27 Search Results

This study presents the first measurement of the f₁(1285) resonance using the ALICE detector in inelastic proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The resonance is reconstructed at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) through the hadronic decay channel f₁(1285)→ K$$^0_S$$K^±π^±. Key measurements include the determination of its mass, transverse-momentum integrated yield, and average transverse momentum. Additionally, the ratio of the transverse-momentum integrated yield of f₁(1285) to pion is compared with calculations from the canonical statistical hadronization model. The model calculation, assuming a zero total strangeness content for f₁(1285), reproduces the data within 1σ deviation, shedding light on the quarkmore » composition of f₁(1285).« less

We report the measurements of proton-deuteron (𝑝-𝑑) and deuteron-deuteron (𝑑-𝑑) correlation functions in Au + Au collisions at $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$ = 3 GeV using fixed-target mode with the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). For the first time, the source size (𝑅_𝐺), scattering length (𝑓₀), and effective range (𝑑₀) are extracted from the measured correlation functions with a simultaneous fit. The spin-averaged 𝑓₀ for 𝑝-𝑑 and 𝑑-𝑑 interactions are determined to be -5.28 ± 0.11(stat.) ± 0.82(syst.) fm and -2.62 ± 0.02(stat.) ±0.24(syst.) fm, respectively. The measured 𝑝-𝑑 interaction is consistent with theoretical calculations and low energy scattering experimentmore » results, demonstrating the feasibility of extracting interaction parameters using the femtoscopy technique. The reasonable agreement between the experimental data and the calculations from the transport model indicates that deuteron production in these collisions is primarily governed by nucleon coalescence.« less

The first measurement of the polarisation of coherently photoproduced J/ψ mesons in ultra-peripheral Pb–Pb collisions, using data at $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$ = 5.02 TeV, is presented. The J/ψ meson is measured via its dimuon decay channel in the forward rapidity interval –4.0 < y < –2.5 using the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC. An event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 750 μb^–1 ± 5% (syst) is analysed. Hadronic activity is highly suppressed since the interaction is mediated by a photon. The polar and azimuthal angle distributions of the decay muons are measured, and the polarisation parameters λ_θ, λ_φ, λ_θφ,more » are extracted. The analysis is carried out in the helicity frame. The results are found to be consistent with a transversely polarised J/ψ. These values are compared with previous measurements by the H1 and ZEUS experiments. The polarisation parameters of coherent J/ψ photoproduction in Pb–Pb collisions are found to be consistent with the s-channel helicity conservation hypothesis.« less

ALICE is a large experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Located 52 meters underground, its detectors are suitable to measure muons produced by cosmic-ray interactions in the atmosphere. In this paper, the studies of the cosmic muons registered by ALICE during Run 2 (2015–2018) are described. The analysis is limited to multimuon events defined as events with more than four detected muons (N_μ > 4) and in the zenith angle range 0° < θ < 50°. The results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations using three of the main hadronic interaction models describing the air shower development in themore » atmosphere: QGSJET-II-04, EPOS-LHC, and SIBYLL 2.3d. The interval of the primary cosmic-ray energy involved in the measured muon multiplicity distribution is about 4 × 10¹⁵ < E_prim < 6 × 10¹⁶ eV. In this interval none of the three models is able to describe precisely the trend of the composition of cosmic rays as the energy increases. However, QGSJET-II-04 is found to be the only model capable of reproducing reasonably well the muon multiplicity distribution, assuming a heavy composition of the primary cosmic rays over the whole energy range, while SIBYLL 2.3d and EPOS-LHC underpredict the number of muons in a large interval of multiplicity by more than 20% and 30%, respectively. The rate of high muon multiplicity events (N_μ > 100) obtained with QGSJET-II-04 and SIBYLL 2.3d is compatible with the data, while EPOS-LHC produces a significantly lower rate (55% of the measured rate). For both QGSJET-II-04 and SIBYLL 2.3d, the rate is close to the data when the composition is assumed to be dominated by heavy elements, an outcome compatible with the average energy E_prim ∼ 10¹⁷ eV of these events. This result places significant constraints on more exotic production mechanisms.« less

