Differential elliptic flow spectra v2(pT) of π−, KS0, p, Λ have been measured at sNN=17.3 GeV around midrapidity by the CERN-CERES/NA45 experiment in mid-central Pb+Au collisions (10% of σgeo). The ...pT range extends from about 0.1 GeV/c (0.55 GeV/c for Λ) to more than 2 GeV/c. Protons below 0.4 GeV/c are directly identified by dE/dx. At higher pT, proton elliptic flow is derived as a constituent, besides π+ and K+, of the elliptic flow of positive pion candidates. This retrieval requires additional inputs: (i) of the particle composition, and (ii) of v2(pT) of positive pions. For (i), particle ratios obtained by NA49 are adapted to CERES conditions; for (ii), the measured v2(pT) of negative pions is substituted, assuming π+ and π− elliptic flow magnitudes to be sufficiently close. The v2(pT) spectra are compared to ideal-hydrodynamics calculations. In synopsis of the series π−–KS0–p–Λ, flow magnitudes are seen to fall with decreasing pT progressively even below hydro calculations with early kinetic freeze-out (Tf=160 MeV) leaving not much time for hadronic evolution. The proton v2(pT) data show a downward swing towards low pT with excursions into negative v2 values. The pion-flow isospin asymmetry observed recently by STAR at RHIC, invalidating in principle our working assumption, is found in its impact on proton flow bracketed from above by the direct proton flow data, and not to alter any of our conclusions. Results are discussed in perspective of recent viscous hydrodynamics studies which focus on late hadronic stages.
Two modular Cherenkov detectors FFD and T0 are developed for MPD and BM@N projects at LHEP/JINR for study of Au + Au collisions. The aim of the detectors is production of a start signal for a TOF ...detector and an effective L0 trigger for the collisions. The detector module design, characteristics, and results of tests with a deuteron beam are discussed. The time resolution of the modules for a single high energy photon or charged hadron is σ
t
≈ 21–31 ps and it depends on method and electronics used.
In this paper we report on the application of a
robust approach based on a reweighted least squares method for the vertex reconstruction of the CERES/NA45 experiment at the CERN SPS for the case of ...160 GeV/u Pb+Au collisions and compare its performance with the presently used algorithm based on the minimization of summed Gaussian weights.
In the CERES/NA45 experiment a doublet of cylindrical silicon drift detectors (SDD) is used for vertex reconstruction and tracking. The vertex reconstruction algorithm has to cope with a background-contaminated environment. Furthermore, in the case of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions where high event multiplicities occur (
dn
ch
dη
⋍ 500
), the probability of confusing hits from close or intersecting tracks is high. The algorithm needs to provide the precise vertex location even at high occupancies, at a reasonable speed. Our findings are that the robust iterative procedure presented here is about an order of magnitude faster than approaches using standard minimization packages, at a comparable or slightly better accuracy.
We present results on transverse momentum correlations of charged particle pairs produced in Pb
Au collisions at
158
A
GeV
/
c
at the Super Proton Synchrotron. The transverse momentum correlations ...have been studied as a function of collision centrality, angular separation of the particle pairs, transverse momentum and charge sign. We demonstrate that the results are in agreement with previous findings in scale-independent analyses at the same beam energy. Employing the two-particle momentum correlator
〈
Δ
p
t
,
i
,
Δ
p
t
,
j
〉
and the cumulative
p
t
variable
x
(
p
t
)
, we identify, using the scale-dependent approach presented in this paper, different sources contributing to the measured correlations, such as quantum and Coulomb correlations, elliptic flow and mini-jet fragmentation.
We report on results of a measurement of {phi} meson production in central Pb-Au collisions at E{sub lab}=158A GeV. For the first time in the history of high energy heavy-ion collisions, {phi} mesons ...were reconstructed both in the K{sup +}K{sup -} and the dilepton decay channels in the same experiment. This measurement yields rapidity densities near midrapidity, from the two decay channels, of 2.05{+-}0.14(stat){+-}0.25(syst) and 2.04{+-}0.49(stat){+-}0.32(syst), respectively. The shape of the measured transverse momentum spectrum is also in close agreement in both decay channels. The data rule out a possible enhancement of the {phi} yield in the leptonic over the hadronic decay channel of a factor 1.6 or larger at the 95% C.L. This rules out the discrepancy reported in the literature between measurements of the hadronic and dimuon decay channels by two different experiments.
Based on an evaluation of data on pion interferometry and on particle yields at midrapidity, we propose a universal condition for thermal freeze-out of pions in heavy-ion collisions. We show that ...freeze-out occurs when the mean free path of pions lambda(f) reaches a value of about 1 fm, which is much smaller than the spatial extent of the system at freeze-out. This critical mean free path is independent of the centrality of the collision and beam energy from the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron to the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.
We report a measurement of low-mass electron pairs observed in 158 GeV/nucleon Pb-Au collisions. The pair yield integrated over the range of invariant masses 0.2 ≤
m≤ 2.0 GeV/c
2 is enhanced by a ...factor of 3.5 ± 0.4 (stat) ± 0.9 (syst) over the expectation from neutral meson decays. As observed previously in S-Au collisions, the enhancement is most pronounced in the invariant-mass region 300-700 MeV/c
2. For Pb-Au we find evidence for a strong increase of the enhancement with centrality. In addition, we show that the enhancement covers a wide range in transverse momentum, but is largest at the lowest observed
p
⊥.
Cherenkov ring fitting techniques for the CERES RICH detectors Agakichiev, G; Drees, A; Glässel, P ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
03/1996, Volume:
371, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The CERES experiment studies the production of low-mass electron pairs in proton-proton, proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions at the CERN-SPS. Particle identification and momentum ...measurement are solely based on two azimuthally symmetric RICH detectors. The off-line reconstruction of electron rings has to be preformed without prior knowledge of the cherenkov ring centers, a demand which is unique as compared to other RICH applications using the rings for particle identification or rejection only. During the last years the CERES collaboration has developed several algorithms to cope with the problems of ring recognition in a background-contaminated environment. Here we report on encouraging experiences with the
robust ring fitting technique based on a reweighted least-squares method and compare its performance with previously used algorithms based on the minimization of summed Gaussian weights.
Elliptic flow and two-particle azimuthal correlations of charged hadrons and high-p(T) pions (p(T)>1 GeV/c) have been measured close to midrapidity in 158A GeV/c Pb+Au collisions by the CERES ...experiment. Elliptic flow (v(2)) rises linearly with p(T) to a value of about 10% at 2 GeV/c. Beyond p(T) approximately 1.5 GeV/c, the slope decreases considerably, possibly indicating a saturation of v(2) at high p(T). Two-pion azimuthal anisotropies for p(T)>1.2 GeV/c exceed the elliptic flow values by about 60% in midcentral collisions. These nonflow contributions are attributed to nearside and back-to-back jetlike correlations, the latter exhibiting centrality dependent broadening.
The CERES/NA45 radial drift Time Projection Chamber Adamová, D.; Agakichiev, G.; Antończyk, D. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
08/2008, Volume:
593, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The design, calibration, and performance of the first radial drift Time Projection Chamber (TPC) are presented. The TPC was built and installed at the CERES/NA45 experiment at the CERN SPS in the ...late nineties, with the objective to improve the momentum resolution of the spectrometer. The upgraded experiment took data twice, in 1999 and in 2000. After a detailed study of residual distortions a spatial resolution of
340
μ
m
in the azimuthal and
640
μ
m
in the radial direction was achieved, corresponding to a momentum resolution of
Δ
p
/
p
=
(
1
%
·
p
/
GeV
)
2
+
(
2
%
)
2
.
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