Suppression of hadrons with large transverse momentum in central Au+Au collisions at root square[s(NN)] = 130 GeV

Probing the Short-Distance Structure of the Quark-Gluon Plasma with Energy Correlators

Energy-energy correlators (EECs) are promising observables to study the dynamics of jet evolution in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) through its imprint on angular scales in the energy flux of final-state particles. We carry out the first complete calculation of EECs using realistic simulations of high-energy heavy-ion collisions and dissect the different dynamics underlying the final distribution through analyses of jet propagation in a uniform medium. The EECs of γ-jets in heavy-ion collisions are found to be enhanced by the medium response from elastic scatterings instead of induced gluon radiation at large angles. In the meantime, EECs are suppressed at small angles due to energy loss and transverse momentum broadening of jet shower partons. These modifications are further shown to be sensitive to the angular scale of the in-medium interaction, as characterized by the Debye screening mass. Experimental verification and measurement of such modifications will shed light on this scale and the short-distance structure of the QGP in heavy-ion collisions.

Relativistic gas: Lorentz-invariant distribution for the velocities

In 1911, Jüttner proposed the generalization, for a relativistic gas, of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of velocities. Here, we want to discuss, among others, the Jüttner probability density function (PDF). Both the velocity space and, consequently, the momentum space are not flat in special relativity. The velocity space corresponds to the Lobachevsky one, which has a negative curvature. This curvature induces a specific power for the Lorentz factor in the PDF, affecting the Jüttner normalization constant in one, two, and three dimensions. Furthermore, Jüttner distribution, written in terms of a more convenient variable, the rapidity, presents a curvature change at the origin at sufficiently high energy, which does not agree with our computational dynamics simulations of a relativistic gas. However, in one dimension, the rapidity satisfies a simple additivity law. This allows us to obtain, through the central limit theorem, a new, Lorentz-invariant, PDF whose curvature at the origin does not change for any energy value and which agrees with our computational dynamics simulations data. Also, we perform extensive first-principle simulations of a one-dimensional relativistic gas constituted by light and heavy particles.

Heavy-Ion Collisions toward High-Density Nuclear Matter

In the present paper, the current efforts in heavy-ion collisions toward high-density nuclear matter will be discussed. First, the essential points learned from RHIC and LHC will be reviewed. Then, the present data from the STAR Beam Energy Scan are discussed. Finally, the current efforts, NICA, FAIR, HIAF, and J-PARC-HI (heavy ion) are described. In particular, the efforts of the J-PARC-HI project are described in detail.

Jet Transport Coefficient at the Large Hadron Collider Energies in a Color String Percolation Approach

Within the color string percolation model (CSPM), jet transport coefficient, q^, is calculated for various multiplicity classes in proton-proton and centrality classes in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the Large Hadron Collider energies for a better understanding of the matter formed in ultra-relativistic collisions. q^ is studied as a function of final state charged particle multiplicity (pseudorapidity density at midrapidity), initial state percolation temperature and energy density. The CSPM results are then compared with different theoretical calculations from the JET Collaboration those incorporate particle energy loss in the medium.

Study of nuclear modification factors of deuteron and anti-deuteron in Pb-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text]

The nuclear modification factors ([Formula: see text]) of d and [Formula: see text] have been studied using the parton and hadron cascade model plus the dynamically constrained phase space coalescence model in peripheral (40-60%) and central (0-5%) Pb-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]. It is found that the [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is similar to that of hadrons ([Formula: see text]) and the [Formula: see text] of antiparticles is the same as that of particles. The suppression effect of d is more significant than that of baryons and mesons in the high-[Formula: see text] region. The suppression of [Formula: see text] at high-[Formula: see text] strongly depends on event centrality and mass of the particles, i.e., the central collision is more suppressed than the peripheral collision. Besides, the yield ratios and double ratios for different particle species, and the coalescence parameter [Formula: see text] for ([Formula: see text]) in pp and Pb-Pb collisions are discussed, respectively. It is observed that the yield ratios and double ratios of d to p and p to [Formula: see text] are similar to those of their anti-particles in three different collision systems, suggesting that the suppressions of matter ([Formula: see text]) and the corresponding antimatter ([Formula: see text]) are around the same level.

