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Correction to: ALICE Collaboration. Direct observation of the dead-cone effect in quantum chromodynamics. Nature 605, 440–446 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04572-w
Production of inclusive charmonia in pp collisions at center-of-mass energy of √s = 13 TeV and p–Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of √sNN = 8.16 TeV is studied as a function of charged-particle pseudorapidity density with ALICE. Ground and excited charmonium states (J/ψ, ψ(2S)) are measured from their dimuon decays in the interval of rapidity in the center-of-mass frame 2.5 < ycms < 4.0 for pp collisions, and 2.03 < ycms < 3.53 and −4.46 < ycms < −2.96 for p–Pb collisions. The charged-particle pseudorapidity density is measured around midrapidity (|η| < 1.0). In pp collisions, the measured charged-particle multiplicity extends to about six times the average value, while in p-Pb collisions at forward (backward) rapidity a multiplicity corresponding to about three (four) times the average is reached. The ψ(2S) yield increases with the charged-particle pseudorapidity density. The ratio of ψ(2S) over J/ψ yield does not show a significant multiplicity dependence in either colliding system, suggesting a similar behavior of J/ψ and ψ(2S) yields with respect to charged-particle pseudorapidity density. Results for the ψ(2S) yield and its ratio with respect to J/ψ agree with available model calculations.
The most precise measurements to date of the 3ΛH lifetime τ and Λ separation energy BΛ are obtained using the data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV collected by ALICE at the LHC. The 3ΛH is reconstructed via its charged two-body mesonic decay channel (3ΛH → 3He + π− and the charge-conjugate process). The measured values τ = [253 ± 11 (stat) ± 6 (syst)] ps and BΛ = [102 ± 63 (stat) ± 67 (syst)] keV are compatible with predictions from effective field theories and confirm that the 3ΛH structure is consistent with a weakly bound system.
The most precise measurements to date of the 3ΛH lifetime τ and Λ separation energy BΛ are obtained using the data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at √= 5.02 TeV collected by ALICE at the LHC. The 3ΛH is reconsNN structed via its charged two-body mesonic decay channel (3ΛH→ 3He + π− and the charge-conjugate process). The measured values τ=[253±11 (stat.)±6 (syst.)] ps and BΛ=[102±63 (stat.)±67 (syst.)] keV are compatible with predictions from effective field theories and confirm that the 3ΛH structure is consistent with a weakly-bound system.
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.
W±-boson production in p–Pb collisions at √sNN = 8.16 TeV and Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV
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The production of the W± bosons measured in p–Pb collisions at a centreof-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon collision √sNN = 8.16 TeV and Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV with ALICE at the LHC is presented. The W± bosons are measured via their muonic decay channel, with the muon reconstructed in the pseudorapidity region −4 < ηµ lab < −2.5 with transverse momentum p µ T > 10 GeV/c. While in Pb–Pb collisions the measurements are performed in the forward (2.5 < yµ cms < 4) rapidity region, in p–Pb collisions, where the centre-of-mass frame is boosted with respect to the laboratory frame, the measurements are performed in the backward (−4.46 < yµ cms < −2.96) and forward (2.03 < yµ cms < 3.53) rapidity regions. The W− and W+ production cross sections, leptoncharge asymmetry, and nuclear modification factors are evaluated as a function of the muon rapidity. In order to study the production as a function of the p–Pb collision centrality, the production cross sections of the W− and W+ bosons are combined and normalised to the average number of binary nucleon–nucleon collision hNcolli. In Pb–Pb collisions, the same measurements are presented as a function of the collision centrality. Study of the binary scaling of the W±-boson cross sections in p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions is also reported. The results are compared with perturbative QCD calculations, with and without nuclear modifications of the Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs), as well as with available data at the LHC. Significant deviations from the theory expectations are found in the two collision systems, indicating that the measurements can provide additional constraints for the determination of nuclear PDFs and in particular of the light-quark distributions.
