Observation of direct photons in central 158A GeV (208)P(208)b+Pb collisions

A measurement of direct photon production in 208Pb+208Pb collisions at 158A GeV has been carried out in the CERN WA98 experiment. The invariant yield of direct photons in central collisions is extracted as a function of transverse momentum in the interval 0.51.5 GeV/c. The result constitutes the first observation of direct photons in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. It could be significant for diagnosis of quark-gluon-plasma formation.     

Charged particle multiplicity distributions at 200 and 900 GeV c.m. energy

Multiplicity distributions of charged particles produced in non single-diffractive collisions between protons and antiprotons at centre of mass energies of 200 and 900 GeV are presented. The data were recorded in the UA5 streamer chambers at the CERN Collider, which was operated in a pulsed mode between the two energies. A new method to correct for acceptance limitations and inefficiencies based on the principle of maximum entropy has been used. Multiplicity distributions in full phase space and in intervals of pseudorapidity are presented in tabular form. The violation of KNO scaling in full phase space found by the UA5 group at an energy of 546 GeV is confirmed also at 200 and 900 GeV. The shape of the 900 GeV distribution in full phase space is narrower in the peak region than at 200 GeV but exhibits a pronounced high multiplicity tail. The negative binomial distribution fits data at 200 GeV in all pseudorapidity intervals and in small intervals at 900 GeV. In large intervals at 900 GeV, however, the negative binomial distribution. Fits to the partially coherent laser distribution are also presented as well as comparisons with predictions of the Dual Parton, the Fritiof and the Pythia models.     

OBSERVATION AND MEASUREMENT OF An EVENT OF A 14.6A GeV OXYGEN NUCLEUS INTO FOUR HELIUM NUCLEI AND EXPLANTION OF THE MECHANISM

A nuclear emulsion stack bombarded by 14.6A GeV oxygen nuclei has been analyzed.The measurement of an event of a 14.6A GeV oxygen nucleus into helium nuclei has been performed.The mechanism of the fragmentation processes has been discussed.The event provides a direct experimental evidence for the cluster model of the oxygen nuclei.     

Search for single leptoquark and squark production in electron-photon scattering at $\sqrt{s_{\rm ee}}=189$ GeV at LEP

A search for first generation scalar and vector leptoquarks (LQ) as well as for squarks () in R-parity violating SUSY models with the direct decay of the into Standard Model particles has been performed using ee collisions collected with the OPAL detector at LEP at an ee centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 160 pb. The dominant process for this search is , where a photon, which has been radiated by one of the beam electrons, serves as a source of quarks. The numbers of selected events found in the two decay channels are in agreement with the expectations from Standard Model processes. This result allows to set lower limits at the 95% confidence level on the mass of first generation scalar and vector leptoquarks, and of squarks in R-parity violating SUSY models. For Yukawa couplings to fermions larger than , the mass limits range from 121 GeV to GeV ( GeV to GeV) depending on the branching ratio of the scalar (vector) leptoquark state. Furthermore, limits are set on the Yukawa couplings for leptoquarks and for squarks, and on as a function of the scalar leptoquark/squark mass. Received: 22 May 2001 / Published online: 25 January 2002     

28Si(32S) fragmentation at 3.7 A, 14.6 A and 200 A GeV

The fragmentation topology of²⁸Si at 3.7A GeV and 14.6A GeV and³²S at 200A GeV in reactions with emulsion nuclei is presented. The fragmentation cross sections are very similar at all three energies. A statistical percolation model can qualitatively describe the data forZ 6. The He production is underestimated and the 3 Z 5 fragments overestimated by this model.     

Elastic and proton-dissociative \rho^0 photoproduction at HERA

Elastic and proton-dissociative photoproduction (, , respectively, with ) has been studied in interactions at HERA for photon-proton centre-of-mass energies in the range GeV and for GeV, where is the square of the four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex; the results on the proton-dissociative reaction are presented for masses of the dissociated proton system in the range . For the elastic process, the invariant mass spectrum has been investigated as a function of . As in fixed target experiments, the resonance shape is asymmetric; this asymmetry decreases with increasing , as expected in models in which the asymmetry is ascribed to the interference of resonant and non-resonant production. The cross section has been studied as a function of ; a fit to the resonant part with the form gives . The resonant part of the cross section is b at GeV. The dependence of the cross section can be described by a function of the type with (stat.) (syst.) GeV and (stat.) (syst.) GeV. The dependence has also been studied as a function of and a value of the slope of the pomeron trajectory GeV has been deduced. The spin density matrix elements , and have been measured and found to be consistent with expectations based on -channel helicity conservation. For proton-dissociative photoproduction in the mass range, the distributions of the two-pion invariant mass, and the polar and azimuthal angles of the pions in the helicity frame are the same within errors as those for the elastic process. The distribution has been fitted to an exponential function with a slope parameter GeV. The ratio of the elastic to proton-dissociative photoproduction cross section is . Received: 3 December 1997 / Online publication: February 26, 1998     

