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Title: Global Λ-hyperon polarization in Au+Au collisions at $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$ = 3 GeV

Journal Article · · Physical Review. C
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Global hyperon polarization, $$\bar{P}_H$$, in Au+Au collisions over a large range of collision energy, $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$, has recently been measured and successfully reproduced by hydrodynamic and transport models with intense fluid vorticity of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). While naïve extrapolation of data trends suggests a large $$\bar{P}_H$$ as the collision energy is reduced, the behavior of $$\bar{P}_H$$ at small $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$ < 7.7 GeV is unknown. Operating the STAR experiment in fixed-target mode, we have measured the polarization of Λ hyperons along the direction of global angular momentum in Au+Au collisions at $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$ = 3 GeV. The observation of substantial polarization of 4.91±0.81(stat.)±0.15(syst.)% in these collisions may require a reexamination of the viscosity of any fluid created in the collision, the thermalization timescale of rotational modes, and of hadronic mechanisms to produce global polarization.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States); Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
Contributing Organization:
STAR Collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704; AC02-05CH11231; AC02-06CH11357; SC0017982; FG02-88ER40424
OSTI ID:
1812512
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1869049; OSTI ID: 1903234; OSTI ID: 1903263; OSTI ID: 1961342
Report Number(s):
BNL-221974-2021-JAAM; TRN: US2213253
Journal Information:
Physical Review. C, Vol. 104, Issue 6; ISSN 2469-9985
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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