From Hydrodynamics to Jet Quenching, Coalescence, and Hadron Cascade: A Coupled Approach to Solving the R_{AA}⊗v_{2} Puzzle

Hydrodynamics and jet quenching are responsible for the elliptic flow v_{2} and suppression of large transverse momentum (p_{T}) hadrons, respectively, two of the most important phenomena leading to the discovery of a strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. A consistent description of the hadron suppression factor R_{AA} and v_{2}, especially at intermediate p_{T}, however, remains a challenge. We solve this long-standing R_{AA}⊗v_{2} puzzle by including quark coalescence for hadronization and final state hadron cascade in the coupled linear Boltzmann transport-hydro model that combines concurrent jet transport and hydrodynamic evolution of the bulk medium. We illustrate that quark coalescence and hadron cascade, two keys to solving the puzzle, also lead to a splitting of v_{2} for pions, kaons, and protons in the intermediate p_{T} region. We demonstrate for the first time that experimental data on R_{AA}, v_{2}, and their hadron flavor dependence from low to intermediate and high p_{T} in high-energy heavy-ion collisions can be understood within this coupled framework.

Cone-Size Dependence of Jet Suppression in Heavy-Ion Collisions

The strong suppression of high-p_{T} jets in heavy-ion collisions is a result of elastic and inelastic energy loss suffered by the jet multiprong collection of color charges that are resolved by medium interactions. Hence, quenching effects depend on the fluctuations of the jet substructure that are probed by the cone-size dependence of the spectrum. In this Letter, we present the first complete, analytic calculation of the inclusive R-dependent jet spectrum in PbPb collisions at LHC energies, including resummation of energy loss effects from hard, vacuumlike emissions occurring in the medium and modeling of soft energy flow and recovery at the jet cone. Both the geometry of the collision and the local medium properties, such as the temperature and fluid velocity, are given by a hydrodynamic evolution of the medium, leaving only the coupling constant in the medium as a free parameter. The calculation yields a good description of the centrality and p_{T} dependence of jet suppression for R=0.4 together with a mild cone-size dependence, which is in agreement with recent experimental results. Gauging the theoretical uncertainties, we find that the largest sensitivity resides in the leading logarithmic approximation of the phase space of resolved splittings, which can be improved systematically, while nonperturbative modeling of the soft-gluon sector is of relatively minor importance up to large cone sizes.

Different Faces of Confinement

In this review, we provide a short outlook of some of the current most popular pictures and promising approaches to non-perturbative physics and confinement in gauge theories. A qualitative and by no means exhaustive discussion presented here covers such key topics as the phases of QCD matter, the order parameters for confinement, the central vortex and monopole pictures of the QCD vacuum structure, fundamental properties of the string tension, confinement realisations in gauge-Higgs and Yang–Mills theories, magnetic order/disorder phase transition, among others.

Search for the Elusive Jet-Induced Diffusion Wake in Z/γ-Jets with 2D Jet Tomography in High-Energy Heavy-Ion Collisions

Diffusion wake is an unambiguous part of the jet-induced medium response in high-energy heavy-ion collisions that leads to a depletion of soft hadrons in the opposite direction of the jet propagation. New experimental data on Z-hadron correlation in Pb+Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider show, however, an enhancement of soft hadrons in the direction of both the Z and the jet. Using a coupled linear Boltzmann transport and hydro model, we demonstrate that medium modification of partons from the initial multiple parton interaction (MPI) gives rise to a soft hadron enhancement that is uniform in azimuthal angle while jet-induced medium response and soft gluon radiation dominate the enhancement in the jet direction. After subtraction of the contributions from MPI with a mixed-event procedure, the diffusion wake becomes visible in the near-side Z-hadron correlation. We further employ the longitudinal and transverse gradient jet tomography for the first time to localize the initial jet production positions in Z/γ-jet events in which the effect of the diffusion wake is apparent in Z/γ-hadron correlation even without the subtraction of the MPI contribution.

