We report the transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{T}}$) and centrality dependence of global spin alignment ($ρ_{00}$) of $K^{*0}$ vector meson at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 54.4 and 200~GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC. The $K^{*0}$ results are compared to that of $ϕ$ meson. At low-$p_{\mathrm{T}}$ region and midcentral collisions, the $K^{*0}$ $ρ_{00}$ is found to be smaller than 1/3 with about 4$σ$ significance, while that of $ϕ$ meson is observed to be larger than 1/3 with about 3$σ$ significance. The $ρ_{00}$ results are compared between RHIC and LHC energies. The physics implication of our results is also discussed.
We report the measurements of spin alignment ($ρ_{00}$) for $K^{*0}$, $\overline{K^{*0}}$, $K^{*+}$, and $K^{*-}$ vector mesons in RHIC isobar collisions (Zr+Zr and Ru+Ru) at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm {NN}}}$ = 200 GeV. We observe the first non-zero spin alignment for $K^{*\pm}$ in heavy-ion collisions. The $K^{*\pm}$ $ρ_{00}$ is about 3.9$σ$ larger than that of $K^{*0}$. The observed difference and the ordering between $K^{*\pm}$ and $K^{*0}$ are surprising, and require further inputs from theory. When comparing between the isobar and Au+Au collisions, no significant system size dependence in $K^{*0}…
In this letter we update our predictions for the photoproduction of vector mesons in coherent $pp$ and $AA$ collisions at RHIC and LHC energies using the color dipole approach and the Color Glass Condensate (CGC) formalism. In particular, we present our predictions for the first run of the LHC at half energy and for the rapidity dependence of the ratio between the $J/Ψ$ and $ρ$ cross sections at RHIC energies.
New results on $ϕ$-meson production and elliptic flow $v_{2}$ measurements from RHIC 2004 run (Run-IV) have been reviewed. In addition, the di-hadron correlation function between the trigged $ϕ$ and $Ω$ and the associated soft particles was simulated. Knowledge about these results are discussed.
The first measurement of the $ρ^{0}$ - vector meson elliptic flow $v_{2}$ at mid-rapidity ($|y |$ $<$ 0.5) in $40 - 80$ $%$ centrality in $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV from the STAR experiment at RHIC is presented. The study is through the $π^{+} π^{-}$ hadronic decay channel of $ρ^{0}$ which has a branching ratio of $\sim$ 100 %. The analysis is being carried out in two different methods. The $v_{2}$ results obtained in these methods are consistent. Number of Constituent Quark (NCQ) scaling of $v_{2}$ of $ρ^{0}$ meson with respect to other hadrons at intermediate $p_{T}$ is …
We present the first measurement for the $B$ meson semi-leptonic decay contribution to non-photonic electrons at RHIC using non-photonic electron azimuthal correlations with charged hadrons in p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV from STAR.
We present the measurement of elliptic flow ($v_{2}$) as a function of transverse momentum ($p_{T}$) for the $ϕ$-meson in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5 and 39 GeV. At low $p_{T}$ $ϕ$-meson $v_{2}$ decreases with decrease in beam energy. The number of constituent quark ($n_{\rm{cq}}$) scaled $v_{2}$ for $ϕ$-meson vs ($m_{T} - m_{0}$)/$n_{\rm{cq}}$ follows similar trend as other hadrons for $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 39 GeV whereas the $n_{\rm{cq}}$ scaled $v_{2}$ for $ϕ$-mesons follows a different trend compared to the other hadrons at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 11.5 GeV.
The rapidity and centrality dependence of baryon to meson ratios in Au$+$Au, Cu$+$Cu and p$+$p collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV at RHIC is presented. The $\bar{p}/π^{-}$ ratios are founded to be independent of collision system at a fixed $<N_{part}>$ at mid- and forward rapidities.
