ψ(2S), Υ(1S), Υ(2S) and Υ(3S), measured at forward rapidity with the ALICE detector in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy s√=8 TeV. The analysis is based on data collected at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.28 pb−1. Quarkonia are reconstructed in the dimuon-decay channel. The differential production cross sections are measured as a function of the transverse momentum pT and rapidity y, over the pT ranges 0<pT<20 GeV/c for J/ψ, 0<pT<12 GeV/c for all other resonances, and for 2.5<y<4. The cross sections, integrated over pT and y, and assuming unpolarized quarkonia, are σJ/ψ=8.98±0.04±0.82 μb, σψ(2S)=1.23±0.08±0.22 μb, σΥ(1S)=71±6±7 nb, σΥ(2S)=26±5±4 nb and σΥ(3S)=9±4±1 nb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second one is systematic. These values agree, within at most 1.4σ, with measurements performed by the LHCb collaboration in the same rapidity range.
We report on the inclusive production cross sections of J/ψ, ψ(2S), Υ(1S), Υ(2S) and Υ(3S), measured at forward rapidity with the ALICE detector in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy s√=8 TeV. The analysis is based on data collected at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.28 pb−1. Quarkonia are reconstructed in the dimuon-decay channel. The differential production cross sections are measured as a function of the transverse momentum pT and rapidity y, over the pT ranges 0<pT<20 GeV/c for J/ψ, 0<pT<12 GeV/c for all other resonances, and for 2.5<y<4. The cross sections, integrated over pT and y, and assuming unpolarized quarkonia, are σJ/ψ=8.98±0.04±0.82 μb, σψ(2S)=1.23±0.08±0.22 μb, σΥ(1S)=71±6±7 nb, σΥ(2S)=26±5±4 nb and σΥ(3S)=9±4±1 nb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second one is systematic. These values agree, within at most 1.4σ, with measurements performed by the LHCb collaboration in the same rapidity range.
We report on the inclusive production cross sections of J/ψ, ψ(2S), Υ(1S), Υ(2S) and Υ(3S), measured at forward rapidity with the ALICE detector in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy s√=8 TeV. The analysis is based on data collected at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.28 pb−1. Quarkonia are reconstructed in the dimuon-decay channel. The differential production cross sections are measured as a function of the transverse momentum pT and rapidity y, over the pT ranges 0<pT<20 GeV/c for J/ψ, 0<pT<12 GeV/c for all other resonances, and for 2.5<y<4. The cross sections, integrated over pT and y, and assuming unpolarized quarkonia, are σJ/ψ=8.63±0.04±0.79 μb, σψ(2S)=1.18±0.08±0.21 μb, σΥ(1S)=68±6±7 nb, σΥ(2S)=25±5±4 nb and σΥ(3S)=9±4±1 nb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second one is systematic. These values agree, within at most 1.2σ, with measurements performed by the LHCb collaboration in the same rapidity range.
Measurement of an excess in the yield of J/ψ at very low pT in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV
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We report on the first measurement of an excess in the yield of J/ψ at very low transverse momentum (pT<0.3 GeV/c) in peripheral hadronic Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ = 2.76 TeV, performed by ALICE at the CERN LHC. Remarkably, the measured nuclear modification factor of J/ψ in the rapidity range 2.5<y<4 reaches about 7 (2) in the pT range 0-0.3 GeV/c in the 70-90% (50-70%) centrality class. The J/ψ production cross section associated with the observed excess is obtained under the hypothesis that coherent photoproduction of J/ψ is the underlying physics mechanism. If confirmed, the observation of J/ψ coherent photoproduction in Pb-Pb collisions at impact parameters smaller than twice the nuclear radius opens new theoretical and experimental challenges and opportunities. In particular, coherent photoproduction accompanying hadronic collisions may provide insight into the dynamics of photoproduction and nuclear reactions, as well as become a novel probe of the Quark-Gluon Plasma.
