This Letter presents the first experimental evidence of the attractive strong interaction between a proton and a ϕ meson. The result is obtained from two-particle correlations of combined p − ϕ ⊕ ¯ ...p − ϕ pairs measured in high-multiplicity p p collisions at √ s = 13 TeV by the ALICE Collaboration. The spin-averaged scattering length and effective range of the p − ϕ interaction are extracted from the fully corrected correlation function employing the Lednický-Lyuboshits approach. In particular, the imaginary part of the scattering length vanishes within uncertainties, indicating that inelastic processes do not play a prominent role for the p − ϕ interaction. These data demonstrate that the interaction is dominated by elastic p − ϕ scattering. Furthermore, an analysis employing phenomenological Gaussian- and Yukawa-type potentials is conducted. Under the assumption of the latter, the N − ϕ coupling constant is found to be gN−ϕ = 0.14 ± 0.03 ( stat ) ± 0.02 ( syst ) . This work provides valuable experimental input to accomplish a self-consistent description of the N − ϕ interaction, which is particularly relevant for the more fundamental studies on partial restoration of chiral symmetry in nuclear medium.
We study the polarization of inclusive J/ψ produced in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrts_{NN}=5.02 TeV at the LHC in the dimuon channel, via the measurement of the angular distribution of its decay ...products. We perform the study in the rapidity region 2.5<y<4, for three transverse momentum intervals (2<p_{T}<4, 4<p_{T}<6, 6<p_{T}<10 GeV/c) and as a function of the centrality of the collision for 2<p_{T}<6 GeV/c. For the first time, the polarization is measured with respect to the event plane of the collision, by considering the angle between the positive-charge decay muon in the J/ψ rest frame and the axis perpendicular to the event-plane vector in the laboratory system. A small transverse polarization is measured, with a significance reaching 3.9σ at low p_{T} and for intermediate centrality values. The polarization could be connected with the behavior of the quark-gluon plasma, formed in Pb-Pb collisions, as a rotating fluid with large vorticity, as well as with the existence of a strong magnetic field in the early stage of its formation.
The most precise measurements to date of the $^{3}_{Λ}$H lifetime τ and Λ separation energy BΛ are obtained using the data sample of Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV collected by ALICE ...at the LHC. The $^{3}_{Λ}$H is reconstructed via its charged two-body mesonic decay channel ($^{3}_{Λ}$H → 3He + π– and the charge-conjugate process). The measured values τ = 253 ± 11 (stat.) ± 6(syst.) ps and BΛ = 102 ± 63 (stat.) ± 67 (syst.) keV are compatible with predictions from effective field theories and confirm that the $^{3}_{Λ}$H structure is consistent with a weakly-bound system.
The transverse-momentum (p_{T}) spectra and coalescence parameters B_{2} of (anti)deuterons are measured in p-p collisions at sqrts=13 TeV for the first time in and out of jets. In this measurement, ...the direction of the leading particle with the highest p_{T} in the event (p_{T}^{lead}>5 GeV/c) is used as an approximation for the jet axis. The event is consequently divided into three azimuthal regions, and the jet signal is obtained as the difference between the toward region, that contains jet fragmentation products in addition to the underlying event (UE), and the transverse region, which is dominated by the UE. The coalescence parameter in the jet is found to be approximately a factor of 10 larger than that in the underlying event. This experimental observation is consistent with the coalescence picture and can be attributed to the smaller average phase-space distance between nucleons in the jet cone as compared with the underlying event. The results presented in this Letter are compared to predictions from a simple nucleon coalescence model, where the phase-space distributions of nucleons are generated using pythia8 with the Monash 2013 tuning, and to predictions from a deuteron production model based on ordinary nuclear reactions with parametrized energy-dependent cross sections tuned on data. The latter model is implemented in pythia8.3. Both models reproduce the observed large difference between in-jet and out-of-jet coalescence parameters, although the almost flat trend of the B_{2}^{Jet} is not reproduced by the models, which instead give a decreasing trend.
The first measurement of event-by-event antideuteron number fluctuations in high energy heavy-ion collisions is presented. The measurements are carried out at midrapidity (|η|<0.8) as a function of ...collision centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrts_{NN}=5.02 TeV using the ALICE detector. A significant negative correlation between the produced antiprotons and antideuterons is observed in all collision centralities. The results are compared with a state-of-the-art coalescence calculation. While it describes the ratio of higher order cumulants of the antideuteron multiplicity distribution, it fails to describe quantitatively the magnitude of the correlation between antiproton and antideuteron production. On the other hand, thermal-statistical model calculations describe all the measured observables within uncertainties only for correlation volumes that are different with respect to those describing proton yields and a similar measurement of net-proton number fluctuations.
Measurement of the Λ hyperon lifetime Aglieri Rinella, G.; Al-Turany, M.; Aleksandrov, D. ...
