The PHENIX Collaboration

Cross section forbb¯production via dielectrons ind+ Au collisions atsNN=200GeV

We report a measurement of e+e− pairs from semileptonic heavy-flavor decays in d+Au collisions at sNN−−−√=200 GeV. By exploring the mass and transverse-momentum dependence of the yield, the bottom decay contribution can be isolated from charm, and quantified by comparison to pythia and mc@nlo simulations. The resulting bb¯-production cross section is σdAubb¯=1.37±0.28(stat)±0.46(syst) mb, which is equivalent to a nucleon-nucleon cross section of σNNbb=3.4±0.8(stat)±1.1(syst)μb.

Υ(1S+2S+3S)production ind+Au andp+pcollisions atsNN=200GeV and cold-nuclear-matter effects

The three gamma states, gamma (1S + 2S + 3S), are measured in d + Au and p + p collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV and rapidities 1.2 < vertical bar y vertical bar < 2.2 by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Cross sections for the inclusive gamma (1S + 2S + 3S) production are obtained. The inclusive yields per binary collision for d + Au collisions relative to those in p + p collisions (R-dAu) are found to be 0.62 +/- 0.26 (stat) +/- 0.13 (syst) in the gold-going direction and 0.91 +/- 0.33 (stat) +/- 0.16 (syst) in the deuteron-going direction. The measured results are compared to a nuclear-shadowing model, EPS09 [Eskola et al., J. High Energy Phys. 04 (2009) 065]…

Cross section and transverse single-spin asymmetry ofηmesons inp↑+pcollisions ats=200  GeVat forward rapidity

We present a measurement of the cross section and transverse single-spin asymmetry (AN) for. mesons at large pseudorapidity from root s = 200 GeV p up arrow + p collisions. The measured cross section for 0.5 = 0.061 +/- 0.014. The results are consistent with prior transverse single-spin measurements of forward eta and pi(0) mesons at various energies in overlapping x(F) ranges. Comparison of different particle species can help to determine the origin of the large observed asymmetries in p up arrow + p collisions.

Cold-Nuclear-Matter Effects on Heavy-Quark Production at Forward and Backward Rapidity ind+AuCollisions atsNN=200  GeV

The PHENIX experiment has measured open heavy-flavor production via semileptonic decay over the transverse momentum range 1 < p(T) < 6 GeV/c at forward and backward rapidity (1.4 < vertical bar y vertical bar < 2.0) in d + Au and p + p collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. In central d + Au collisions, relative to the yield in p + p collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, a suppression is observed at forward rapidity (in the d-going direction) and an enhancement at backward rapidity (in the Au-going direction). Predictions using nuclear-modified-parton-distribution functions, even with additional nuclear-p(T) broadening, cannot simultaneously reproduce the data a…

Measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries forJ/ψproduction in polarizedp+pcollisions ats=200  GeV

We report the first measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries in J/psi production from transversely polarized p + p collisions at root s = 200 GeV with data taken by the PHENIX experiment in 2006 and 2008. The measurement was performed over the rapidity ranges 1.2 < vertical bar y vertical bar < 2.2 and vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.35 for transverse momenta up to 6 GeV/c. J/psi production at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider is dominated by processes involving initial-state gluons, and transverse single-spin asymmetries of the J/psi can provide access to gluon dynamics within the nucleon. Such asymmetries may also shed light on the long-standing question in QCD of the J/psi pro…

Cold Nuclear Matter Effects onJ/ψYields as a Function of Rapidity and Nuclear Geometry ind+ACollisions atsNN=200  GeV

We present measurements of J/psi yields in d + Au collisions at root S-NN = 200 GeV recorded by the PHENIX experiment and compare them with yields in p + p collisions at the same energy per nucleon-nucleon collision. The measurements cover a large kinematic range in J/psi rapidity (-2.2 < y < 2.4) with high statistical precision and are compared with two theoretical models: one with nuclear shadowing combined with final state breakup and one with coherent gluon saturation effects. In order to remove model dependent systematic uncertainties we also compare the data to a simple geometric model. The forward rapidity data are inconsistent with nuclear modifications that are linear or exponentia…