Discovering Partonic Rescattering in Light Nucleus Collisions

We demonstrate that oxygen-oxygen collisions at the LHC provide unprecedented sensitivity to parton energy loss in a system whose size is comparable to those created in very peripheral heavy-ion collisions. With leading and next-to-leading order calculations of nuclear modification factors, we show that the baseline in the absence of partonic rescattering is known with up to 2% theoretical accuracy in inclusive oxygen-oxygen collisions. Surprisingly, a Z-boson normalized nuclear modification factor does not lead to higher theoretical accuracy within current uncertainties of nuclear parton distribution functions. We study a broad range of parton energy loss models and we find that the expected signal of partonic rescattering can be disentangled from the baseline by measuring charged hadron spectra in the range 20  GeV<p_{T}<100  GeV.

Gradient Tomography of Jet Quenching in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Transverse momentum broadening and energy loss of a propagating parton are dictated by the space-time profile of the jet transport coefficient q[over ^] in a dense QCD medium. The spatial gradient of q[over ^] perpendicular to the propagation direction can lead to a drift and asymmetry in parton transverse momentum distribution. Such an asymmetry depends on both the spatial position along the transverse gradient and path length of a propagating parton as shown by numerical solutions of the Boltzmann transport in the simplified form of a drift-diffusion equation. In high-energy heavy-ion collisions, this asymmetry with respect to a plane defined by the beam and trigger particle (photon, hadron, or jet) with a given orientation relative to the event plane is shown to be closely related to the transverse position of the initial jet production in full event-by-event simulations within the linear Boltzmann transport model. Such a gradient tomography can be used to localize the initial jet production position for more detailed study of jet quenching and properties of the quark-gluon plasma along a given propagation path in heavy-ion collisions.

Direct real photons in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Direct real photons are arguably the most versatile tools to study relativistic heavy ion collisions. They are produced, by various mechanisms, during the entire space-time history of the strongly interacting system. Also, being colorless, most the time they escape without further interaction, i.e. they are penetrating probes. This makes them rich in information, but hard to decypher and interpret. This review presents the experimental and theoretical developments related to direct real photons since the 1970s, with a special emphasis on the recently emerged 'direct photon puzzle', the simultaneous presence of large yields and strong azimuthal asymmetries of photons in heavy ion collisions, an observation that so far eluded full and coherent explanation.

Jet Structure Studies in Small Systems

A study investigating a possible jet shape dependence on the charged event multiplicity was performed on collision samples generated by Monte–Carlo (MC) event generators Pythia and Hijing++. We calculated the integral jet shape and found a significant modification caused by multiple-parton interactions. By interchanging and enabling different model ingredients in the simulations and analyzing the results in several p T bins and event multiplicity classes, we found a characteristic jet size measure that was independent of the chosen tunes, settings, and jet reconstruction algorithms.

Geometrical scaling of prompt photons in heavy ion collisions

We discuss geometrical scaling (GS) for the prompt (direct) photons produced in heavy ion collisions. To this end we first introduce the concept of GS and illustrate its emergence on the example of charged particles. Next, we analyse direct photon data from RHIC and from the LHC. We show that thedata supportthehypothesisofGSin termsof participant number relatedto different centrality classes. We also study GS at different energies, however a more detailed study will be possible only when data for at least three different energies from one experiment will be available and also when we use the data obtained from the collisions of large systems (Cu+Cu, Au+Au, Pb+Pb) and small systems (p+p,d+Au,p+Au).

Acoplanarity of a Lepton Pair to Probe the Electromagnetic Property of Quark Matter

We investigate the P_{T}-broadening effects in dilepton production through photon-photon scattering in heavy ion collisions. The QED multiple interaction effect with the medium is found to be consistent with the recent observation of a low transverse momentum lepton pair from the ATLAS Collaboration at the LHC. We further comment on the magnetic broadening effect and point out a number of ways to disentangle these two mechanisms. In particular, the rapidity dependence of the P_{T}-broadening effect provides a unique probe to the magnetic effect.

The electron-ion collider: assessing the energy dependence of key measurements

We provide an assessment of the energy dependence of key measurements within the scope of the machine parameters for a US based electron-ion collider (EIC) outlined in the EIC White Paper. We first examine the importance of the physics underlying these measurements in the context of the outstanding questions in nuclear science. We then demonstrate, through detailed simulations of the measurements, that the likelihood of transformational scientific insights is greatly enhanced by making the energy range and reach of the EIC as large as practically feasible.