The PHENIX experiment at RHIC measured K0S, eta and omega-meson production at high pT in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. Measurements performed in different hadronic decay channels give consistent results. This paper presents measured meson-to-pi0 ratios and Nuclear Modification factors in the most central d+Au and Au+Au collisions. No suppression seen in d+Au interactions is in contrast to a strong suppression of meson yields revealed in central Au+Au collisions at the same energy.
The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has measured a variety of light neutral mesons ($π^{0}$, K$_{S}^{0}$, $η$, $ω$, $η^{\prime}$, $ϕ$) via multi-particle decay channels over a wide range of transverse momentum. A review of the recent results on the production rates of light mesons in p+p and their nuclear modification factors in d+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at different energies is presented.
We report on the first evidence for a non-zero rapidity-odd directed flow ($v_{1}$) for $D^{0}$ and $\overline{D^{0}}$ mesons in 10-80\% centrality Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200~GeV measured with the STAR detector at RHIC. The slope of the $v_1$ rapidity dependence ($dv_{1}/dy$) averaged over $D^{0}$ and $\overline{D^{0}}$ mesons is -0.081 $\pm$ 0.021 $\pm$ 0.017, while that of charged kaons is -0.0030 $\pm$ 0.0001 $\pm$ 0.0002, suggesting significantly larger slope for the $D^{0}$ mesons. Models indicate that the large $dv_{1}/dy$ of $D^{0}$ mesons is sensitive to the initiall…
We present a system size and energy dependence of $ϕ$ meson production in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=62.4 GeV and 200 GeV measured by the STAR experiment at RHIC. We find that the number of participant scaled $ϕ$ meson yields in heavy ion collisions over that of p+p collisions are larger than 1 and increase with collision energy. We compare the results with those of open-strange particles and discuss the physics implication.
The PHENIX experiment at RHIC measured production of the ω- and ϕ- mesons in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions at \sqrt{s_NN} = 63 and 200 GeV. Particle properties were studied using hadronic and di-electron decay channels. Transverse momentum (mass) spectra measured in different decay modes are found to be in agreement with each other within the errors. Nuclear modification factors R_{AA} measured for both mesons are consistent with results previously obtained for other neutral mesons. Position of the meson mass peaks and their widths reconstructed in hadronic decay channels are in agreement wit…
We report the preliminary results of the azimuthal correlations between $D^{*\pm}$ mesons and charged hadrons ($D^{*}$-h) measured by the STAR experiment in proton+proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 500 GeV. Results at mid-rapidity in the transverse-momentum range 8 $\le$ $p^{D^{*}}_{T}$ $\le$ 20 GeV/$c$ are compared with light hadron triggered correlations (h-h) and PYTHIA predictions. We also present an exploratory study of azimuthal correlations between $D^{*+}$ and $D^{*-}$ mesons in p+p collisions. The prospects of measuring heavy-flavor triggered correlations in heavy-ion collisions at RH…
A study of elliptic flow of open charm mesons, $D^0$ and $D_S ^\pm$ using quark coalescence as a mechanism of hadronization of heavy quarks implemented in conjunction with A Multi Phase Transport (AMPT) model has been presented. We have studied the transverse momentum dependence of the elliptic flow parameter at mid-rapidity ($|y|$ $<$ 1.0) for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV (RHIC) and Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.76$ TeV (LHC) for different values of partonic interaction cross-section and QCD coupling constant. We have compared our calculations with the experimentally…
We obtain the radiative energy loss of a heavy quark in a deconfined medium due to radiation of gluons off them using a recently derived generalised gluon emission spectrum. We find that the heavy flavour loses energy almost in a similar fashion like light quarks through this process. With this, we further analyse the nuclear modification factor for D-meson at LHC and RHIC energies. In particular, the obtained result is found to be in close agreement with the most recent data from ALICE collaboration at 2.76 ATeV Pb-Pb collisions. We also discuss the nuclear modification factor due to the coll…
The PHENIX experiment at RHIC measured $ω$, $η$ and $K_{S}^{0}$-meson production at high $p_{T}$ in $p+p$, $d+Au$ and $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ $GeV$. Measurements performed in different hadronic decay channels give consistent results. The measured ratios of all three mesons to $π^{0}$ are found to be flat as a function of $p_{T}$ in $p+p$ collisions and equal to $ω/π^{0}=0.81\pm0.02\pm0.07$, $η/π^{0}=0.48\pm0.02\pm0.02$ and $K_{S}^{0}/π^{0}=0.45\pm0.01\pm0.05$. Nuclear modification factor measured for $ω$-mesons in central Au+Au collisions is $R_{AA}=0.4\pm0.15$.