Centrality categorization forRp(d)+Ain high-energy collisions

High-energy proton- and deuteron-nucleus collisions provide an excellent tool for studying a wide array of physics effects, including modifications of parton distribution functions in nuclei, gluon saturation, and color neutralization and hadronization in a nuclear environment, among others. All of these effects are expected to have a significant dependence on the size of the nuclear target and the impact parameter of the collision, also known as the collision centrality. In this article, we detail a method for determining centrality classes in p(d) + A collisions via cuts on the multiplicity at backward rapidity (i.e., the nucleus-going direction) and for determining systematic uncertainti…

Production ofωmesons inp+p,d+ Au, Cu + Cu, and Au + Au collisions atsNN=200GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured omega meson production via leptonic and hadronic decay channels in p + p, d + Au, Cu+ Cu, and Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. The invariant transverse momentum spectra measured in different decay modes give consistent results. Measurements in the hadronic decay channel in Cu Cu and Au + Au collisions show that. production has a suppression pattern at high transverse momentum, similar to that of pi(0) and eta in central collisions, but no suppression is observed in peripheral collisions. The nuclear modification factors, R-AA, are consistent in Cu + Cu and Au + Au collisions at similar numbers of participan…

Cold-nuclear-matter effects on heavy-quark production at forward and backward rapidity in d + Au collisions at √sNN = 200  GeV.

The PHENIX experiment has measured open heavy-flavor production via semileptonic decay over the transverse momentum range 1p(T)6  GeV/c at forward and backward rapidity (1.4|y|2.0) in d+Au and p + p collisions at √sNN = 200  GeV. In central d+Au collisions, relative to the yield in p + p collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, a suppression is observed at forward rapidity (in the d-going direction) and an enhancement at backward rapidity (in the Au-going direction). Predictions using nuclear-modified-parton-distribution functions, even with additional nuclear-p(T) broadening, cannot simultaneously reproduce the data at both rapidity ranges, which implies that t…

Suppression of Back-to-Back Hadron Pairs at Forward Rapidity ind+AuCollisions atsNN=200  GeV

Back-to-back hadron pair yields in d + Au and p + p collisions at root S-NN = 200 GeV were measured with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Rapidity separated hadron pairs were detected with the trigger hadron at pseudorapidity vertical bar eta vertical bar < 0: 35 and the associated hadron at forward rapidity (deuteron direction, 3.0< eta < 3.8). Pairs were also detected with both hadrons measured at forward rapidity; in this case, the yield of back-to-back hadron pairs in d + Au collisions with small impact parameters is observed to be suppressed by a factor of 10 relative to p + p collisions. The kinematics of these pairs is expected to probe partons in the Au nu…

Measurement of Long-Range Angular Correlation and Quadrupole Anisotropy of Pions and (Anti)Protons in Centrald+AuCollisions atsNN=200GeV

We present azimuthal angular correlations between charged hadrons and energy deposited in calorimeter towers in central d+Au and minimum bias p+p collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV. The charged hadron is measured at midrapidity |η| 2.75 is observed in d+Au collisions. Using the event plane method applied to the Au-going energy distribution, we extract the anisotropy strength v_{2} for inclusive charged hadrons at midrapidity up to p_{T}=4.5 GeV/c. We also present the measurement of v_{2} for identified π^{±} and (anti)protons in central d+Au collisions, and observe a mass-ordering pattern similar to that seen in heavy-ion collisions. These results are compared with viscous hydrodynamic calc…

Spectra and ratios of identified particles in Au+Au andd+Au collisions atsNN=200GeV