Measurement of the Splitting Function in pp and Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

Data from heavy ion collisions suggest that the evolution of a parton shower is modified by interactions with the color charges in the dense partonic medium created in these collisions, but it is not known where in the shower evolution the modifications occur. The momentum ratio of the two leading partons, resolved as subjets, provides information about the parton shower evolution. This substructure observable, known as the splitting function, reflects the process of a parton splitting into two other partons and has been measured for jets with transverse momentum between 140 and 500 GeV, in pp and PbPb collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV per nucleon pair. In central PbPb collisions, the splitting function indicates a more unbalanced momentum ratio, compared to peripheral PbPb and pp collisions.. The measurements are compared to various predictions from event generators and analytical calculations.

Probing the Hardest Branching within Jets in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Heavy ion collisions present exciting opportunities to study the effects of quantum coherence in the formation of subatomic particle showers. We report on the first calculation of the momentum sharing and angular separation distributions between the leading subjets inside a reconstructed jet in such collisions. These observables are directly sensitive to the hardest branching within jets and can probe the early stage of the jet formation. We find that the leading-order medium-induced splitting functions, here obtained in the framework of soft-collinear effective theory with Glauber gluon interactions, capture the essential many-body physics, which is different from proton-proton reactions. Qualitative and in most cases quantitative agreement between theory and preliminary CMS measurements suggests that hard parton branching in strongly interacting matter can be dramatically modified. We also propose a new measurement that will illuminate its angular structure.

Dijet imbalance measurements in Au+Au and pp collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV at STAR

We report the first dijet transverse momentum asymmetry measurements from Au+Au and pp collisions at RHIC. The two highest-energy back-to-back jets reconstructed from fragments with transverse momenta above 2  GeV/c display a significantly higher momentum imbalance in heavy-ion collisions than in the pp reference. When reexamined with correlated soft particles included, we observe that these dijets then exhibit a unique new feature-momentum balance is restored to that observed in pp for a jet resolution parameter of R=0.4, while rebalancing is not attained with a smaller value of R=0.2.

Quenching of Hadron Spectra in Heavy Ion Collisions at the LHC

The p_{⊥} dependence of the nuclear modification factor R_{AA} measured in PbPb collisions at the LHC exhibits a universal shape, which can be very well reproduced in a simple energy loss model based on the Baier-Dokshitzer-Mueller-Peigné-Schiff medium-induced gluon spectrum. The scaling is observed for various hadron species (h^{±}, D, J/ψ) in different centrality classes and at both colliding energies, sqrt[s]=2.76 and sqrt[s]=5.02  TeV. Results indicate a 10%-20% increase of the transport coefficient from sqrt[s]=2.76 to sqrt[s]=5.02  TeV, consistent with that of particle multiplicity. Based on this model, a data-driven procedure is suggested, which allows for the determination of the first and second moments of the quenching weight without any prior knowledge of the latter.

Measurement of inclusive jet production and nuclear modifications in pPb collisions at [Formula: see text]

Inclusive jet production in pPb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon (NN) center-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] is studied with the CMS detector at the LHC. A data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 30.1 nb[Formula: see text] is analyzed. The jet transverse momentum spectra are studied in seven pseudorapidity intervals covering the range [Formula: see text] in the NN center-of-mass frame. The jet production yields at forward and backward pseudorapidity are compared and no significant asymmetry about [Formula: see text] is observed in the measured kinematic range. The measurements in the pPb system are compared to reference jet spectra obtained by extrapolation from previous measurements in pp collisions at [Formula: see text]. In all pseudorapidity ranges, nuclear modifications in inclusive jet production are found to be small, as predicted by next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations that incorporate nuclear effects in the parton distribution functions.

Event-by-Event Hydrodynamics+Jet Energy Loss: A Solution to the R_{AA}⊗v_{2} Puzzle

High p_{T}>10  GeV elliptic flow, which is experimentally measured via the correlation between soft and hard hadrons, receives competing contributions from event-by-event fluctuations of the low-p_{T} elliptic flow and event-plane angle fluctuations in the soft sector. In this Letter, a proper account of these event-by-event fluctuations in the soft sector, modeled via viscous hydrodynamics, is combined with a jet-energy-loss model to reveal that the positive contribution from low-p_{T} v_{2} fluctuations overwhelms the negative contributions from event-plane fluctuations. This leads to an enhancement of high-p_{T}>10  GeV elliptic flow in comparison to previous calculations and provides a natural solution to the decade-long high-p_{T} R_{AA}⊗v_{2} puzzle. We also present the first theoretical calculation of high-p_{T} v_{3}, which is shown to be compatible with current LHC data. Furthermore, we discuss how short-wavelength jet-medium physics can be deconvoluted from the physics of soft, bulk event-by-event flow observables using event-shape engineering techniques.