Deuterons are atomic nuclei composed of a neutron and a proton held together by the strong interaction. Unbound ensembles composed of a deuteron and a third nucleon have been investigated in the past using scattering experiments and they constitute a fundamental reference in nuclear physics to constrain nuclear interactions and the properties of nuclei. In this work K+−d and p−d femtoscopic correlations measured by the ALICE Collaboration in proton−proton (pp) collisions at s√=13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are presented. It is demonstrated that correlations in momentum space between deuterons and kaons or protons allow us to study three-hadron systems at distances comparable with the proton radius. The analysis of the K+−d correlation shows that the relative distances at which deuterons and proton/kaons are produced are around 2 fm. The analysis of the p−d correlation shows that only a full three-body calculation that accounts for the internal structure of the deuteron can explain the data. In particular, the sensitivity of the observable to the short-range part of the interaction is demonstrated. These results indicate that correlations involving light nuclei in pp collisions at the LHC will also provide access to any three-body systems in the strange and charm sectors.
The ALICE Collaboration reports a search for jet quenching effects in high-multiplicity (HM) proton−proton collisions at s√ = 13 TeV, using the semi-inclusive azimuthal-difference distribution Δφ of charged-particle jets recoiling from a high transverse momentum (high-pT,trig) trigger hadron. Jet quenching may broaden the Δφ distribution measured in HM events compared to that in minimum bias (MB) events. The measurement employs a pT,trig-differential observable for data-driven suppression of the contribution of multiple partonic interactions, which is the dominant background. While azimuthal broadening is indeed observed in HM compared to MB events, similar broadening for HM events is observed for simulations based on the PYTHIA 8 Monte Carlo generator, which does not incorporate jet quenching. We elucidate the origin of the broadening by comparing biases induced by HM selection in the data and simulations, and discuss its implications for the study of jet quenching in small collision systems.
The first measurements of K∗(892)0 resonance production as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in Xe−Xe collisions at sNN−−−√= 5.44 TeV and pp collisions at s√= 5.02 TeV using the ALICE detector are presented. The resonance is reconstructed at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) using the hadronic decay channel K∗0→K±π∓. Measurements of transverse-momentum integrated yield, mean transverse-momentum, nuclear modification factor of K∗0, and yield ratios of resonance to stable hadron (K∗0/K) are compared across different collision systems (pp, p−Pb, Xe−Xe, and Pb−Pb) at similar collision energies to investigate how the production of K∗0 resonances depends on the size of the system formed in these collisions. The hadronic rescattering effect is found to be independent of the size of colliding systems and mainly driven by the produced charged-particle multiplicity, which is a proxy of the volume of produced matter at the chemical freeze-out. In addition, the production yields of K∗0 in Xe−Xe collisions are utilized to constrain the dependence of the kinetic freeze-out temperature on the system size using HRG-PCE model.
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 elliptic flow (v2) of D0 mesons from beauty-hadron decays (non-prompt D0) was measured in midcentral (30-50%) Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The D0 mesons were reconstructed at midrapidity (|y|<0.8) from their hadronic decay D0→K−π+, in the transverse momentum interval 2<pT<12 GeV/c. The result indicates a positive v2 for non-prompt D0 mesons with a significance of 2.7σ. The non-prompt D0-meson v2 is lower than that of prompt non-strange D mesons with 3.2σ significance in 2<pT<8 GeV/c, and compatible with the v2 of beauty-decay electrons. Theoretical calculations of beauty-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding medium describe the measurement within uncertainties.
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.
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.
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.
At particle collider experiments, elementary particle interactions with large momentum transfer produce quarks and gluons (known as partons) whose evolution is governed by the strong force, as described by the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). The vacuum is not transparent to the partons and induces gluon radiation and quark pair production in a process that can be described as a parton shower. Studying the pattern of the parton shower is one of the key experimental tools in understanding the properties of QCD. This pattern is expected to depend on the mass of the initiating parton, through a phenomenon known as the dead-cone effect, which predicts a suppression of the gluon spectrum emitted by a heavy quark of mass m and energy E, within a cone of angular size m/E around the emitter. A direct observation of the dead-cone effect in QCD has not been possible until now, due to the challenge of reconstructing the cascading quarks and gluons from the experimentally accessible bound hadronic states. We report the first direct observation of the QCD dead-cone by using new iterative declustering techniques to reconstruct the parton shower of charm quarks. This result confirms a fundamental feature of QCD, which is derived more generally from its origin as a gauge quantum field theory. Furthermore, the measurement of a dead-cone angle constitutes a direct experimental observation of the non-zero mass of the charm quark, which is a fundamental constant in the standard model of particle physics.
