Dynamical quark recombination in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions and the proton to pion ratio

We study quark thermal recombination as a function of energy density during the evolution of a heavy-ion collision in a numerical model that reproduces aspects of QCD phenomenology. We show that starting with a set of free quarks (or quarks and antiquarks) the probability to form colorless clusters of three quarks differs from that to form colorless clusters of quark-antiquark and that the former has a sharp jump at a critical energy density whereas the latter transits smoothly from the low to the high energy density domains. We interpret this as a quantitative difference in the production of baryons and mesons with energy density. We use this approach to compute the proton and pion spectra in a Bjorken scenario that incorporates the evolution of these probabilities with energy density, and therefore with proper time. From the spectra, we compute the proton to pion ratio and compare to data at the highest RHIC energies. We show that for a standard choice of parameters, this ratio reaches one, though the maximum is very sensitive to the initial evolution proper time.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Is there (no) collective flow in pp collisions?

The transverse momentum spectra and their multiplicity dependence serve as key tools for extracting parameters that can be compared with theoretical models. This comparison aims to establish the behaviour and nature of the system created in the collision. Over the past decade, the scientific community has extensively studied the possibility of a system analogous to quark-gluon plasma, predicted in heavy nuclei collisions, also existing in collisions involving light nuclei and proton-proton collisions. We have reanalysed the experimental data published by the ALICE Collaboration at the LHC, exploring a seemingly universal feature of transverse momentum spectra of charged particles. We have identified a specific range where the contribution of the hard part is nonexistent for the studied multiplicities. We present the dependence of the mean transverse momenta obtained in the soft and soft+hard (mixed) parts and discuss the results in the context of the ongoing controversy regarding the existence of collectivity in small systems. Finally, we also discuss possible refinements of the analyses concerning the use of statistical parameters of higher order, aimed at better distinguishing the agreement of theoretical and Monte Carlo models with the data

Effect of hard processes on momentum correlations in pppp and ppˉp\bar{p} collisions

The HBT radii extracted in p-pbar and pp collisions at SPS and Tevatron show a clear correlation with the charged particle rapidity density. We propose to explain the correlation using a simple model where the distance from the initial hard parton-parton scattering to the hadronization point depends on the energy of the partons emitted. Since the particle multiplicity is correlated with the mean energy of the partons produced we can explain the experimental observations without invoking scenarios that assume a thermal fireball. The model has been applied with success to the existing experimental data both in the magnitude and the intensity of the correlation. As well, the model has been extended to pp collisions at the LHC energy of 14 TeV. The possibilities of a better insight into the string spatial development using 3D HBT analysis is discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Deconfinement and degrees of freedom in pppp and A−AA-A collisions at LHC energies

We present the extraction of the temperature by analyzing the charged particle transverse momentum spectra in lead-lead (Pb-Pb) and proton-proton (${\bf pp}$) collisions at LHC energies from the ALICE Collaboration using the Color String Percolation Model (CSPM). From the measured energy density ${\bm \varepsilon}$ and the temperature T the dimensionless quantity ${\bm \varepsilon/}T^{4}$ is obtained to get the degrees of freedom (DOF), ${\bm \varepsilon}/T^{4}$ = DOF ${ \pi^{2}}$/30. We observe for the first time a two-step behavior in the increase of DOF, characteristic of deconfinement, above the hadronization temperature at temperature $\sim$ 210 MeV for both Pb-Pb and ${\bf pp}$ collisions and a sudden increase to the ideal gas value of $\sim$ 47 corresponding to three quark flavors in the case of Pb-Pb collisions.Comment: 7 pages and 4 figure

Nov sistem za identifikaciju čestica u području 3 − 8 GeV/c

A threshold imaging Cherenkov (TIC) detector, in conjunction with a tracking device, has been developed to allow pion/kaon, proton identification in the 3–8 GeV/c range of momenta. The most important feature of the system is that it allows spatial identification of the photons of particles above the Cherenkov threshold and their correlation to a particular track. The TIC detector uses a MWPC detector with TMAE for photon conversion into electrons. The first results obtained in ultrarelativistic lead–lead collisions at the CERN SPS accelerator are presented. In a recent development use of a solid CsI cathode instead of TMAE has been successfully tested in proton–lead collisions at the CERN SPS.Razvijen je pozicioni detektor fotona Cerenkovljeva zračenja iznad praga emisije (TIC), koji omogućuje (u sklopu sistema za mjerenje tragova čestica) razlikovanje piona od kaona i protona u području između praga emisije za pione i za kaone t.j između 3 i 8 GeV/c. Najbitnija odlika sistema jest mogućnost dvodimenzijske lokalizacije emitiranih fotona i njihovo jednoznačno pridruživanje određenom tragu čestice koji je odreden drugim detektorima. Detektor TIC primjenjuje višezičane proporcionalne komore s TMAE dodanom brojačkom plinu za konverziju fotona u elektrone. Prikazuju se prvi rezultati dobiveni u ultrarelativističkim sudarima iona olova s metom olova u SPS akceleratoru u CERNu. Nedavno je upotreba čvrstih fotokatoda umjesto TMAE bila uspješno iskušana procesima sudara protona s olovom u SPS akceleratoru

Fine structure in the azimuthal transverse momentum correlations at sNN=200\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV using the event shape analysis

The experimental results on transverse momentum azimuthal hadron correlations at RHIC have opened a rich field for parton energy loss analysis in heavy-ion collisions. Recently, a considerable amount of work has beendevoted to study the shapes of the ``away-side'' jet which exhibit an interesting and unexpected ``double hump'' structure not observed in the analogous treatment of $pp$ data. Driven by the possibility that the latter result might just mean that such structure exists already in the case of $pp$ collisions, but that its relative intensity could be small, here we use the Event Shape Analysis to show that it is possible to identify and select well defined event topologies in $pp$ collisions, among which, a double hump structure for the away-side jet emerges. Using two shape parameters, the sphericity in the transverse plane and the recoil to analyze a sample of PYTHIA generated $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV, we show that this structure corresponds to two jets emitted in the backward hemisphere. Finally, we show that Q-PYTHIA qualitatively reproduces the decrease in the yield of dijet events and the increase of the double hump structure in the away side observed in heavy ion collisions. The implications for the treatment of parton energy loss in heavy-ion collisions are discussedComment: 6 pages, 7 fugures: One figure was changed, references were added. This version will appear in Eur. Phys. J.

QCD challenges from pp to AA collisions: 4th edition

This paper is a write-up of the ideas that were presented, developed and discussed at the fourth International Workshop on QCD Challenges from pp to AA, which took place in February 2023 in Padua, Italy. The goal of the workshop was to focus on some of the open questions in the field of high-energy heavy-ion physics and to stimulate the formulation of concrete suggestions for making progresses on both the experimental and theoretical sides. The paper gives a brief introduction to each topic and then summarizes the primary results

Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

Peer reviewe