QCD and strongly coupled gauge theories: challenges and perspectives

We highlight the progress, current status, and open challenges of QCD-driven physics, in theory and in experiment. We discuss how the strong interaction is intimately connected to a broad sweep of physical problems, in settings ranging from astrophysics and cosmology to strongly coupled, complex systems in particle and condensed-matter physics, as well as to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. We also discuss how success in describing the strong interaction impacts other fields, and, in turn, how such subjects can impact studies of the strong interaction. In the course of the work we offer a perspective on the many research streams which flow into and out of QCD, as well as a vision for future developments.

Lattice study of the jet quenching parameter

We present a first-principle computation of the jet quenching parameter, which describes the momentum broadening of a high-energy parton moving through the deconfined state of QCD matter at high temperature. Following an idea originally proposed by Caron-Huot, we explain how one can evaluate the soft contribution to the collision kernel characterizing this real-time phenomenon, analyzing certain gauge-invariant operators in a dimensionally reduced effective theory (electrostatic QCD), which can be studied nonperturbatively via simulations on a Euclidean lattice. Our high-precision numerical computations at two different temperatures indicate that soft contributions to the jet quenching parameter are large. After discussing the systematic uncertainties involved, we present a quantitative estimate for the jet quenching parameter in the temperature range accessible at heavy-ion colliders, and compare it to results from phenomenological models as well as to strong-coupling computations based on the holographic correspondence.

D meson elliptic flow in noncentral Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[sNN]=2.76 Tev

Azimuthally anisotropic distributions of D0, D+, and D*+ mesons were studied in the central rapidity region (|y|<0.8) in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[sNN]=2.76  TeV per nucleon-nucleon collision, with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The second Fourier coefficient v2 (commonly denoted elliptic flow) was measured in the centrality class 30%-50% as a function of the D meson transverse momentum pT, in the range 2-16  GeV/c. The measured v2 of D mesons is comparable in magnitude to that of light-flavor hadrons. It is positive in the range 2<pT<6  GeV/c with 5.7σ significance, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties.

Medium modification of jet fragmentation in Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV measured in direct photon-hadron correlations

The jet fragmentation function is measured with direct photon-hadron correlations in p+p and Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The p(T) of the photon is an excellent approximation to the initial p(T) of the jet and the ratio z(T)=p(T)(h)/p(T)(γ) is used as a proxy for the jet fragmentation function. A statistical subtraction is used to extract the direct photon-hadron yields in Au+Au collisions while a photon isolation cut is applied in p+p. I(AA), the ratio of hadron yield opposite the photon in Au+Au to that in p+p, indicates modification of the jet fragmentation function. Suppression, most likely due to energy loss in the medium, is seen at high z(T). The associated hadron yield at low z(T) is enhanced at large angles. Such a trend is expected from redistribution of the lost energy into increased production of low-momentum particles.

Transverse momentum distribution and nuclear modification factor of charged particles in p+Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 5.02 TeV

The transverse momentum (p(T)) distribution of primary charged particles is measured in minimum bias (non-single-diffractive) p+Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The p(T) spectra measured near central rapidity in the range 0.5<p(T) <20 GeV/c exhibit a weak pseudorapidity dependence. The nuclear modification factor R(pPb) is consistent with unity for p(T) above 2 GeV/c. This measurement indicates that the strong suppression of hadron production at high p(T) observed in Pb+Pb collisions at the LHC is not due to an initial-state effect. The measurement is compared to theoretical calculations.

