Quark-flavor symmetries and their violation in quantum chromodynamics

In Quantum Chromodynamics, the hadrons consisting of light (u, d, s) and heavy (c, b) quarks are subject to approximate flavor symmetries, providing the basis for powerful effective theories. I will briefly overview the origin of these symmetries and the scale of their violation. The current precision tests of Standard Model in the electroweak decays of hadrons demand an accurate quantitative account of flavor-symmetry violation effects. I will discuss the continuum (non-lattice) QCD calculation of these effects in hadronic matrix elements, taking as an example the decay constants of heavy–light hadrons.     

“Free” constituent quarks and dilepton production in heavy-ion collisions

An approach is suggested that invokes vitally the notion of constituent massive quarks (valons) that can survive and propagate rather than hadrons (except of pions) within hot and dense matter formed below the chiral-transition temperature in the course of heavy-ion collisions at high energies. This approach is shown to be quite good for describing the experimentally observed excess in the dilepton yield at masses 250≤M_ee≤700 MeV over the prompt-resonance-decay mechanism (CERES cocktail) predictions. In certain aspects, it appears to be even more successful than conventional approaches: it seems to match the data somewhat better at dilepton masses below the two-pion threshold and below the ρ-meson peak, as well as at higher dilepton masses (beyond the φ-meson one). The approach implies no specific assumptions on the special features of phase transitions in expanding nuclear matter, and the ideal gas approximation is motivated to be still workable for describing the pion-valonic system under consideration.     

On the possibility of thermalization of heavy mesons in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions

The phenomenological analysis and interpretation of experimental data from RHIC and LHC on the production of J/ψ and D mesons in heavy-ion collisions are performed within the two-component HYDJET++ model including the thermal and hard mechanisms of hadron production. It is shown that the thermal freeze-out of charmed mesons at RHIC energies occurs earlier than the thermal freeze-out of light hadrons (assumingly, simultaneously with chemical freeze-out), which indicates that J/ψ and D mesons are not in kinetic equilibrium with the formed hadronic matter. At the same time, a significant part of D mesons at LHC energies are in kinetic equilibrium with the formed thermalized matter, but J/ψ mesons are still characterized by early freeze-out.     

A study of the nuclear-medium influence on transverse momentum of hadrons produced in deep-inelastic neutrino scattering

The influence of nuclear effects on the transverse momentum (p_T) of neutrino-produced hadrons is investigated using the data obtained with the SKAT propane-freon bubble chamber irradiated in the neutrino beam (with E _v =3–30 GeV) at the Serpukhov accelerator. It has been observed that the nuclear effects cause an enhancement of 〈p _T ² 〉 of hadrons produced in the target fragmentation region at low invariant mass of the hadronic system (2 < W < 4 GeV) and at low energies transferred to the hadrons (2 < ν < 9 GeV). At higher W and ν, no influence of nuclear effects on 〈p _T ² 〉 is observed. Measurement results are compared with predictions of a simple model, incorporating secondary intranuclear interactions of hadrons, which qualitatively reproduces the main features of the data.     

Signature splitting in two quasiparticle rotational bands of <Superscript>180,182</Superscript>Ta

The signature splittings in K^π = 1 ⁺: 7 /2[404] _π?9 /2[624] _ν, K^π = 0^?: 9 /2[514] _π?9 /2[624] _ν bands of ¹⁸⁰Ta and K^π = 0^?: 7 /2[404] _π?7 /2[503] _ν, K^π = 1^?: 5 /2[402] _π?3 /2[512] _ν, K^π = 1⁺: 7 /2[404] _π?9 /2[624] _ν bands of ¹⁸²Ta are analysed within the framework of two-quasiparticle rotor model. The phase as well as magnitude of the experimentally observed signature splitting in K^π = 1⁺ band of ¹⁸⁰Ta, which could not be explained in earlier calculations, is successfully reproduced. The conflict regarding placement of a 12 ⁺ level in K^π = 1 ⁺: 7 /2 ⁺[404] _π?9 /2 ⁺[624] _ν ground-state rotational band of ¹⁸⁰Ta is resolved and tentative nature of K^π = 0^?: 7 /2[404] _π?7 /2[503] _ν, K^π = 1⁺: 7 /2[404] _π?9 /2[624] _ν bands observed in ¹⁸²Ta is confirmed. As a future prediction for experimentalists, these two-quasiparticle structures observed in ¹⁸⁰Ta and ¹⁸²Ta are extended to higher spins.     