The pi0 meson has been a crucial proble for observing jet quenching in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC. Measurements of the eta meson in the same collisions have also shed light on a possible dependence of the observed suppression on the particle species. The preliminary pi0 nuclear modification factor R_AA from the 2004 RHIC run allowed a first systematic comparison between a precise measurement with high statistics and theoretical calculations, constraining model parameters such as the initial gluon density dN^g/dy, and the transport coefficient qhat. The final pi0 spectra and…
In this work, we calculate energy loss of heavy quark (charm and bottom) due to elastic collisions and gluon radiation in hot/dense medium. The collisional energy loss has been obtained using QCD calculations. The radiative energy loss is calculated using reaction operator formalism and generalized dead cone approach. We rederive the energy loss expression using same assumptions as generalized dead cone approach but obtain slightly different results. We also improve the model employed to calculate path length and the system evolution. The nuclear modification factors $R_{AA}$ including shadowi…
Anisotropic flow of kaons and antikaons is studied in heavy-ion collisions at CERN SPS and BNL RHIC energies within the microscopic quark-gluon string model. In the midrapidity range the directed flow of kaons v_1 differs considerably from that of antikaons at SPS energy (E_{lab} = 160 AGeV), while at RHIC energy (\sqrt{s} = 130 AGeV) the excitation functions of both, kaon and antikaon, flows coincide within the statistical error bars. The change is attributed to formation of dense meson-dominated matter at RHIC, where the differences in interaction cross-sections of kaons and antikaons become…
The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has measured the ϕ-meson production at mid-rapidity in p+p, d+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV via the K^+K^- decay mode. The transverse momentum spectra of the ϕ-meson and the nuclear modification factor as a function of centrality are reviewed here.
We present results on two-particle azimuthal correlations of high-$p_T$ neutral strange baryons ($Λ$,$\barΛ$) and mesons ($K^0_S$) associated with non-identified charged particles in d+Au and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. In particular, we discuss properties of the near-side yield of associated charged particles as a function of centrality, transverse momentum and $z_T$, as well as possible baryon/meson and particle/antiparticle differences. The results are compared to the proton and pion triggered correlations and to fragmentation and recombination models.
We present the first elliptic flow, $v_{2}$, measurement for the $ϕ$-meson in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV. At low $p_{T}$ (<2 GeV/c), the $v_{2}$ is consistent with mass ordering expected from hydrodynamics, while at higher $p_{T}$ (>4 GeV/c), it follows the same trend as the $K^{0}_{S}$ $v_{2}$ and a parameterization for number of quarks = 2. The nuclear modification factor, $R_{CP}$, has also been measured and it follows the same trend as the $K^{0}_{S}$ rather than the $Λ$ which confirms the baryon/meson-type dependence of $R_{CP}$ at RHIC. A model based on the recombination…
We present results on two-particle correlations using singly-strange particles ($Λ$, $\barΛ$, $K^0_S$) and charged hadrons at intermediate p_T in d+Au and Au+Au collisions at RHIC. We discuss properties of the near-side correlation peak in both azimuthal and pseudo-rapidity space and separate jet-like contributions from the long-range pseudo-rapidity correlations (the ridge). In particular, we study the centrality and p_T dependence of the jet and ridge yields for various trigger and associated particle species and compare the results to model predictions.
