Strange hadron production in d+Au collisions at RHIC

We report the centrality dependence of transverse mass (m _t ) spectra at mid-rapidity for the identified strange hadrons K _S ⁰ , ? $\Lambda + \bar \Lambda $ and $\Xi ^ - + \bar \Xi ^ + $ in d+Au collisions at RHIC. The measured transverse momentum (p _T ) covers 0.4<p _T <6.0 GeV/c for K _S ⁰ , ø, $\Lambda + \bar \Lambda $ and 0.6<p _T <5.0 GeV/c for $\Xi ^ - + \bar \Xi ^ + $ . The binary collision normalized nuclear modification factors R _CP of these hadrons indicate that the Cronin effect in d+Au collisions has a distinct particle-type dependence. the R _CP ratios show a distinct baryons versus mesons dependence: the R _CP for $\Xi ^ - + \bar \Xi ^ + $ follows that for $\Lambda + \bar \Lambda $ while the R _CP for the ? is close to that for the K _S ⁰ . Similar features have also been observed in Au+Au collisions. Initial parton scattering alone is not sufficient to explain this particle-type dependence. Hadronization processes are likely to be important for determining hadron properties in high-energy collisions as suggested by coalescence and recombination models.     

K S 0 , Λ and ≡ production at intermediate to high pT from Au+Au collisions at \sqrt {s_{NN} } = 39, 11.5 and 7.7 GeV

We report on the p _T dependence of nuclear modification factors (R _CP) for K _S ⁰ , ??, ?? and the $\bar NK_S^0 $ ratios at mid-rapidity from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ = 39, 11.5 and 7.7 GeV. At $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ = 39 GeV, the R _CP data show a baryon/meson separation at intermediate p _T and a suppression for K _S ⁰ for p _T up to 4.5 GeV/c; the $\bar \Lambda K_S^0 $ shows baryon enhancement in the most central collisions. However, at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ = 11.5 and 7.7 GeV, R _CP shows less baryon/meson separation and $\bar NK_S^0 $ shows almost no baryon enhancement. These observations indicate that the matter created in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ = 11.5 or 7.7 GeV might be distinct from that created at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ = 39 GeV.     

Identified particle production in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions at RHIC

Measurements of identified particle production with the PHENIX experiment at RHIC have reached a mature state, where a multitude of nuclear systems at different colliding energies have been studied. The discovery configurations of $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ and 200 GeV Au+Au collisions have now been supplemented by additional Au+Au and Cu+Cu configurations at various energies, along with baseline p+p and d+Au runs at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ GeV. In this work we present a systematic study of the Cronin effect in d+Au collisions and recent results from p+p collisions. We then proceed to make a critical comparison of pion, kaon and proton production in heavy ion and baseline systems, and discuss the observed nuclear effects on hadron production.     

Resonance studies at STAR

Preliminary results from measurements of resonances (K ^*0(892), $\overline {K*^0 } (892)$ , Φ(1020), and ρ(770)) and weakly decaying particles (Λ(1116), $\bar \Lambda (1116)$ , and K _S ⁰ (498)) are presented. The measurements are performed at mid-rapidity by the STAR detector in $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ GeV Au?Au collisions at RHIC. The ratios K ^*0/h?, $\overline {K*^0 } /K$ , and $\bar \Lambda /\Lambda $ are compared to measurements at different energies and colliding systems. Estimates of thermal parameters, such as temperature and baryon chemical potential, are also presented.     

Charged hadron suppression in Au+Au collisions at high p T from STAR

We report high statistics measurements of inclusive charged hadron production in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 200$ GeV and 130 GeV. A large, approximately constant hadron suppression is observed in central Au+Au collisions for 5 ‖p _T ‖ 12 GeV/c. The collision energy dependence of the yields and the centrality and p _T dependence of the suppression provide stringent constraints on theoretical models of suppression. Models incorporating initial-state gluon saturation or partonic energy loss in dense matter are largely consistent with observations. The p _T -dependent suppression expected from models incorporating jet attenuation in cold nuclear matter or absorption of fragmentation hadrons is not observed.     