Measurement of an excess in the yield of J/ψ at very low pT in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV
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We report on the first measurement of an excess in the yield of J/ψ at very low transverse momentum (pT<0.3 GeV/c) in peripheral hadronic Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ = 2.76 TeV, performed by ALICE at the CERN LHC. Remarkably, the measured nuclear modification factor of J/ψ in the rapidity range 2.5<y<4 reaches about 7 (2) in the pT range 0-0.3 GeV/c in the 70-90% (50-70%) centrality class. The J/ψ production cross section associated with the observed excess is obtained under the hypothesis that coherent photoproduction of J/ψ is the underlying physics mechanism. If confirmed, the observation of J/ψ coherent photoproduction in Pb-Pb collisions at impact parameters smaller than twice the nuclear radius opens new theoretical and experimental challenges and opportunities. In particular, coherent photoproduction accompanying hadronic collisions may provide insight into the dynamics of photoproduction and nuclear reactions, as well as become a novel probe of the Quark-Gluon Plasma.
Measurement of an excess in the yield of J/ψ at very low pT in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 TeV
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We report on the first measurement of an excess in the yield of J/ψ at very low transverse momentum (pT<0.3 GeV/c) in peripheral hadronic Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ = 2.76 TeV, performed by ALICE at the CERN LHC. Remarkably, the measured nuclear modification factor (RAA) of J/ψ in the rapidity range 2.5<y<4 reaches about 7 (2) in the pT range 0-0.3 GeV/c in the 70-90% (50-70%) centrality class. The J/ψ production cross section associated with the observed excess is obtained under the hypothesis that coherent photoproduction of J/ψ is the underlying physics mechanism. If confirmed, the observation of J/ψ coherent photoproduction in Pb-Pb collisions at impact parameters smaller than twice the nuclear radius opens new theoretical and experimental challenges and opportunities. In particular, coherent photoproduction accompanying hadronic collisions may provide insight into the dynamics of photoproduction and nuclear reactions, as well as become a novel probe of the Quark-Gluon Plasma.
The pseudorapidity (η) and transverse-momentum (pT) distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions are measured at the centre-of-mass energy s√ = 13 TeV. The pseudorapidity distribution in |η|< 1.8 is reported for inelastic events and for events with at least one charged particle in |η|< 1. The pseudorapidity density of charged particles produced in the pseudorapidity region |η|< 0.5 is 5.31 ± 0.18 and 6.46 ± 0.19 for the two event classes, respectively. The transverse-momentum distribution of charged particles is measured in the range 0.15 < pT < 20 GeV/c and |η|< 0.8 for events with at least one charged particle in |η|< 1. The correlation between transverse momentum and particle multiplicity is also investigated by studying the evolution of the spectra with event multiplicity. The results are compared with calculations from PYTHIA and EPOS Monte Carlo generators.
The pseudorapidity (η) and transverse-momentum (pT) distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions are measured at the centre-of-mass energy s√ = 13 TeV. The pseudorapidity distribution in |η|< 1.8 is reported for inelastic events and for events with at least one charged particle in |η|< 1. The pseudorapidity density of charged particles produced in the pseudorapidity region |η|< 0.5 is 5.31 ± 0.18 and 6.46 ± 0.19 for the two event classes, respectively. The transverse-momentum distribution of charged particles is measured in the range 0.15 < pT < 20 GeV/c and |η|< 0.8 for events with at least one charged particle in |η|< 1. The correlation between transverse momentum and particle multiplicity is also investigated by studying the evolution of the spectra with event multiplicity. The results are compared with calculations from PYTHIA and EPOS Monte Carlo generators.
The pseudorapidity density of charged particles (dNch/dη) at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions has been measured at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV. It increases with centrality and reaches a value of 1943±54 in |η|<0.5 for the 5% most central collisions. A rise in dNch/dη as a function of sNN−−−√ for the most central collisions is observed, steeper than that observed in proton-proton collisions and following the trend established by measurements at lower energy. The centrality dependence of dNch/dη as a function of the average number of participant nucleons, ⟨Npart⟩, calculated in a Glauber model, is compared with the previous measurement at lower energy. A constant factor of about 1.2 describes the increase in 2⟨Npart⟩⟨dNch/dη⟩ from sNN−−−√ = 2.76 TeV to sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV for all centrality intervals, within the measured range of 0-80% centrality. The results are also compared to models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.