Search for chargino and neutralino production at \sqrt{s} = 181–184 GeV at LEP

A search for charginos and neutralinos, predicted by supersymmetric theories, has been performed using a data sample of 57 pb at centre-of-mass energies of 181–184 GeV taken with the OPAL detector at LEP. No evidence for chargino or neutralino production has been found. Upper limits on chargino and neutralino pair production (, ) cross-sections are obtained as a function of the chargino mass (), the lightest neutralino mass () and the second lightest neutralino mass (). For large chargino masses the limits have been improved with respect to the previous analyses at lower centre-of-mass energies. Exclusion regions at 95% confidence level (C.L.) of parameters of the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model are determined for the case of a large universal scalar mass, , implying heavy scalar fermions, and for the case of a small resulting in light scalar fermions and giving the worst-case limits. Within this framework and for GeV the 95% C.L. lower limits on for GeV are 90.0 and 90.2 GeV for and 35 respectively. These limits for all (the worst-case) are 69.1 and 65.2 GeV for and 35 respectively. Exclusion regions are also presented for neutralino masses, including an absolute lower limit at 95% C.L. for the mass of the lightest neutralino of 30.1 GeV for GeV (24.2 GeV for all ), with implications for experimental searches for the lightest neutralino as a dark matter candidate. Received: 19 August 1998 / Published online: 11 March 1999     

A measurement of the transverse polarization of \Lambda-hyperons produced in inelastic pN-reactions at 450 GeV proton energy

A study of the polarization of hyperons produced in inelastic pN reactions induced by the 450 GeV proton beam from the CERN SPS has been performed with the NA48 detector. The hyperons were detected at a fixed angle of 4.2 mrad in the momentum range from 50 GeV/c to 200 GeV/c. The polarization changes from to for a transverse momentum range of the between 0.28 GeV/c and 0.86 GeV/c. The polarization is consistent with zero. Received: 21 September 1998 / Published online: 19 November 1998     

The project of a Tau-Charm Factory with Crab Waist in Novosibirsk

The project of a new-generation TCF is now under consideration in Novosibirsk. A novel approach of the Crab Waist collision scheme allows reaching a luminosity of 1–2 × 10³⁵ cm⁻² s⁻¹. The other features of the facility are as follows: variable energy from 3 GeV to 4.5 GeV (c.m.), electron beam polarization, flexible usage of damping and excitation wigglers to keep high luminosity for all energy levels, etc. We discuss some of the challenges and opportunities available with the development of the project. for the Novosibirsk Tau-Charm Factory team The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Four pion final states with tagged photons at electron positron colliders

A Monte Carlo generator has been constructed to simulate the reaction , where the photon is assumed to be observed in the detector. Only initial state radiation is considered. Additional collinear photon radiation has been incorporated with the technique of structure functions. Predictions are presented for CMS energies of 1 GeV, 3 GeV and 10 GeV, corresponding to the energies of DANE, BEBC and of B-meson factories. The event rates are sufficiently high to allow for a precise measurement of in the region of Q between approximately 1 GeV and 2.5 GeV. For the construction of the program we employ isospin relations between the amplitudes governing decays into four pions and electron positron annihilation into four pions. Estimates of the kinematic breaking of these isospin relations as a consequence of the – mass difference are given. Received: 29 August 2000 / Revised version: 17 November 2000 / Published online: 21 December 2000     

Photon events with missing energy at \sqrt{s} =183 to 189 GeV

The production of single photons has been studied in the reaction at centre-of-mass energies of 183 GeV and 189 GeV. A previously published analysis of events with multi-photon final states accompanied by missing energy has been updated with 189 GeV data. The data were collected with the DELPHI detector and correspond to integrated luminosities of about 51 pb and 158 pb at the two energies. The number of light neutrino families is measured to be . The absence of an excess of events beyond that expected from Standard Model processes is used to set limits on new physics as described by supersymmetric and composite models. A limit on the gravitational scale is also determined. Received: 28 January 2000 / Revised version: 27 April 2000 / Published online: 26 July 2000     

Exclusive electroproduction of \rho^0 and J/\psi mesons at HERA

Exclusive production of and mesons in ep collisions has been studied with the ZEUS detector in the kinematic range GeV, GeV for the data and GeV, GeV for the data. Cross sections for exclusive and production have been measured as a function of , W and t. The spin-density matrix elements , and Re have been determined for exclusive production as well as and for exclusive production. The results are discussed in the context of theoretical models invoking soft and hard phenomena. Received: 20 August 1998 / Published online: 14 January 1999     

Transverse momenta of secondaries from 200 GeV/c proton-nucleus interactions

A study of 100 interactions, produced by secondary particles from 200 GeV/c proton interactions in nuclear emulsions, has been made to estimate the transverse momenta of the secondary particles. The data have been analysed by different methods of energy estimation and the weighted average values ofp _t have been compared as estimated from various methods. An average value ofp _t equal to 0.38 ± 0.03 GeV/c, in proton-nucleus interactions at 200 GeV/c, has been obtained from the production mechanism method.     