The transverse momentum (p(T)) spectra and ratios of identified charged hadrons (pi(+/-), K-+/-, p, (p) over bar) produced in root s(NN) = 200 GeV Au + Au and d + Au collisions are reported in five different centrality classes for each collision species. The measurements of pions and protons are reported up to p(T) = 6 GeV/c (5 GeV/c), and the measurements of kaons are reported up to p(T) = 4 GeV/c (3.5 GeV/c) in Au + Au (d + Au) collisions. In the intermediate p(T) region, between 2 and 5 GeV/c, a significant enhancement of baryon-to-meson ratios compared to those measured in p + p collisions is observed. This enhancement is present in both Au + Au and d + Au collisions and increases as th…

Search for dark photons from neutral meson decays inp+pandd+Aucollisions atsNN=200 GeV

The standard model (SM) of particle physics is spectacularly successful, yet the measured value of the muon anomalous magnetic moment (g−2)μ deviates from SM calculations by 3.6σ. Several theoretical models attribute this to the existence of a “dark photon,” an additional U(1) gauge boson, which is weakly coupled to ordinary photons. The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has searched for a dark photon, U, in π0,η→γe+e− decays and obtained upper limits of O(2×10−6) on U−γ mixing at 90% C.L. for the mass range 30<mU<90 MeV/c2. Combined with other experimental limits, the remaining region in the U−γ mixing parameter space that can explain the (g−2)μ deviation from its SM…

Transverse-momentum dependence of theJ/ψnuclear modification ind+Au collisions atsNN=200GeV

We present measured J/psi production rates in d + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV over broad ranges of transverse momentum (p(T) = 0-14 GeV/c) and rapidity (-2.2 1) for p(T) > 2 GeV/c. The observed enhancement at negative rapidity has implications for the interpretation of the observed modification in heavy-ion collisions at high p(T). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.87.034904

Measurement ofKS0andK*0inp+p,d+Au, and Cu + Cu collisions atsNN=200 GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has performed a systematic study of K-S(0) and K*(0) meson production at midrapidity in p + p, d + Au, and Cu + Cu collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. The K-S(0) and K*(0) mesons are reconstructed via their K-S(0) -> pi(0)(-> gamma gamma) pi(0)(-> gamma gamma) and K*(0) -> K-+/-pi(-/+) decay modes, respectively. The measured transverse-momentum spectra are used to determine the nuclear modification factor of K-S(0) and K*(0) mesons in d + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at different centralities. In the d + Au collisions, the nuclear modification factor of K-S(0) and K*(0) mesons is almost constant as a function of transverse momentum a…

Ground and excited state charmonium production inp+pcollisions ats=200  GeV

We report on charmonium measurements [J/psi (1S), psi' (2S), and chi(c) (1P)] in p + p collisions at root s = 200 GeV. We find that the fraction of J/psi coming from the feed-down decay of psi' and chi(c) in the midrapidity region (vertical bar y vertical bar < 0: 35) is 9.6 +/- 2.4% and 32 +/- 9%, respectively. We also present the p(T) and rapidity dependencies of the J/psi yield measured via dielectron decay at midrapidity (vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.35) and via dimuon decay at forward rapidity (1.2 < vertical bar y vertical bar < 2.2). The statistical precision greatly exceeds that reported in our previous publication [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 232002 (2007)]. The new results are compare…

Measurements of Elliptic and Triangular Flow in High-MultiplicityHe3+AuCollisions atsNN=200  GeV

We present the first measurement of elliptic ($v_2$) and triangular ($v_3$) flow in high-multiplicity $^{3}$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. Two-particle correlations, where the particles have a large separation in pseudorapidity, are compared in $^{3}$He$+$Au and in $p$$+$$p$ collisions and indicate that collective effects dominate the second and third Fourier components for the correlations observed in the $^{3}$He$+$Au system. The collective behavior is quantified in terms of elliptic $v_2$ and triangular $v_3$ anisotropy coefficients measured with respect to their corresponding event planes. The $v_2$ values are comparable to those previously measured in $d$$+$Au collis…