In particle collider experiments, elementary particle interactions with large momentum transfer produce quarks and gluons (known as partons) whose evolution is governed by the strong force, as described by the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). These partons subsequently emit further partons in a process that can be described as a parton shower which culminates in the formation of detectable hadrons. Studying the pattern of the parton shower is one of the key experimental tools for testing QCD. This pattern is expected to depend on the mass of the initiating parton, through a phenomenon known as the dead-cone effect, which predicts a suppression of the gluon spectrum emitted by a heavy quark of mass mQ and energy E, within a cone of angular size mQ/E around the emitter. Previously, a direct observation of the dead-cone effect in QCD had not been possible, owing to the challenge of reconstructing the cascading quarks and gluons from the experimentally accessible hadrons. We report the direct observation of the QCD dead cone by using new iterative declustering techniques to reconstruct the parton shower of charm quarks. This result confirms a fundamental feature of QCD. Furthermore, the measurement of a dead-cone angle constitutes a direct experimental observation of the non-zero mass of the charm quark, which is a fundamental constant in the standard model of particle physics.
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.
This Letter presents the first measurement of event-by-event fluctuations of the net number (difference between the particle and antiparticle multiplicities) of multistrange hadrons Ξ− and Ξ¯¯¯¯+ and its correlation with the net-kaon number using the data collected by the ALICE Collaboration in pp, p−Pb, and Pb−Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV. The statistical hadronization model with a correlation over three units of rapidity between hadrons having the same and opposite strangeness content successfully describes the results. On the other hand, string-fragmentation models that mainly correlate strange hadrons with opposite strange quark content over a small rapidity range fail to describe the data.
he first measurement of 3ΛH and 3Λ¯¯¯¯H¯¯¯¯ differential production with respect to transverse momentum and centrality in Pb−Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=5.02~TeV is presented. The 3ΛH has been reconstructed via its two-charged-body decay channel, i.e., 3ΛH→3He+π−. A Blast-Wave model fit of the pT-differential spectra of all nuclear species measured by the ALICE collaboration suggests that the 3ΛH kinetic freeze-out surface is consistent with that of other nuclei. The ratio between the integrated yields of 3ΛH and 3He is compared to predictions from the statistical hadronisation model and the coalescence model, with the latter being favoured by the presented measurements.
First measurements of hadron(h)−Λ azimuthal angular correlations in p−Pb collisions at sNN−−−√ = 5.02 TeV using the ALICE detector at the LHC are presented. These correlations are used to separate the production of associated Λ baryons into three different kinematic regions, namely those produced in the direction of the trigger particle (near-side), those produced in the opposite direction (away-side), and those whose production is uncorrelated with the jet-axis (underlying event). The per-trigger associated Λ yields in these regions are extracted, along with the near- and away-side azimuthal peak widths, and the results are studied as a function of associated particle pT and event multiplicity. Comparisons with the DPMJET event generator and previous measurements of the ϕ(1020) meson are also made. The final results indicate that strangeness production in the highest multiplicity p−Pb collisions is enhanced relative to low multiplicity collisions in the jet-like regions, as well as the underlying event. The production of Λ relative to charged hadrons is also enhanced in the underlying event when compared to the jet-like regions. Additionally, the results hint that strange quark production in the away-side of the jet is modified by soft interactions with the underlying event.
Measurements of (anti)deuteron and (anti)3He production in the rapidity range |y|< 0.5 as a function of the transverse momentum and event multiplicity in Xe−Xe collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon−nucleon pair of sNN−−−√ = 5.44 TeV are presented. The coalescence parameters B2 and B3 are measured as a function of the transverse momentum per nucleon. The ratios between (anti)deuteron and (anti)3He yields and those of (anti)protons and pions are reported as a function of the mean charged-particle multiplicity density, and compared with two implementations of the statistical hadronization model (SHM) and with coalescence predictions. The elliptic flow of (anti)deuterons is measured for the first time in Xe−Xe collisions and shows features similar to those already observed in Pb−Pb collisions, i.e., the mass ordering at low transverse momentum and the meson−baryon grouping at intermediate transverse momentum. The production of nuclei is particularly sensitive to the chemical freeze-out temperature of the system created in the collision, which is extracted from a grand-canonical-ensemble-based thermal fit, performed for the first time including light nuclei along with light-flavor hadrons in Xe−Xe collisions. The extracted chemical freeze-out temperature Tchem = (154.2 ± 1.1) MeV in Xe−Xe collisions is similar to that observed in Pb−Pb collisions and close to the crossover temperature predicted by lattice QCD calculations.