Multiplicity fluctuations of particles produced in interactions of light nuclei with carbon nuclei at a momentum of 4.2 A GeV/ c and their theoretical interpretation

New experimental data on fluctuations in the multiplicities of negatively charged particles in interactions of light nuclei (p, d, ⁴He, ¹²C) with carbon nuclei at a momentum of 4.2 A GeV/c in 4π geometry are reported. The data indicate a behavior similar to that earlier observed by the NA49 Collaboration. The cascade evaporation model, FRITIOF model, and UrQMD 1.3 model are used to analyze the data. The dependence of the fluctuations on nuclear collision centrality is theoretically described without any exotic assumptions. According to the FRITIOF model, the dependence of the multiplicity fluctuations on the collision centrality is to a large extent governed by fluctuations in the number of “wounded” nucleons that are associated with the experimental observation conditions. The NA49 Collaboration data are also described. Original Russian Text ? A.S. Galoyan, E.N. Kladnitskaya, V.V. Uzhinsky, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 10, pp. 718–721.     

Energy dependence of Cronin momentum in saturation model for <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> + <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> + <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> collisions

The energy dependence of the Cronin momentum for p + A and A + A collisions in the saturation model are calculated. This dependence is consistent with simple dimensional considerations and can be used to test the validity of the saturation model. It gives the possibility to distinguish the different variants of the saturation model with precise experimental data and to measure the x dependence of the saturation momentum.     

Investigation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">pn</Emphasis> correlations in <Superscript>4</Superscript>He<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> interactions at a momentum of 5 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>

Proton-neutron correlations in ⁴Hep interactions are studied in an exclusive experiment by using a 2-m bubble chamber exposed to a 5-GeV/c beam of α particles (the kinetic energy of the protons in the nucleus rest frame is T _p = 620 MeV). Data on the production of pn pairs in 4π geometry for three channels, where it is possible to reconstruct the neutron momentum unambiguously, are used to determine the pn correlation function in ⁴Hep interactions. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of a modified Lednicky-Lyuboshitz model. The value obtained for the root-mean-square radius of the pn-emission region is R _pn = 2.1 ± 0.3 fm. The dependence of the correlation function on the modulus of the total momentum of the emitted nucleon pair and on the direction of the momentum transfer is studied. An indication that the emission of a pn pair proceeds predominantly through the production of a virtual deuteron is obtained.     

Two-proton correlations in <Superscript>4</Superscript>He<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> interactions at a primary momentum of 5 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>

Correlations of secondary protons in ⁴Hep interactions are investigated in an exclusive experiment with the aid of a 2-m liquid-hydrogen bubble chamber exposed to an alpha-particle beam of momentum 5 GeV/c the kinetic energy of primary protons in the rest frame of the nucleus is T_p=620 MeV). By using data obtained in 4π geometry for six basic channels of ⁴Hep interaction that lead to the production of two protons, the total correlation function for the pp system is determined, along with two-proton correlation functions for individual channels. Experimental results are compared with the predictions of the modified Lednicky-Lyuboshitz model. The value of R=1.6±0.3 fm is obtained for the root-meansquare spacetime radius of pp emission in ⁴Hep interactions. The dependence of the correlation function on the total momentum of two emitted protons and on the momentum-transfer direction is investigated.     

Reconstructing the freeze-out state in Pb+Pb collisions at 158 <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis>GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis><Superscript>a</Superscript>

For a class of analytical parametrizations of the freeze-out state of relativistic heavy ion collisions, we perform a simultaneous analysis of the single-particle m _⊥-spectra and two-particle Bose-Einstein correlations measured in central Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN SPS. The analysis includes a full model parameter scan with χ² confidence levels. A comparison of different transverse density profiles for the particle emission region allows for a quantitative discussion of possible model dependencies of the results. Our fit results suggest a low thermal freeze-out temperature T≈95±15 MeV and a large average transverse flow velocity \(\bar v_ \bot \approx 0.55 \pm 0.07\). Moreover, the fit favours a box-shaped transverse density profile over a Gaussian one. We discuss the origins and the consequences of these results in detail. In order to reproduce the measured pion multiplicity our model requires a positive pion chemical potential. A study of the pion phase-space density indicates μ_π≈60 MeV for T=100 MeV.     

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.     

Search for higher laying charmonium states and charmed hybrids in experiments using antiproton beam with momentum ranging from 1 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> to 15 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>

The elaborated analysis of spectrum of scalar and vector charmonium states in the mass region above D[`(D)]D\bar D — threshold is given. The combined approach based on the potential model and relativistic spherical symmetric top model for decay products has been proposed. Ten radial excited states of charmonium in the mass region above D[`(D)]D\bar D — threshold are anticipated to exist in the framework of the combined approach. The experimental data from different collaborations were analyzed. Especial attention was given to the new states with the hidden charm discovered recently. Eight of these states may be interpreted as higher laying radial excited charmonium states. But much more data on different decay modes are needed for deeper analysis. These data can be derived directly from the experiments using high quality antiproton beam with the momentum ranging from 1 GeV/c to 15 GeV/c (PANDA experiment at FAIR).     