Characteristics of charged particle production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Inclusive spectra of charged particles at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ GeV and 200 GeV were measured with the STAR detector at RHIC. The measured mean transverse momentum 〈p _T 〉 shows a characteristic dependence on charged particle multiplicity and beam energy in Au+Au collisions that is distinctly different from pp, $p\bar p$ and e⁺e^? collisions. A 32%±3%(syst) increase in 〈p _T 〉 from pp to Au+Au collisions was observed at 200 GeV. While the charged multiplicity was found to increase by 19%±5%(syst) from $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ GeV to 200 GeV, no significant difference in 〈p _T 〉 was found between the two energies. A comparison with model predictions is discussed.     

Event-by-event hadron ratio fluctuations from Au+Au collisions at RHIC-STAR

We present measurements of event-by-event fluctuations on hadron multiplicity ratios (K/??, p/??, K/p) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ and 200 GeV using the STAR detector at RHIC. The magnitude of dynamical fluctuations ?? _dyn for p/?? and K/p ratios change smoothly from a large negative value at 7.7 GeV to a smaller negative value at 200 GeV while that for the K/?? ratios exhibits no significant beam energy dependence. The dynamical fluctuations related to pair production ?? _dyn ^pair dyn for the p/K, K/p, K ^?/K ⁺ and p/p ratios at 200 GeV all exhibit a maximum at the mid-central collisions and decrease at the most peripheral and most central collisions.     

Fragmentation production of Ωccc baryons at LHC energies

Within the nonrelativistic quark-diquark model for heavy baryons, the fragmentation functions for the transitions of a c-quark and a doubly charmed vector diquark into an Ω_ccc baryon are calculated in the leading order of perturbative QCD. The cross section for Ω _ccc production in high-energy hadron interactions is estimated. It is assumed that Ω_ccc baryons are formed via the fragmentation of a c quark or a vector (cc) diquark produced in the partonic subprocesses gg → c $\bar c$ , q $\bar q$ → c $\bar c$ , gg → (cc)+ $\bar c$ + $\bar c$ , and q $\bar q$ → (cc)+ $\bar c$ + $\bar c$ .     

On the Continuum Limit for Discrete NLS with Long-Range Lattice Interactions

We consider a general class of discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equations (DNLS) on the lattice ${h\mathbb{Z}}$ with mesh size h > 0. In the continuum limit when h → 0, we prove that the limiting dynamics are given by a nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLS) on ${\mathbb{R}}$ with the fractional Laplacian (?Δ) ^α as dispersive symbol. In particular, we obtain that fractional powers ${\frac{1}{2} < \alpha < 1}$ arise from long-range lattice interactions when passing to the continuum limit, whereas the NLS with the usual Laplacian ?Δ describes the dispersion in the continuum limit for short-range or quick-decaying interactions (e. g., nearest-neighbor interactions). Our results rigorously justify certain NLS model equations with fractional Laplacians proposed in the physics literature. Moreover, the arguments given in our paper can be also applied to discuss the continuum limit for other lattice systems with long-range interactions.     

Structure of neutron-rich nuclei around the N = 126 closed shell; the yrast structure of 205Au126 up to spin-parity I^{\pi} = (19/2+)

Heavy neutron-rich nuclei have been populated through the relativistic fragmentation of a $\ensuremath ^{208}_{\ 82}{\rm Pb}$ beam at $\ensuremath E/A = 1$ GeV on a $\ensuremath 2.5 {\rm g/cm^2}$ thick Be target. The synthesised nuclei were selected and identified in-flight using the fragment separator at GSI. Approximately 300 ns after production, the selected nuclei were implanted in an $\ensuremath \sim 8$ mm thick perspex stopper, positioned at the centre of the RISING $\ensuremath \gamma$ -ray detector spectrometer array. A previously unreported isomer with a half-life $\ensuremath T_{1/2} = 163(5)$ ns has been observed in the N = 126 closed-shell nucleus $\ensuremath ^{205}_{\ 79}{\rm Au}$ . Through $ \gamma$ -ray singles and $ \gamma$ - $ \gamma$ coincidence analysis a level scheme was established. The comparison with a shell model calculation tentatively identifies the spin-parity of the excited states, including the isomer itself, which is found to be $\ensuremath I^{\pi} = (19/2^+)$ .     