Pion-pion interaction andK 2x03C0;x03C0;x03C0;-decay

The enhancement of theK _2π ⁺ -decay compared to theK _2π ⁰ -decay is discussed on the basis of the\(|\mathop {\Delta {\rm I}}\limits^ \to | = \tfrac{1}{2}\)-rule. The enhancement factor is calculated by dispersion methods which yield an expression depending only on the phase shift of the two pion system in theJ=0,I=0,2 state. This expression has been studied in the framework of simple models for the two-pion interaction in order to obtain a survey of the possibilities for the cause of the anomalous large ratioK _2π ⁺ /K _2π ⁰ . Only characteristic cases have been considered and, as far as possible, experimental results of theπ-π-interaction are taken into account.     

Winkelverteilungen elastisch an Edelgas-Atomstrahlen gestreuter Elektronen; Spinpolarisation eines an Argon gestreuten 40 eV-Elektronenstrahls

Various non-leptonic decay modes of baryons are calculated in a simple quark model. Form factors for various matrix elements are taken both from experiment and the quark model. Additionally theK→2π andK→3π decay modes are computed in the same model. The theory has theΔ I=1/2 rule and static SU⁶ built-in. A relation between the∑ ⁺→N ⁺ π ⁺ decay, not calculable in the model, and theK→3π decay is given via an effective six quark interaction. Agreement with experiment is order of magnitude for the baryonic decays and worse for theK decays.     

Forward particle production in proton–nucleus interactions at momenta of 25 and 50 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">с</Emphasis> and сarbon–nucleus interactions at an energy of 25 GeV per nucleon

Relative yields of high-x _F charged hadrons (π ^±, К^±, р, \(\overline p \), and d) in proton–nucleus interactions at incident-proton momenta of 25 and 50 GeV/c were measured at an angle of 0° in the momentum range between 15 and 40 GeV/c. An upper limit on the forward production of two protons in proton–nucleus interactions at 50 GeV/c was estimated. The properties of a carbon beam with an energy of 25 GeV per nucleon and fragment yields in its interaction with nuclear targets were measured within a short exposure.     

Phenomenology of light- and strange-quark simultaneous production at high energies

This letter presents an extension of EPL116(2017)62001 to light- and strange-quark nonequilibrium chemical phase-space occupancy factors (γ_q,s). The resulting damped trigonometric functionalities relating γ_q,s to the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies (\(\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} \)) looks very similar except different coefficients. The phenomenology of the resulting γ_q,s(\(\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} \)) describes a rapid decrease at \(\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} \) ? 7GeV followed by a faster increase up to ~20 GeV. Then, both γ_q,s become nonsensitive to \(\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} \). Although these differ from γ _s (\(\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} \))obtained at γ _q (\(\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} \))=1, various particle ratios including K⁺/π⁺, K^?/π^?, Λ/π^?, Λ?/π^?, Ξ⁺/π⁺, and Ω/π^?, can well be reproduced, as well. We conclude that γ_q,s(\(\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} \)) should be instead determined from fits of various particle yields and ratios but not merely from fits to the particle ratio K⁺/π⁺.     

Study of π<Superscript>0</Superscript>/γ efficiency using B meson decays in the LHCb experiment

The reconstruction efficiency of photons and neutral pions is measured using the relative yields of reconstructed B ⁺ → J/ψK ^*+(→ K ⁺π⁰) and B ⁺ → J/ψK ⁺ decays. The efficiency is studied using the data set, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb^–1, collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at the centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV.     

Study of π<Superscript>0</Superscript>/γ reconstruction and selection efficiency in the LHCb experiment

The reconstruction efficiency of photons and neutral pions is measured using the relative yields of reconstructed B ⁺ → J/ψK*⁺(→K ⁺π⁰) and B ⁺ → J/ψK ⁺ decays. The efficiency is studied using the data set, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb^–1, collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at the centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV.     