Suppression of the high-p(T) charged-hadron R(AA) at the LHC

We present a parameter-free postdiction of the high-p(T) charged-hadron nuclear modification factor (R(AA)) in two centralities, measured by the CMS Collaboration in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The evolution of the bulk medium is modeled using viscous fluid dynamics, with parameters adjusted to describe the soft hadron yields and elliptic flow. Assuming the dominance of radiative energy loss, we compute the medium modification of the R(AA) using a perturbative QCD-based formalism, the higher twist scheme. The transverse momentum diffusion coefficient q[over ^] is assumed to scale with the entropy density and is normalized by fitting the R(AA) in the most central Au-Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider. This setup is validated in noncentral Au-Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider and then extrapolated to Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC, keeping the relation between q[over ^] and entropy density unchanged. We obtain a satisfactory description of the CMS R(AA) over the p(T) range from 10 to 100 GeV.

Evolution of π(0) suppression in Au+Au collisions from √(s(NN))=39 to 200 GeV

Neutral-pion π(0) spectra were measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.35) in Au+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=39 and 62.4 GeV and compared with earlier measurements at 200 GeV in a transverse-momentum range of 1<p(T)<10 GeV/c. The high-p(T) tail is well described by a power law in all cases, and the powers decrease significantly with decreasing center-of-mass energy. The change of powers is very similar to that observed in the corresponding spectra for p+p collisions. The nuclear modification factors (R(AA)) show significant suppression, with a distinct energy, centrality, and p(T) dependence. Above p(T)=7 GeV/c, R(AA) is similar for √(s(NN))=62.4 and 200 GeV at all centralities. Perturbative-quantum-chromodynamics calculations that describe R(AA) well at 200 GeV fail to describe the 39 GeV data, raising the possibility that, for the same p(T) region, the relative importance of initial-state effects and soft processes increases at lower energies. The p(T) range where π(0) spectra in central Au+Au collisions have the same power as in p+p collisions is ≈5 and 7 GeV/c for √(s(NN))=200 and 62.4 GeV, respectively. For the √(s(NN))=39 GeV data, it is not clear whether such a region is reached, and the x(T) dependence of the x(T)-scaling power-law exponent is very different from that observed in the √(s(NN))=62 and 200 GeV data, providing further evidence that initial-state effects and soft processes mask the in-medium suppression of hard-scattered partons to higher p(T) as the collision energy decreases.

Measurement of direct photons in Au+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV

We report the measurement of direct photons at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV. The direct photon signal was extracted for the transverse momentum range of 4 GeV/c<p(T)<22 GeV/c, using a statistical method to subtract decay photons from the inclusive photon sample. The direct photon nuclear modification factor R(AA) was calculated as a function of p(T) for different Au+Au collision centralities using the measured p+p direct photon spectrum and compared to theoretical predictions. R(AA) was found to be consistent with unity for all centralities over the entire measured p(T) range. Theoretical models that account for modifications of initial direct photon production due to modified parton distribution functions in Au and the different isospin composition of the nuclei predict a modest change of R(AA) from unity. They are consistent with the data. Models with compensating effects of the quark-gluon plasma on high-energy photons, such as suppression of jet-fragmentation photons and induced-photon bremsstrahlung from partons traversing the medium, are also consistent with this measurement.

Particle-yield modification in jetlike azimuthal dihadron correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at √s(NN)=2.76 TeV

The yield of charged particles associated with high-p(t) trigger particles (8<p(t)<15 GeV/c) is measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at √s(NN)=2.76 TeV relative to proton-proton collisions at the same energy. The conditional per-trigger yields are extracted from the narrow jetlike correlation peaks in azimuthal dihadron correlations. In the 5% most central collisions, we observe that the yield of associated charged particles with transverse momenta p(t)>3 GeV/c on the away side drops to about 60% of that observed in pp collisions, while on the near side a moderate enhancement of 20%-30% is found.

Plasma damping effects on the radiative energy loss of relativistic particles

The energy loss of a relativistic charge undergoing multiple scatterings while traversing an infinite, polarizable and absorptive plasma is investigated. Polarization and absorption mechanisms in the medium are phenomenologically modeled by a complex index of refraction. Apart from the known Ter-Mikaelian effect related to the dielectric polarization of matter, we find an additional, substantial reduction of the energy loss due to the damping of radiation. The observed effect is more prominent for larger damping and/or larger energy of the charge. A conceivable analog of this phenomenon in QCD could influence the study of jet quenching phenomena in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and LHC.