Measurements at RHIC have established the creation of a Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) in most central heavy-ion collisions. An important tool to understand properties of the QGP is study of the spectral shapes of low-mass vector mesons (LVM's), $ρ$, $ω$ and $ϕ$, which can be modified in the medium by partial restoration of chiral symmetry. This modification may be accessed directly by measuring low-momentum LVM's via their decays into lepton pairs inside the hot matter. Since leptons are not subject to the strong interaction, they do not rescatter on their way out of the medium. The PHENIX experime…
Charm quarks, owing to their large mass, are produced predominantly in the initial hard scatterings in heavy-ion collisions, and therefore can be a valuable tool for studying the early time dynamics of these collisions. The rapidity-odd directed flow at mid-rapidity in heavy-ion collisions originates from a tilt in the reaction plane of the thermalized medium caused by the asymmetry between the number of participants from projectile and target nuclei as a function of rapidity. Recently, it has been predicted that the slope of the directed flow at mid-rapidity for $D^0$ mesons, arising from the…
The production of phi mesons in Au+Au collisions at RHIC and their propagation in a hot and dense nuclear medium is studied within the microscopic quark-gluon string model. The inverse slope parameter of the transverse mass distribution agrees well with that extracted from the STAR data, while the absolute yield of phi is underestimated by a factor 2. It appears that the fusion of strings alone cannot increase the phi yield either. Less than 30% of detectable phi's experience elastic scattering, this rate is insufficient for the full thermalization of phi. The directed flow of phi at |y|<2 dem…
Detailed measurements of the azimuthal anisotropy (\v2) for identified charged particles are reported as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$) and centrality for Au+Au collisions at \sqrtsNN = 200 GeV. The measurements indicate clear evidence for eccentricity and particle flavor scaling over a broad range of centralities and transverse rapidity $y_T$, indicating a hydrodynamical origin of the fine structure of azimuthal anisotropy at RHIC. The observed scaling supports the picture of a suddenly hadronizing (recombining) fluid of quarks. An apparent breaking of flavor scaling at relatively …
We present the results for the measurement of $ϕ$ meson production in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au and pp collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Using the event mixing technique, spectra and yields are obtained from the $ϕ\to K^{+}K^{-}$ decay channel for different centrality bins in Au+Au collisions and in pp collisions. We observe that the spectrum shape in Au+Au collisions depends weakly on the centrality and the shape of the spectrum in pp collisions is significantly different from that in Au+Au collisions. In Au+Au collisions, the extracted yield of $ϕ$ meson is flat…
We present predictions for the J/psi and rho meson production in the heavy ion ultraperipheral collisions (UPC) for the current energy 2.76 TeV at the LHC. Both total cross sections and cross sections with the neutron emission from one or both nuclei are presented. We also analyse the RHIC rho meson photoproduction data and emphasize importance of these data to test the current model for nucleus break up in UPC.