Production of exotic Λ hypernuclei via mesonic beams

We study the production of neutron-rich hypernuclei _Λ ¹² Be, _Λ ¹⁶ C, and _Λ ¹⁰ Li by the (π^?, K⁺) and (K^?, π⁺) reactions in flight and treat two different mechanisms of production. The first mechanism is a two-step process with meson charge exchange (e.g., π^?p → π⁰n, π⁰p → K⁺Λ). The other mechanism is one-step production (π^?p → K⁺Σ^?) proceeding via a small Σ^? component, arising in Λ hypernuclei due to ΛN–ΣN coupling, as a doorway state. Typically, the two-step mechanism is more productive. The forward differential cross section of the ¹⁰B(π^?,K⁺) reaction is about 70 nb/sr at an incident momentum of 1.05 GeV/c. On the other hand, the one-step process can serve as a direct measurement of the Σ admixture if the two-step contribution is suppressed by a suitable choice of the reaction kinematics.     

Special features of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis> = 0 channel in nuclear fission

The opinion that the K = 0 fission channel is completely closed if the spin J and the parity π of the nucleus undergoing fission do not satisfy the condition (?1) ^J = π is widespread. On the basis of a detailed analysis of quantum numbers characterizing the rotational states of deformed nuclei, it is shown that this opinion is erroneous. In fact, the K = 0 channel may be partly open. Its suppression is caused by special features of fission barriers in the state being considered. It is also shown that factors that suppress the K = 0channel may exist even in states characterized by J and π values such that they satisfy the condition (?1) ^J = π. More precise information about the contribution of the K = 0 channel may be obtained by measuring the hexadecapole component of the angular distribution of fragments originating from the slow-neutron-induced fission of aligned nuclei.     

Study of supersolidity in the two-dimensional Hubbard–Holstein model

We derive an effective Hamiltonian for the two-dimensional Hubbard–Holstein model in the regimes of strong electron–electron and strong electron–phonon interactions by using a nonperturbative approach. In the parameter region where the system manifests the existence of a correlated singlet phase, the effective Hamiltonian transforms to a t₁ ? V ₁ ? V ₂ ? V ₃ Hamiltonian for hard-core-bosons on a checkerboard lattice. We employ quantum Monte Carlo simulations, involving stochastic-series-expansion technique, to obtain the ground state phase diagram. At filling 1∕8, as the strength of off-site repulsion increases, the system undergoes a first-order transition from a superfluid to a diagonal striped solid with ordering wavevector \(\vec{Q}\) = (π∕4, 3π∕4) or (π∕4, 5π∕4). Unlike the one-dimensional situation, our results in the two-dimensional case reveal a supersolid phase (corresponding to the diagonal striped solid) around filling 1∕8 and at large off-site repulsions. Furthermore, for small off-site repulsions, we witness a valence bond solid at one-fourth filling and tiny phase-separated regions at slightly higher fillings.     

Kinetic freeze-out s pectra of identified particles produced in p–Pb collisions at $$\sqrt {s_{NN} }$$ = 5.02 TeV

We study the transverse momentum spectra of identified pions (π^– + π⁺), kaons ((K ^– + K ⁺), K ₀ ^s ), protons (p + p?) and lambda hyperons (Λ + Λ?) produced at mid-rapidity (0 < y _cm < 0.5) in most central (0?5)% p–Pb collisions at \(\sqrt {s_{NN} }\) = 5.02 TeV in comparison with a Unified Statistical Thermal Freeze-out Model (USTFM). The measurements for pions are reported upto p _T = 3 GeV, the kaons (K ^– + K ⁺) are reported upto p _T = 2.5 GeV, K ₀ ^s is reported upto p _T = 7 GeV, and the baryons (protons and lambda hyperons) are reported upto p _T = 3.5 GeV. A good agreement is seen between the calculated results and the experimental data points taken from the ALICE experiment. The transverse momentum spectra are found to be flatter for heavy particles than for light particles. Bulk freeze-out properties in terms of kinetic freeze-out temperature and the transverse collective flow velocity are extracted from the fits of the transverse momentum spectra of these hadrons. The effect of resonance decay contributions has also been taken care of.     