Explanation of dijet asymmetry in Pb-Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider

We investigate the medium modification of a partonic jet shower traversing in a hot quark-gluon plasma. We derive and solve a differential equation that governs the evolution of the radiated gluon distribution as the jet propagates through the medium. Energy contained inside the jet cone is lost by dissipation through elastic collisions with the medium and by scattering of shower partons to larger angles. We find that the jet energy loss at early times is dominated by medium effects on the vacuum radiation, and by medium-induced radiation effects at late times. We compare our numerical results for the nuclear modification of the dijet asymmetry with that recently reported by the ATLAS Collaboration.

Perturbative QCD description of heavy and light flavor jet quenching

We present a successful description of the medium modification of light and heavy flavor jets within a perturbative-QCD-based approach. Only the couplings involving hard partons are assumed to be weak. The effect of the medium on a hard parton, per unit time, is encoded in terms of three nonperturbative, related transport coefficients which describe the transverse momentum squared gained, the elastic energy loss, and diffusion in elastic energy transfer. Scaling the transport coefficients with the temperature of the medium, we achieve a good description of the centrality dependence of the suppression and the azimuthal anisotropy of leading hadrons. Imposing additional constraints based on leading order (LO) hard thermal loop (HTL) effective theory leads to a worsening of the fit, implying the necessity of computing transport coefficients beyond LO HTL.

Azimuthal anisotropy of π⁰ production in Au+Au collisions at sqrt((s)NN)=200 GeV: path-length dependence of jet quenching and the role of initial geometry

We have measured the azimuthal anisotropy of π⁰ production for 1<p(T)<18  GeV/c for Au+Au collisions at sqrt((s)NN)=200  GeV. The observed anisotropy shows a gradual decrease for 3≲p(T)≲7-10  GeV/c, but remains positive beyond 10  GeV/c. The magnitude of this anisotropy is underpredicted, up to at least ∼10  GeV/c, by current perturbative QCD (PQCD) energy-loss model calculations. An estimate of the increase in anisotropy expected from initial-geometry modification due to gluon saturation effects and fluctuations is insufficient to account for this discrepancy. Calculations that implement a path-length dependence steeper than what is implied by current PQCD energy-loss models show reasonable agreement with the data.

Enhanced production of direct photons in Au + Au collisions at square root(S(NN)) = 200 GeV and implications for the initial temperature

The production of e+ e- pairs for m(e+ e-)<0.3 GeV/c2 and 1<p(T)<5 GeV/c is measured in p+p and Au+Au collisions at square root(S(NN))=200 GeV. An enhanced yield above hadronic sources is observed. Treating the excess as photon internal conversions, the invariant yield of direct photons is deduced. In central Au+Au collisions, the excess of the direct photon yield over p+p is exponential in transverse momentum, with an inverse slope T=221+/-19(stat)+/-19(syst) MeV. Hydrodynamical models with initial temperatures ranging from T(init) approximately 300-600 MeV at times of approximately 0.6-0.15 fm/c after the collision are in qualitative agreement with the data. Lattice QCD predicts a phase transition to quark gluon plasma at approximately 170 MeV.

Energy and momentum deposited into a QCD medium by a jet shower

For a hard parton moving through a dense QCD medium, we compute self-consistently the energy loss and the fraction deposited into the medium due to showering and rescattering of the shower, assuming weak coupling between probe and medium. The same transport coefficients thus determine both the energy loss and its deposition into the medium. This allows a parameter free calculation of the latter once the former are computed or measured. We compute them for a weakly interacting medium. Assuming a short thermalization time for the deposited energy, we determine the medium's hydrodynamical response and obtain a conical pattern that is strongly enhanced by showering.

Sound produced by a fast parton in the quark-gluon plasma is a "crescendo"

We calculate the total energy deposited into the medium per unit length by fast partons traversing a quark-gluon plasma. The medium excitation due to collisions is taken to be given by the well-known expression for the collisional drag force. The radiative energy loss of the parton contributes to the energy deposition because each radiated gluon acts as an additional source of collisional energy loss in the medium. We derive a differential equation which governs how the spectrum of radiated gluons is modified when this energy loss is taken into account. This modified spectrum is then used to calculate the additional energy deposition due to the interactions of radiated gluons with the medium. Numerical results are presented for the medium response for the case of two energetic back-to-back partons created in a hard interaction.