The observation of meson and baryon grouping in the $R_{CP}$ and $v_2$ measurements at intermediate $p_T$ has been interpreted as a manifestation of bulk partonic matter hadronization through multi-parton dynamics such as recombination of partons. $ϕ$ mesons provide unique sensitivity to test these theoretical scenarios, since the $ϕ$ has a mass heavier than the proton and close to the hyperons. The $R_{CP}$ and $v_2$ measurements of $ϕ$ mesons from Run IV Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV at STAR are presented. Energy and colliding system dependence of the $ϕ$ yields at mid-rapidity…
We present a systematic study of transverse mass spectra ($m_T$) of mesons and baryons at RHIC and LHC energies. In an earlier study, it was shown that all the mesons produced in p+p and d+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV follow $m_T$ scaling while in Au+Au collisions at same energy the mesons with strange and charm quark contents do not follow $m_T$ scaling which can be attributed to medium modifications. We extend this study for baryons produced in all above colliding systems at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Although all available baryon spectra behave differently from mesons but are …
The ratio of nuclear modification factors of high-$p_T$ heavy-flavored mesons tolight-flavored hadrons (heavy-to-light ratio) is shown to be a sensitive tool to test medium-induced energy loss at RHIC and LHC energies. Heavy-to-light ratios of $D$ mesons at RHIC in the region $7<p_T<12$ GeV, and of $D$ and $B$ mesons at the LHC in the region $10<p_T<20$ GeV, are proposed for such a test. Finally, the different contributions to the nuclear modification factor for electrons at RHIC are analyzed. Preliminary PHENIX and STAR data are compatible with radiative energy loss provided the contribution …
The measurement of phi mesons provides a unique and complementary method for exploring properties of the hot and dense medium created in the relativistic heavy ion collisions. It has a relatively small hadronic interaction cross section and is sensitive to the increase of strangeness (strangeness enhancement), a phenomenon associated with soft particles in bulk matter. Measurements in the dilepton channels are especially interesting since leptons interact only electromagnetically, thus carrying the information from their production phase directly to the detector. Measurements in different nucl…
Heavy quarks are produced through initial hard scatterings and they are affected by the hot and dense medium created in heavy-ion collisions throughout its whole evolution. Due to their heavy mass, charm quarks are expected to thermalize much more slowly than light flavor quarks. The charm quark flow is a unique tool to study the extent of thermalization of the bulk medium dominated by light quarks and gluons. At high $p_T$, D meson azimuthal anisotropy is sensitive to the path length dependence of charm quark energy loss in the medium, which offers new insights into heavy quark energy loss me…
It is widely acknowledged that heavy flavor probes are sensitive to the properties of the quark-gluon plasma and are often considered an important tool for the plasma tomography studies. Forward rapidity observables can provide further insight on the dynamics of the medium due to the interplay between the medium size and the differences in the production spectra of heavy quark probes. In this proceedings we present the nuclear modification factor $R_\text{AA}$'s for B and D mesons, as well as heavy flavor leptons, in the rapidity range $-4.0 < y < 4.0$ obtained from relativistic Langevin equat…
We argue that with an increase of the collision energy, elastic photoproduction of $ρ$ mesons on nuclei becomes affected by the significant cross section of photon inelastic diffraction into large masses, which results in the sizable inelastic nuclear shadowing correction to $σ_{γA \to ρA}$ and the reduced effective $ρ$-nucleon cross section. We take these effects into account by combining the vector meson dominance model, which we upgrade to include the contribution of high-mass fluctuations of the photon according to QCD constraints, and the Gribov-Glauber approximation for nuclear shadowing…
We present results for the measurement of $ϕ$ meson production via its charged kaon decay channel $ϕ\to K^+K^-$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=62.4$, 130, and 200 GeV, and in $p+p$ and $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV from the STAR experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) $ϕ$ meson transverse momentum ($p_{T}$) spectra in central Au+Au collisions are found to be well described by a single exponential distribution. On the other hand, the $p_{T}$ spectra from $p+p$, $d$+Au and peripheral Au+Au collisions show power-law tai…
We report the measurements of global spin polarization of hyperons ($P_Λ$) from FAIR, RHIC and LHC energies. The $P_Λ$ continue to follow an increasing trend at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm NN}}$ < 7.7 GeV indicating that enormous vorticity prevail even in hadronic dominant region. New measurements of local spin polarization ($P_{z,2}$) from isobar collisions follow the same pattern observed in previous RHIC and LHC energies. An observable motivated by predicted baryonic Spin Hall Effect, the net local polarization ($P_{z,2}^{\mathrm{net}}$), shows negative value in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm …
With RHIC running in its second phase at higher luminosities the new data sets collected so far by PHENIX and STAR are allowing improvements in the study of vector meson photo-production in Ultra peripheral Collision events in Au+Au at the highest energy. This is a brief summary of what has been accomplished so far by both collaborations.