The ALICE Collaboration presents a new suite of jet substructure measurements in Pb–Pb and pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$ = 5.02 TeV. These measurements provide access to the internal structure of jets via the momentum and angle of their constituents, probing how the quark–gluon plasma modifies jets, an effect known as jet quenching. Jet grooming additionally removes soft wide-angle radiation to enhance perturbative accuracy and reduce experimental uncertainties. We report the groomed and ungroomed jet mass m_jet and jet angularities λ$$^{κ}_{α}$$ using κ = 1 and α > 0. Charged-particle jets are reconstructed at midrapiditymore » using the anti-k_T algorithm with resolution parameter R = 0.2. A narrowing of the jet mass and angularity distributions in Pb–Pb collisions with respect to pp is observed and is enhanced for groomed results, confirming modification of the jet core. By using consistent jet definitions and kinematic cuts between the mass and angularities for the first time, previous inconsistencies in the interpretation of quenching measurements are resolved, rectifying a hurdle for understanding how jet quenching arises from first principles and highlighting the importance of a well-controlled baseline. These results are compared with a variety of theoretical models of jet quenching, providing constraints on jet energy-loss mechanisms in the quark–gluon plasma.« less

We report directed flow (v₁) of multistrange baryons ($$Ξ$$ and Ω) and improved v₁ data for K^–,$$\overline{p}$$, $$\overline{Λ}$$, and ϕ in Au+Au collisions at $$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$$ = 27 and 200 GeV from the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). We focus on particles whose constituent quarks are not transported from the incoming nuclei but instead are produced in the collisions. At intermediate impact parameters, we examine quark coalescence behavior for particle combinations with identical quark content, and search for any departure from this behavior (“splitting”) for combinations having non-identical quark content. Under the assumption of quark coalescence formore » produced quarks, the splitting strength appears to increase with the electric charge difference of the constituent quarks in the combinations, consistent with electromagnetic effect expectations.« less

The measurement of ϒ(1S), ϒ(2S), and ϒ(3S) yields as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity density, dN_ch/dη, using the ALICE experiment at the LHC, is reported in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV. The Υ meson yields are measured at forward rapidity (2.5 < y < 4) in the dimuon decay channel, whereas the charged-particle multiplicity is defined at central rapidity (|η| <1). Both quantities are divided by their average value in minimum bias events to compute the self-normalized quantities. The increase of the self-normalized ϒ(1S), ϒ(2S), and ϒ(3S) yields is found to be compatible with a linearmore » scaling with the self-normalized dN_ch/dη, within the uncertainties. The self-normalized yield ratios of excited-to-ground ϒ states are compatible with unity within uncertainties. Similarly, the measured double ratio of the self-normalized ϒ(1S) to the self-normalized J/ψ yields, both measured at forward rapidity, is compatible with unity for self-normalized charged-particle multiplicities beyond one. The measurements are compared with theoretical predictions incorporating initial or final state effects.« less

The first measurement of ³_ΛH and $$^{3}_{\overline{Λ}}$$$$\overline{H}$$ differential production with respect to transverse momentum and centrality in Pb–Pb collisions at √s_NN = 5.02 TeV is presented. The ³_ΛH has been reconstructed via its two-charged-body decay channel, i.e., ³_ΛH → ³He → π^-. A Blast-Wave model fit of the p_T-differential spectra of all nuclear species measured by the ALICE collaboration suggests that the kinetic freeze-out surface is consistent with that of other nuclei. The ratio between the integrated yields of ³_ΛH and ³He is compared to predictions from the statistical hadronisation model and the coalescence model, with the latter being favouredmore » by the presented measurements.« less

The production yields of antideuterons and antiprotons are measured in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $$\sqrt{s}$$ = 13 TeV, as a function of transverse momentum (p_T) and rapidity (y), for the first time rapidity-differentially up to |y| = 0.7. The measured spectra are used to study the p_T and rapidity dependence of the coalescence parameter B₂, which quantifies the coalescence probability of antideuterons. The p_T and rapidity dependence of the obtained B₂ is extrapolated for p_T > 1.7 GeV/c and |y| = 0.7 using the phenomenological antideuteron production model implemented in Pythia 8.3 as well as a baryonmore » coalescence afterburner model based on EPOS 3. Such measurements are of interest to the astrophysics community, since they can be used for the calculation of the flux of antinuclei from cosmic rays, in combination with coalescence models.« less

We report on the charged-particle multiplicity dependence of net-proton cumulant ratios up to sixth order from $$\sqrt{s}$$ = 200 GeV p+p collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The measured ratios C₄/C₂, C₅/C₁, and C₆/C₂ decrease with increased charged-particle multiplicity and rapidity acceptance. Neither the Skellam baselines nor PYTHIA8 calculations account for the observed multiplicity dependence. In addition, the ratios C₅/C₁ and C₆/C₂ approach negative values in the highest-multiplicity events, which implies that thermalized QCD matter may be formed in p+p collisions.