Physical review. D,
08/2023, Letnik:
108, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
A new, more precise measurement of the Λ hyperon lifetime is performed using a large data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=5.02 TeV with ALICE. The Λ and $\bar{Λ}$ hyperons are ...reconstructed at midrapidity using their two-body weak decay channel Λ→p+π- and $\bar{Λ}$→$\bar{p}$+π+. The measured value of the Λ lifetime is τΛ=261.07±0.37(stat.)±0.72(syst.) ps. The relative difference between the lifetime of Λ and $\bar{Λ}$, which represents an important test of CPT invariance in the strangeness sector, is also measured. The obtained value (τΛ-τ$\bar{Λ}$)/τΛ=0.0013±0.0028(stat.)±0.0021(syst.) is consistent with zero within the uncertainties. Both measurements of the Λ hyperon lifetime and of the relative difference between τΛ and τ$\bar{Λ}$ are in agreement with the corresponding world averages of the Particle Data Group and about a factor of three more precise.
The pseudorapidity density of charged particles with minimum transverse momentum (pT) thresholds of 0.15, 0.5, 1, and 2 GeV/c is measured in pp collisions at the center of mass energies of $\sqrt{s}$ ...= 5.02 and 13 TeV with the ALICE detector. The study is carried out for inelastic collisions with at least one primary charged particle having a pseudorapidity (η) within ± 0.8 and pT larger than the corresponding threshold. In addition, measurements without pT-thresholds are performed for inelastic and nonsingle-diffractive events as well as for inelastic events with at least one charged particle having |η| < 1 in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV for the first time at the LHC. These measurements are compared to the pythia 6, pythia 8, and epos-lhc models. In general, the models describe the η dependence of particle production well. However, discrepancies are observed for the highest transverse momentum threshold (pT > 2 GeV/c), highlighting the importance of such measurements for tuning event generators. The new measurements agree within uncertainties with results from the ATLAS and CMS experiments obtained at $\sqrt{s}$ =13 TeV .
Particle computed tomography (pCT) is an emerging imaging modality that promises to reduce range uncertainty in particle therapy. The Bergen pCT collaboration aims to develop a novel pCT prototype ...based on the ALPIDE monolithic CMOS sensor. The planned prototype consist of two tracking planes forming a rear tracker and Digital Tracking Calorimeter (DTC). The DTC will be made of a 41 layer ALPIDE-aluminum sandwich structure. To enable data acquisition at clinical particle rates, a large multiplicity of particles will be measured using the highly-granular ALPIDE sensor. In this work, a first characterization of the ALPIDE sensor performance in ion beams is conducted. Particle hits in the ALPIDE sensor result in charge clusters whose size is related to the chip response and the particle energy deposit. Firstly, measurements in a 10 MeV 4He micro beam have been conducted at the SIRIUS microprobe facility of ANSTO to investigate the dependence of the cluster size on the beam position over the ALPIDE pixel. Here, a variation in cluster size depending on the impinging point of the beam was observed. Additional beam tests were conducted at the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT) investigating the cluster size as a function of the deposited energy by protons and 4He ions in the sensitive volume of the ALPIDE. Results show the expected increase in cluster sizes with deposited energy and a clear difference in cluster sizes for protons and 4He ions. As a conclusion, the variation in cluster size with the impinging point of the beam has to be accounted for to enable accurate energy loss reconstruction with the ALPIDE. This does, however, not affect the tracking of particles through the final prototype, as for that only the center-of-mass of the cluster is relevant.
The ALICE Collaboration reports three measurements in ultraperipheral proton-lead collisions at forward rapidity. The exclusive two-photon process γγ → μ+μ- and the exclusive photoproduction of J/ψ ...are studied. J/ψ photoproduction with proton dissociation is measured for the first time at a hadron collider. The cross section for the two-photon process of dimuons in the invariant mass range from 1 to 2.5 GeV/c2 agrees with leading-order quantum electrodynamics calculations. The exclusive and dissociative cross sections for J/ψ photoproductions are measured for photon-proton center-of-mass energies from 27 to 57 GeV. They are in good agreement with HERA results.
Measurement of the Λ hyperon lifetime Alizadehvandchali, N.; Alkin, A.; Alocco, G. ...
Physical review. D,
08/2023, Letnik:
108, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
A new, more precise measurement of the Λ hyperon lifetime is performed using a large data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=5.02 TeV with ALICE. The Λ and $\bar{Λ}$ hyperons are ...reconstructed at midrapidity using their two-body weak decay channel Λ→p+π- and $\bar{Λ}$→$\bar{p}$+π+. The measured value of the Λ lifetime is τΛ=261.07±0.37(stat.)±0.72(syst.) ps. The relative difference between the lifetime of Λ and $\bar{Λ}$, which represents an important test of CPT invariance in the strangeness sector, is also measured. The obtained value (τΛ-τ$\bar{Λ}$)/τΛ=0.0013±0.0028(stat.)±0.0021(syst.) is consistent with zero within the uncertainties. Both measurements of the Λ hyperon lifetime and of the relative difference between τΛ and τ$\bar{Λ}$ are in agreement with the corresponding world averages of the Particle Data Group and about a factor of three more precise.