The strong electromagnetic fields of heavy nuclei can produce a wide variety of two-photon and photonuclear reactions at relativistic ion colliders. We present recent results from the STAR collaboration on these `ultra-peripheral' interactions, focusing on vector meson production and interferometry, and on $e^+e^-$ pair production. The vector meson interferometry occurs because of the symmetric initial state: nucleus 1 can emit a photon which scatters from nucleus 2, emerging as a vector meson, or vice-versa. The two processes are indistinguishable, and so interfere, even though the production…
We present the recent results of strangeness production at the mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions at RHIC, from $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 7.7 to 200 GeV. The $v_2$ of multi-strange baryon $Ω$ and $ϕ$ mesons are similar to that of pions and protons in the intermediate $p_T$ range (2 - 5 GeV/$c$) in $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au + Au collisions, indicating that the major part of collective flow has been built up at partonic stage. The breaking of mass ordering between $ϕ$ mesons and protons in the low $p_T$ range ($<$ 1 GeV/$c$) is consistent with a picture that $ϕ$ mesons are less sensitive to l…
Measurements from the RHIC experiments show strong suppression of high-pT hadrons in central Au+Au collisions. The PHENIX experiment has observed strong suppression of $π^0$ and charged hadron yields in central Au+Au collisions for pT > 5 GeV/c regardless of pT and particle species. The observed suppression is interpreted in terms of energy loss of quarks in a high-density medium. The PHENIX Year-4 Au+Au measurements have extended the pT reach of the $π^0$ spectra to 20 GeV/c. And the PHENIX Year-5 Cu+Cu measurements performed for the study of particle production in a lighter system and they c…
Suppressions of light and heavy flavor observables are considered to be excellent probes of QCD matter created in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions. Suppression predictions of quark and gluon jets appear to suggest a clear hierarchy according to which neutral pions should be more suppressed than D mesons, which in turn should be more suppressed than single electrons. However, joint comparison of neutral pion (light probe) and non-photonic single electron (heavy probe) suppression data at RHIC unexpectedly showed similar jet suppression for these two probes, which presents the well-known …
Experimental results for identified hadron spectra in AA collisions at RHIC are reviewed. Jet suppression in central AuAu collisions at 200 GeV is seen in leading meson and baryon spectra at high p_t. Enhanced baryon production at intermediate p_T (2<p_t<5 GeV/c) is related to quark content but not its mass.In d+Au collisions Cronin enhancement is observed with larger magnitude for baryons than for mesons, but this difference can not explain the baryon-to-meson ratio in Au+Au collisions. In Au+Au the observations at 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV are very similar, but smaller suppresion of the leading p…
We present a calculation of Pi, D and B mesons production at RHIC and LHC energies based upon the KKT model of gluon saturation. We discuss dependence of the nuclear modification factor on rapidity and transverse momentum.