The pseudorapidity density of charged particles (dNch/dη) at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions has been measured at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV. It increases with centrality and reaches a value of 1943±54 in |η|<0.5 for the 5% most central collisions. A rise in dNch/dη as a function of sNN−−−√ for the most central collisions is observed, steeper than that observed in proton-proton collisions and following the trend established by measurements at lower energy. The centrality dependence of dNch/dη as a function of the average number of participant nucleons, ⟨Npart⟩, calculated in a Glauber model, is compared with the previous measurement at lower energy. A constant factor of about 1.2 describes the increase in 2⟨Npart⟩⟨dNch/dη⟩ from sNN−−−√ = 2.76 TeV to sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV for all centrality intervals, within the measured range of 0-80% centrality. The results are also compared to models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.
The pseudorapidity density of charged particles (dNch/dη) at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions has been measured at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV. It increases with centrality and reaches a value of 1943±54 in |η|<0.5 for the 5% most central collisions. A rise in dNch/dη as a function of sNN−−−√ for the most central collisions is observed, steeper than that observed in proton-proton collisions and following the trend established by measurements at lower energy. The centrality dependence of dNch/dη as a function of the average number of participant nucleons, ⟨Npart⟩, calculated in a Glauber model, is compared with the previous measurement at lower energy. A constant factor of about 1.2 describes the increase in 2⟨Npart⟩⟨dNch/dη⟩ from sNN−−−√ = 2.76 TeV to sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV for all centrality intervals, within the measured range of 0-80% centrality. The results are also compared to models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.
We report on measurements of a charge-dependent flow using a novel three-particle correlator with ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC, and discuss the implications for observation of local parity violation and the Chiral Magnetic Wave (CMW) in heavy-ion collisions. Charge-dependent flow is reported for different collision centralities as a function of the event charge asymmetry. While our results are in qualitative agreement with expectations based on the CMW, the nonzero signal observed in higher harmonics correlations indicates a possible significant background contribution. We also present results on a differential correlator, where the flow of positive and negative charges is reported as a function of the mean charge of the particles and their pseudorapidity separation. We argue that this differential correlator is better suited to distinguish the differences in positive and negative charges expected due to the CMW and the background effects, such as local charge conservation coupled with strong radial and anisotropic flow.
We report on measurements of a charge-dependent flow using a novel three-particle correlator with ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC, and discuss the implications for observation of local parity violation and the Chiral Magnetic Wave (CMW) in heavy-ion collisions. Charge-dependent flow is reported for different collision centralities as a function of the event charge asymmetry. While our results are in qualitative agreement with expectations based on the CMW, the nonzero signal observed in higher harmonics correlations indicates a possible significant background contribution. We also present results on a differential correlator, where the flow of positive and negative charges is reported as a function of the mean charge of the particles and their pseudorapidity separation. We argue that this differential correlator is better suited to distinguish the differences in positive and negative charges expected due to the CMW and the background effects, such as local charge conservation coupled with strong radial and anisotropic flow.
Investigating strangeness enhancement with multiplicity in pp collisions using angular correlations
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A study of strange hadron production associated with hard scattering processes and with the underlying event is conducted to investigate the origin of the enhanced production of strange hadrons in small collision systems characterised by large charged-particle multiplicities. For this purpose, the production of the single-strange meson K0S and the double-strange baryon Ξ± is measured, in each event, in the azimuthal direction of the highest-pT particle (``trigger" particle), related to hard scattering processes, and in the direction transverse to it in azimuth, associated with the underlying event, in pp collisions at s√=5.02 TeV and s√=13 TeV using the ALICE detector at the LHC. The per-trigger yields of K0S and Ξ± are dominated by the transverse-to-leading production (i.e., in the direction transverse to the trigger particle), whose contribution relative to the toward-leading production is observed to increase with the event charged-particle multiplicity. The transverse-to-leading and the toward-leading Ξ±/K0S yield ratios increase with the multiplicity of charged particles, suggesting that strangeness enhancement with multiplicity is associated with both hard scattering processes and the underlying event. The relative production of Ξ± with respect to K0S is higher in transverse-to-leading processes over the whole multiplicity interval covered by the measurement. The K0S and Ξ± per-trigger yields and yield ratios are compared with predictions of three different phenomenological models, namely PYTHIA 8.2 with the Monash tune, PYTHIA 8.2 with ropes and EPOS LHC. The comparison shows that none of them can quantitatively describe either the transverse-to-leading or the toward-leading yields of K0S and Ξ±.