Factorial Moments of 28 Si Induced Interactions with Ag(Br) Nuclei

Scaled factorial moment analysis for the multiplicity distribu- tions of shower particles in the pseudorapidity phase space has been done. An evidence for the presence of dynamical uctuations has been shown for the non-peripheral interactions of28Si+Ag(Br) at 14.6 A GeV/c and 4.5 A GeV/c.The results have been compared with the values obtained from data sample calculated by cascade-evaporation model.     

NA60 results on thermal dimuons

The NA60 experiment at the CERN SPS has measured muon pairs with unprecedented precision in 158 A GeV In–In collisions. A strong excess of pairs above the known sources is observed in the whole mass region 0.2<M<2.6 GeV. The mass spectrum for M<1 GeV is consistent with a dominant contribution from π ⁺ π ⁻→ρ→μ ⁺ μ ⁻ annihilation. The associated ρ spectral function shows a strong broadening, but essentially no shift in mass. For M>1 GeV, the excess is found to be prompt, not due to enhanced charm production, with pronounced differences to Drell–Yan pairs. The slope parameter T _eff associated with the transverse momentum spectra rises with mass up to the ρ, followed by a sudden decline above. The rise for M<1 GeV is consistent with radial flow of a hadronic emission source. The seeming absence of significant flow for M>1 GeV and its relation to parton–hadron duality is discussed in detail, suggesting a dominantly partonic emission source in this region. A comparison of the data to the present status of theoretical modeling is also contained. The accumulated empirical evidence, including also a Planck-like shape of the mass spectra at low p _T and the lack of polarization, is consistent with a global interpretation of the excess dimuons as thermal radiation. We conclude with first results on ω in-medium effects.     

Electromagnetic dissociation of 3.7 A GeV^16O in nuclear emulsion

The electromagnetic dissociation (ED) of 3.7 A GeV {}^{16}O in nuclear emulsion is investigated with high statistics. It is found that the electromagnetically dissociated cross section increases with increasing beam energy, the charge distribution of projectile fragments is the same as the results at 60 and 200 A GeV, and the production probability of projectile fragments with charge 3≤Z≤5 is less than that of the other projectile fragments. These results can be well explained by use of Weizsacker and Williams method for calculating the ED contributions. The percentile abundance of various decay modes for ED at 3.7 A GeV is close to the result at 60 and 200 A GeV, but it is different from the result at 14.6 A GeV. The ED of 3.7 A GeV is mainly caused by the giant dipole and quadrupole resonance of E1 and E2, which can be qualitatively explained by the multiplicity distribution of projectile proton in ED. The multiplicity distribution of the α fragments in ED and nuclear events have different functional forms. This difference may be a consequence of the different reaction mechanism involved.     

Elastic scattering of polarized deuterons by protons at intermediate energies

The tensor analyzing power T₂₀(θ) in dp backward scattering has been measured at or near center-of-mass angle θ = 180° in the energy range 0.3–2.3 GeV. A pronounced structure is observed around T_d = 0.5 GeV which is explained by a predominant one-neutron-exchange mechanism. Other structures appear around 1 GeV and higher. They are not explained by calculations which include Δ-excitations in intermediate states. In addition, full angular distributions of vector A_y and tensor A_yy analyzing powers and differential cross sections have been obtained at 1.2 GeV and limited angular ranges explored at 0.5 GeV (back angles) and 1.6 GeV (forward angles).     

Search for chargino and neutralino production at \sqrt{s} = 189 GeV at LEP

A search for charginos and neutralinos, predicted by supersymmetric theories, is performed using a data sample of 182.1 pb taken at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP. No evidence for chargino or neutralino production is found. Upper limits on chargino and neutralino pair production (, ) cross-sections are obtained as a function of the chargino mass (), the lightest neutralino mass () and the second lightest neutralino mass (). Within the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model framework, and for GeV, the 95% confidence level lower limits on are 93.6 GeV for and 94.1 GeV for . These limits are obtained assuming a universal scalar mass 500 GeV. The corresponding limits for all are 78.0 and 71.7 GeV. The 95% confidence level lower limits on the lightest neutralino mass, valid for any value of are 32.8 GeV for GeV and 31.6 GeV for all . Received: 14 October 1999 / Published online: 6 March 2000     

Systematic study of multiparticle production in nucleus–nucleus interactions at 14.6 A GeV

An experimental analysis of 855 events induced by 14.6 A GeV ²⁸Si in nuclear emulsion is presented. Mean multiplicities of charged secondary particles produced in the nuclear interactions are studied and compared with the results from the other experiments for the same projectile at 3.7 A GeV as well as data for proton at similar energy (14 GeV). An analysis of pseudorapidity densities of target fragments (black and grey particles) is also performed. The behaviour of the KNO scaling law of the multiplicity distribution for shower particles has been examined. In order to accumulate knowledge about the intermittent behaviour of shower particles, the scaled factorial moments (SFMs) are computed in η-space and ?-space for a set of data in the ²⁸Si–AgBr events. Furthermore, validity of limiting fragmentation of shower particles produced in central collision events induced by ²⁸Si-emulsion interactions has been tested. A crude estimation for the energy density of the nuclear matter formed in the central collision events at our energy has been examined.