Study of collective flow effects in CC collisions at a momentum of 4.2 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> per nucleon

Directed (in-plane) flows of protons, pions, and projectile light fragments (d, t, ³He, ⁴He) have been observed by investigating the dependence of the mean transverse momentum in the reaction plane 〈p _x 〉 on the rapidity y in the c.m. system for CC collisions at a momentum of 4.2 GeV/c per nucleon. The comparison of our in-plane-flow results of protons with flow data for various projectile/target configurations was made using the scaled flow F _s = F/(A _P ^1/3 + A _T ^1/3 ). F _s demonstrates a common scaling behavior for flow values from different systems. From azimuthal distributions of protons and π^? mesons, out-of-plane (squeeze-out) flow effects have been observed and the parameter a₂ (the measure of the anisotropic emission strength) has been extracted. The quark-gluon string model reproduces the experimental results quite well.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">V</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> sum rules with <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis> = 10 operators

The difference of vector and axial-vector charged current correlators is analyzed by means of QCD sum rules. The contribution of 10-dimensional 4-quark condensates is calculated and its value is estimated within the framework of the factorization hypothesis. It is compared to the result obtained from an operator fit of Borel sum rules in the complex q ²-plane, calculated from experimental data on hadronic -decays. This fit gives accurate values of the light quark condensate and the quark-gluon mixed condensate. The size of the high-order operators and the convergence of the operator series are discussed.Received: 10 May 2004, Revised: 7 September 2004, Published online: 18 November 2004     

Formation of multinucleon systems and nuclei with mass numbers of 6 and 7 in <Superscript>16</Superscript>O<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> interactions at a momentum of 3.25 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> per nucleon

The results of a comparative analysis of the multiplicities of singly and doubly charged accompanying particles in the channels involving the production of six- and seven-nucleon systems in ¹⁶Op collisions at a momentum of 3.25 GeV/c per nucleon are reported. Cross sections for the yield of multinucleon systems and mean multiplicities of accompanying particles are found. The experimental data are compared with the predictions of the cascade—fragmentation—evaporation model.     

Some special features of the momentum spectrum of protons produced 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 momentum features of protons originating from ¹⁶Op collisions at a momentum of 3.25 GeV/c per nucleon are analyzed. It is shown that the degree of excitation of the fragmenting nucleus affects predominantly the shape of the momentum spectrum of protons emitted into the backward hemisphere in the rest frame of the projectile nucleus and partly the shape of the spectra of protons emitted into the forward hemisphere and formed via the mechanisms of Fermi breakup and evaporation.     

On the energy spectrum of protons produced 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

New experimental data concerning the mechanisms of the production of protons originating as fragments from oxygen-nucleus interactions in a hydrogen bubble chamber at high energies are presented. It is shown that anomalies observed in the energy spectrum of protons at kinetic energies in the range T = 70–90 MeV are associated with the absorption of slow pions by a quasideuteron nucleon pair.     

Inclusive deuteron production 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

Experimental data on inclusive deuteron production in ¹⁶Op collisions at high energies were obtained for the first time under conditions of 4π geometry. An irregularity in the momentum spectrum of deuterons in the rest frame of oxygen nuclei is found in the range 0.40 ≤ p ≤ 0.55 GeV/c, and the reasons for its appearance are discussed. The mean multiplicities of secondary fragments are correlated with the presence of deuterons in an event, these correlations being positive for fragments of charge in the range z _f ≤ 4 and negative for fragments of charge in the range 5 ≤ z _f ≤ 7. This is likely to be due to baryon-charge conservation.     

Inclusive neutral-pion production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>C and <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>Cu interactions at a momentum of 4.5 GeV/. per nucleon

The cross sections for inclusive neutral-pion production in the reactions d + C → π⁰ + x and d + Cu → π⁰ + x at a momentum of 4.5 GeV/c per nucleon were measured over the kinematical region specified by the inequalities Θ_π≤16° and E_π≥2 GeV (in the laboratory frame). From the ratio of the cross sections for neutral-pion generation on carbon and copper nuclei, the exponent n in the parametrization Ed³σ/d³p ～ A _T ⁿ is obtained as a function of the cumulative number X in the range 0.6 ≤ X ≤ 1.8 and as a function of the square of the transverse momentum in the range 0.04 ≤ P _t ² ≤ 0.40 (GeV/c)². The probabilities of the formation of six-quark configurations in the D, ⁴He, and ¹²C nuclei are estimated. The double-differential cross section for the reaction d + C → π⁰ + x is determined for the first time by using a data sample containing more than 40 000 neutral pions.     

Cross sections for the production of stable and unstable isotopes with charge numbers from one to eight in <Superscript>16</Superscript>O<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> collisions at 3.25 <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>

New experimental data are presented for the inclusive cross sections both for the production and for the yield of stable and unstable isotopes with charge numbers from one to eight in ¹⁶Op collisions at 3.25 A GeV/c.     

Proton production in <Superscript>16</Superscript>O<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> collisions at 3.25 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> per nucleon

The momentum features of protons originating as fragments from ¹⁶Op interactions at 3.25 GeV/c per nucleon are analyzed for the first time under conditions of 4π geometry. It is found that the mechanisms of the production of all protons traveling in the forward direction in the rest frame of the fragmenting nucleus (with the exception of evaporated protons) do not depend on either the primary energy or the target-nucleus type, this regularity being quite universal for the formation of such protons. It is shown that there is a strong correlation between the shape of the momentum spectrum of protons appearing as fragments from such interactions, especially slow protons, and the degree of the excitation of the fragmenting nucleus.     

Special features of deuteron production 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

New experimental data on the dependences of the mean multiplicities and kinematical characteristics of deuterons produced in ¹⁶Op collisions at a momentum of 3.25 GeV/c per nucleon on the degree of excitation of the fragmenting nucleus are presented. These experimental data are compared with the predictions of the cascade-fragmentation-evaporation model.