Proton-proton interaction with high multiplicity at energy of 70 GeV (proposal)

The goal of the proposed experiment is to investigate the collective behavior of particles in the process of multiple hadron production in pp interaction pp → n _π π + 2N at the beam energy E_lab = 70 GeV. The domain of high multiplicity n _π = 30–40, or z = n/\(\bar n\) = 4–6, will be studied. Near the threshold of reaction n _π → 69, z → z_th = 8.2, all particles acquire small relative momentum Δq < 1/R, where R is the dimension of the particle production region. As a consequence of multiboson interference, a number of collective effects may show up: (a) a drastic increase in the partial cross section σ(n) of production of n identical particles is expected, compared with commonly accepted extrapolation; (b) the formation of jets consisting of identical particles may occur as a result of the multiboson Bose-Einstein correlation (BEC) effect; (c) a large fluctuation of charged n(π⁺,π^?) and neutral n(π⁰) components and onset of centauros or chiral condensate effects are anticipated; (d) an increase in the rate of direct γ as a result of the bremsstrahlung in the partonic cascade and annihilation of π⁺π^? → nγ in dense and cold pionic gas or condensate is expected. In the domain of high multiplicity z ≥ 5, a major part of the c.m. energy \(\sqrt s = 11.6\) GeV is materialized, leading to a high-density thermalized hadronic system. Under this condition, a phase transition to cold quark-gluon plasma (QGP) may occur. The search for QGP signatures like large intermittency in the phase-space particle distribution and an enhanced rate of direct photons will be performed. The experimental setup is designed for detection of rare high-multiplicity events. The experiment is to be carried out at the extracted proton beam of the IHEP U-70 accelerator. The required beam intensity is ～10⁷ s^?1. Under the assumption that the partial cross section σ(n _π = 35) = 10-1 nb, the anticipated counting rate is 10-1 events/h. The multiboson BEC enhancement may drastically increase the counting rate.     

Measurement of light scalar mesons in many-body decays in the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider

The unique design of the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider allows one to detect neutral and charged particles produced in high-energy collisions of heavy ions. This circumstance made it possible to measure many-particle decays of light mesons, such as K _S ⁰ →π⁰π⁰, η→π⁰π^?π⁺, and η→γγ in p + p, d + Au and Au + Au collisions at the energy \(\sqrt {S_{NN} }\) = 200 GeV. The latest results of measuring the differential production cross sections, ratios of particle yields (K _S ⁰ /π⁰ and η/π⁰), and the nuclear modification factors (\(R_{dA}^{K_S }\), R _dA ^η , R _AA ^η ) in a wide range of transverse momenta (from 2 to 12 GeV s^?1) are reported.     

Cumulative production of three-nucleon nuclei in <Superscript>16</Superscript>O<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> collisions at a momentum of 3.25 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> per nucleon

The production of cumulative three-nucleon nuclei (³H and ³He) in ¹⁶Op collisions at a momentum of 3.25 GeV/c per nucleon were studied for the first time under conditions of 4π geometry. The slope parameter of the cross section for the production of cumulative three-nucleon nuclei was determined, and new data on correlations of the yields of A = 3 cumulative nuclei, charged particles, and fragments in ¹⁶Op interactions are reported. The properties of cumulative and noncumulative events were found to be substantially different, and evidence for the presence of a common universal feature in the mechanisms for the cumulative production of hadrons and light nuclear fragments was obtained.     

Absorptive corrections to associated production of strange baryon and meson resonances in πp scattering

Absorptive corrections are calculated for the reactionsπ ⁺ p→K ^*+∑⁺(K ^*+ Y ₁ ^*+ ) mediated byK-exchange andπ ⁺p→K⁺ Y ₁ ^*+ withK ^*-exchange. The effect of the finite width of the resonances is included. Numerical results are given for 5 and 8 GeV/c.     

The effect of hadronic rindler horizon on hadronization process

In this study by extending the recent suggested mechanisms to hadronization processes, the information loss for QCD matter in hadronic Rindler horizon is found. We notice that for all finite values of quark and gluon energies, all information from all hadronization processes experiences some degree of loss. Then the effect of hedonic Rindler horizon on three jet cross section is explored. It is found that the three jet cross section is rising at y_cut =?0.0002 exhibits a turn-over at moderate value of y_cut =?0.01 and then rapidly decreases as y_cut increases. This model is consistent with OPAL data. Finally, different channels for producing Higgs boson near hadronic Rindler horizon are studied. It is shown that the cross section of Higgs boson produced via gluon fusion and quark interaction near a single Hadronic Rindler Horizon is much larger for higher center of mass energies. This is because an increase in the energy of hadronic Rindler horizon raises the temperature, thus intensifying the thermal radiation of QCD matter.