The role of hadronic matter in the suppression of open heavy flavored mesons has been studied. The heavy-quarks (HQs) suppression factors have been calculated and contrasted with the experimental data obtained from nuclear collisions at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and Large Hadronic Collider (LHC) experiments. It is found that the suppression in the hadronic phase at RHIC energy is around $20%-25%$ whereas at the LHC it is around $10%-12%$ for the D meson. In case of B meson the hadronic suppression is around $10%-12%$ and $5%-6%$ at RHIC and LHC energies respectively. Present study…
We present the first spin alignment measurements for the $K^{*0}(892)$ and $ϕ(1020)$ vector mesons produced at mid-rapidity with transverse momenta up to 5 GeV/c at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV at RHIC. The diagonal spin density matrix elements with respect to the reaction plane in Au+Au collisions are $ρ_{00}$ = 0.32 $\pm$ 0.04 (stat) $\pm$ 0.09 (syst) for the $K^{*0}$ ($0.8<p_T<5.0$ GeV/c) and $ρ_{00}$ = 0.34 $\pm$ 0.02 (stat) $\pm$ 0.03 (syst) for the $ϕ$ ($0.4<p_T<5.0$ GeV/c), and are constant with transverse momentum and collision centrality. The data are consistent with the unpolarized expe…
Evolution of the elliptic flow of hadrons in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC energies is studied within the microscopic quark-gluon string model. The elliptic flow is shown to have a multi-component structure caused by (i) rescattering and (ii) absorption processes in spatially asymmetric medium. Together with different freeze-out dynamics of mesons and baryons, these processes lead to the following trend in the flow formation: the later the mesons are frozen, the weaker their elliptic flow, whereas baryon fraction develops stronger elliptic flow during the late stages of the fireball evolution. …
We present the first results of meson production in the K^+K^- decay channel from Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV as measured at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX detector at RHIC. Precision resonance centroid and width values are extracted as a function of collision centrality. No significant variation from the PDG accepted values is observed. The transverse mass spectra are fitted with a linear exponential function for which the derived inverse slope parameter is seen to be constant as a function of centrality. These data are also fitted by a hydrodynamic model with the result that the fre…
Large proton and antiproton enhancement with respect to pions has been observed at intermediate transverse momentum $p_T \approx$ 2-5 GeV/$c$ in Au+Au collisions at RHIC. To investigate the possible source of this anomaly, the production of $ϕ$ mesons and two particle angular correlations triggered by mid-$p_T$ baryons or mesons are studied. We also present the first measurement of proton and antiproton production at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 62.4$ GeV in Au+Au collisions, which aims to study the energy dependence of the observed baryon enhancement.
The relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) offers many opportunities to study diffraction in pp, pA and AA collisions. Because both proton beams can be polarized, RHIC offers the unique possibility of studying polarization effects in diffraction. We will introduce diffraction at RHIC and present three compelling physics topics: hard diffraction with polarized beams, identification of exotic mesons (non-q q-bar states) in double-Pomeron collisions, and using diffraction to measure the low-x gluon density in $pA$ collisions, testing models of gluon saturation and the colored glass condensate. Th…
Heavy flavor and quarkona production are important hard probes to test the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and measure the properties of the Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) created in high energy heavy ion collisions. The new PHENIX mid- and forward-rapidity silicon vertex detectors provide precise Distance of Closest Approach (DCA) determination, allowing charm and bottom yields identification, and improve di-muon mass resolution for charmonia studies. The relative $ψ(2S)$ over $J/ψ$(1S) yields measured in $p$+$p$, $p$+Al and $p$+Au data at $\sqrt{s}=$200 GeV help us to understand final state effects o…
We describe the propagation of charm quarks in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) by means of a Boltzmann transport approach. Non-perturbative interaction between heavy quarks and light quarks have been taken into account through a quasi-particle approach in which light partons are dressed with thermal masses tuned to lQCD thermodynamics. Such a model is able to describe the main feature of the non-perturbative dynamics: the enhancement of the interaction strength near $T_c$. We show that the resulting charm in-medium evolution is able to correctly predict simultaneously the nuclear suppression fact…
We present preliminary differential fiducial cross sections on Central Exclusive Production (CEP, $pp\to pXp$) of two opposite-charge mesons ($X=π^{+}π^{-}$, $K^{+}K^{-}$) in midrapidity region with small squared four-momentum transferred from forward protons, $0.03<|t_{1}|,|t_{2}|<0.2~\textrm{GeV}^{2}$. The process was measured in the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) in proton-proton collisions at the center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}~=~200~\textrm{GeV}$.
The high centre-of-mass energy of 200 GeV available at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven opens up the hard scattering regime in heavy-ion collisions. Particles at large transverse momentum originate from the early stage of the interaction and, therefore, probe the medium produced in these collisions. To quantitatively understand the medium induced modification of hadron production, precise measurements of identified hadrons in p+p and d+Au systems are required. This thesis presents the high transverse momentum measurements of neutral pions and eta mesons through their di…