Probing the QCD phase boundary with elliptic flow in relativistic heavy ion collisions at STAR

We present measurement of elliptic flow, v ₂, for charged and identified particles at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ = 7.7?C39 GeV. We compare the inclusive charged hadron v ₂ to those from transport model calculations, such as the UrQMD model, AMPT default model and AMPT string-melting model. We discuss the energy dependence of the difference in v ₂ between particles and anti-particles. The v ₂ of ? meson is observed to be systematically lower than other particles in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ = 11.5 GeV.     

Multiple Scattering in Random Mechanical Systems and Diffusion Approximation

This paper is concerned with stochastic processes that model multiple (or iterated) scattering in classical mechanical systems of billiard type, defined below. From a given (deterministic) system of billiard type, a random process with transition probabilities operator P is introduced by assuming that some of the dynamical variables are random with prescribed probability distributions. Of particular interest are systems with weak scattering, which are associated to parametric families of operators P _h , depending on a geometric or mechanical parameter h, that approaches the identity as h goes to 0. It is shown that (P _h ? I)/h converges for small h to a second order elliptic differential operator ${\mathcal{L}}$ L on compactly supported functions and that the Markov chain process associated to P _h converges to a diffusion with infinitesimal generator ${\mathcal{L}}$ L . Both P _h and ${\mathcal{L}}$ L are self-adjoint (densely) defined on the space ${L^2(\mathbb{H},\eta)}$ L 2 ( H , η ) of square-integrable functions over the (lower) half-space ${\mathbb{H}}$ H in ${\mathbb{R}^m}$ R m , where η is a stationary measure. This measure’s density is either (post-collision) Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution or Knudsen cosine law, and the random processes with infinitesimal generator ${\mathcal{L}}$ L respectively correspond to what we call MB diffusion and (generalized) Legendre diffusion. Concrete examples of simple mechanical systems are given and illustrated by numerically simulating the random processes.     

High-spin excitations of the odd-odd 88 37Rb51 and 86 35Br51 nuclei: \pip3/2 \nud5/2 and \pif5/2 \nud5/2 residual interactions

The odd-odd ⁸⁸ ₃₇Rb₅₁ and ⁸⁶ ₃₅Br₅₁ nuclei have been produced as fission fragments in the fusion reaction ¹⁸O$ + $²⁰⁸Pb at 85MeV bombarding energy and studied with the Euroball IV array. Their high-spin level schemes have been built from the triple $ \gamma$ -ray coincidence data and $ \gamma$ - $ \gamma$ angular correlations have been analyzed in order to assign spin and parity values to many observed states. The proposed configurations involve proton excitations from three sub-shells located close to the Fermi levels, $ \pi$ p _3/2 , $ \pi$ f _5/2 , and $ \pi$ g _9/2 , the $ \nu$ d _5/2 neutron acting as a spectator. The residual $ \pi$ $ \nu$ interactions are extracted from the multiplets of states resulting from the $ \pi$ p _3/2 $ \nu$ d _5/2 and $ \pi$ f _5/2 $ \nu$ d _5/2 configurations. The empirical values of the latter are discussed and compared to those known in two similar configurations having j _p = j _n with l _p = l _n + 1 , where the role of the tensor force had been highlighted.     

Quasi-elastic electroproduction of charged \rho -mesons on nucleons

The electroproduction of charged $ \rho$ -mesons on the nucleon at intermediate energy is discussed for quasi-elastic kinematics. It is shown that at these kinematics both the longitudinal $ \sigma_{{L}}^{}$ and transverse $ \sigma_{{T}}^{}$ cross-sections are dominated by the $ \rho$ -meson t -pole contribution, and thus the corresponding dσ _L(T)/dt data can give a valuable information on the $ \rho$ -meson component of the nucleon cloud. The differential cross-sections for the reaction p(e, e ^′ $ \rho^{+}_{}$ )n at Q ² = 2 , 3.5GeV^2 and at the invariant mass W = 3 and 4GeV are calculated on the basis of quasi-elastic knockout mechanism with form factors. Questions about the gauge invariance of the electroproduction amplitude are considered and it is noted an important difference between photo- and electroproduction amplitudes.     