Long- and short-range correlations for pairs of charged particles are studied via two-particle angular correlations in pp collisions at s√=13 TeV and p−Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV. The correlation functions are measured as a function of relative azimuthal angle Δφ and pseudorapidity separation Δη for pairs of primary charged particles within the pseudorapidity interval |η|<0.9 and the transverse-momentum interval 1<pT<4 GeV/c. Flow coefficients are extracted for the long-range correlations (1.6<|Δη|<1.8) in various high-multiplicity event classes using the low-multiplicity template fit method. The method is used to subtract the enhanced yield of away-side jet fragments in high-multiplicity events. These results show decreasing flow signals toward lower multiplicity events. Furthermore, the flow coefficients for events with hard probes, such as jets or leading particles, do not exhibit any significant changes compared to those obtained from high-multiplicity events without any specific event selection criteria. The results are compared with hydrodynamic-model calculations, and it is found that a better understanding of the initial conditions is necessary to describe the results, particularly for low-multiplicity events.
The inclusive production of the charm-strange baryon Ω0c is measured for the first time via its semileptonic decay into Ω−e+νe at midrapidity (|y| < 0.8) in proton–proton (pp) collisions at the centre-of-mass energy √s = 13 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The transverse momentum (pT) differential cross section multiplied by the branching ratio is presented in the interval 2 < pT < 12 GeV/c. The branching-fraction ratio BR(Ω0c → Ω−e+νe)/BR(Ω0c → Ω−π+) is measured to be 1.12 ± 0.22 (stat.) ± 0.27 (syst.). Comparisons with other experimental measurements, as well as with theoretical calculations, are presented.
The inclusive production of the charm-strange baryon Ω0c is measured for the first time via its semileptonic decay into Ω−e+νe at midrapidity (|y| < 0.8) in proton–proton (pp) collisions at the centre-of-mass energy √s = 13 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The transverse momentum (pT) differential cross section multiplied by the branching ratio is presented in the interval 2 < pT < 12 GeV/c. The branching-fraction ratio BR(Ω0c → Ω−e+νe)/BR(Ω0c → Ω−π+) is measured to be 1.12 ± 0.22 (stat.) ± 0.27 (syst.). Comparisons with other experimental measurements, as well as with theoretical calculations, are presented.
The knowledge of the material budget with a high precision is fundamental for measurements of direct photon production using the photon conversion method due to its direct impact on the total systematic uncertainty. Moreover, it influences many aspects of the charged-particle reconstruction performance. In this article, two procedures to determine data-driven corrections to the material-budget description in ALICE simulation software are developed. One is based on the precise knowledge of the gas composition in the Time Projection Chamber. The other is based on the robustness of the ratio between the produced number of photons and charged particles, to a large extent due to the approximate isospin symmetry in the number of produced neutral and charged pions. Both methods are applied to ALICE data allowing for a reduction of the overall material budget systematic uncertainty from 4.5% down to 2.5%. Using these methods, a locally correct material budget is also achieved. The two proposed methods are generic and can be applied to any experiment in a similar fashion.
The knowledge of the material budget with a high precision is fundamental for measurements of direct photon production using the photon conversion method due to its direct impact on the total systematic uncertainty. Moreover, it influences many aspects of the charged-particle reconstruction performance. In this article, two procedures to determine data-driven corrections to the material-budget description in ALICE simulation software are developed. One is based on the precise knowledge of the gas composition in the Time Projection Chamber. The other is based on the robustness of the ratio between the produced number of photons and charged particles, to a large extent due to the approximate isospin symmetry in the number of produced neutral and charged pions. Both methods are applied to ALICE data allowing for a reduction of the overall material budget systematic uncertainty from 4.5% down to 2.5%. Using these methods, a locally correct material budget is also achieved. The two proposed methods are generic and can be applied to any experiment in a similar fashion.