Analysis of the vertexes \Xi_{Q}^{*}′QV , \Sigma_{Q}^{*} \Sigma_{Q}^{}V and radiative decays \Xi_{Q}^{*} \rightarrow ′Q \gamma , \Sigma_{Q}^{*} \rightarrow \Sigma_{Q}^{} \gamma

In this article, we study the vertexes $ \Xi_{Q}^{*}$ ′_Q V and $ \Sigma_{Q}^{*}$ $ \Sigma_{Q}^{}$ V with the light-cone QCD sum rules, then assume the vector meson dominance of the intermediate $ \phi$ (1020) , $ \rho$ (770) and $ \omega$ (782) , and calculate the radiative decays $ \Xi_{Q}^{*}$ $ \rightarrow$ ′_Q $ \gamma$ and $ \Sigma_{Q}^{*}$ $ \rightarrow$ $ \Sigma_{Q}^{}$ $ \gamma$ .     

A new analysis improving the evidence of a narrow peak in the invariant-mass distribution of the \Lambdap system observed in the \bar{{p}} annihilation at rest on 4He

The presence of a narrow peak in the $ \Lambda$ p invariant-mass distribution observed in the $ \bar{{p}}$ annihilation reaction at rest $\ensuremath \bar{p} {}^4\mathrm{He}\rightarrow p\pi^-p\pi^+\pi^-n X$ is discussed again through an analysis procedure which improves the ratio signal/background in comparison with the previous analysis. The peak is centred at 2223.2±3.2_stat±1.2_syst MeV and has a statistical significance of 4.7 $ \sigma$ , values compatible with those published previously. If interpreted as the result of the decay into $ \Lambda$ p of a $\ensuremath { }_{\bar{K}}{}^2\mathrm{H}$ bound system, the corresponding binding energy should be B = - 151.0±3.2_stat±1.2_syst MeV and the width $ \Gamma_{{FWHM}}^{}$ < 33.9±6.2 MeV. The production rate has a lower limit of 1.2 10^-4. Data on the $ \bar{{p}}$ annihilation reaction at rest $ \bar{{p}}$ ⁴He $ \rightarrow$ p $ \pi^{-}_{}$ p $ \pi^{-}_{}$ p _s X , analyzed for the first time, lead to a result in qualitative agreement with the previous one.     

Balance functions at RHIC

The balance function is based on the principle that charge is locally conserved when particles are pair produced. Balance functions have been measured for all charged pairs, identified pion pairs, and identified charged kaon pairs in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 200$ GeV and p+p collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 200$ GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider using STAR. Balance functions for all charged particles from Au+Au scale smoothly with centrality to the p+p value. Balance functions for charged particles and pions are narrower in central collisions than in peripheral collisions consistent with trends predicted by models incorporating the concept of late hadronization. Balance functions for kaon pairs represent a strangeness balance. Balance functions for kaons are narrower than those for pion pairs and may show less dependence on centrality.     

Random Parking, Euclidean Functionals, and Rubber Elasticity

We study subadditive functions of the random parking model previously analyzed by the second author. In particular, we consider local functions S of subsets of ${\mathbb{R}^d}$ and of point sets that are (almost) subadditive in their first variable. Denoting by ξ the random parking measure in ${\mathbb{R}^d}$ , and by ξ ^R the random parking measure in the cube Q _R =  (?R, R) ^d , we show, under some natural assumptions on S, that there exists a constant ${\overline{S} \in \mathbb{R}}$ such that $$\lim_{R \to +\infty} \frac{S(Q_R, \xi)}{|Q_R|} \, = \, \lim_{R \to +\infty} \frac{S(Q_R, \xi^{R})}{|Q_R|} \, = \, \overline{S}$$ almost surely. If ${\zeta \mapsto S(Q_R, \zeta)}$ is the counting measure of ${\zeta}$ in Q _R , then we retrieve the result by the second author on the existence of the jamming limit. The present work generalizes this result to a wide class of (almost) subadditive functions. In particular, classical Euclidean optimization problems as well as the discrete model for rubber previously studied by Alicandro, Cicalese, and the first author enter this class of functions. In the case of rubber elasticity, this yields an approximation result for the continuous energy density associated with the discrete model at the thermodynamic limit, as well as a generalization to stochastic networks generated on bounded sets.