Angular hadron correlations probing the early medium evolution

Hard processes are a well calibrated probe to study heavy-ion collisions. However, the information to be gained from the nuclear suppression factor R_AA is limited, hene one has to study more differential observables to do medium tomography. The angular correlations of hadrons associated with a hard trigger appear suitable as they show a rich pattern when going from low p_T to high p_T. Of prime interest is the fate of away side partons with an in-medium pathlength O(several fm). At high p_T the correlations become dominated by the punchtrough of the away side parton with subsequent fragmentation. We discuss what information about the medium density can be gained from the data.Comment: Talk given at the 19th International Conference on Ultrarelativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions: Quark Matter 2006 (QM 2006), Shanghai, China, 14-20 Nov 200

Transport properties of isospin effective mass splitting

We investigate in detail the momentum dependence ($MD$) of the effective in medium Nucleon-Nucleon ($NN$) interaction in the isovector channel. We focus the discussion on transport properties of the expected neutron-proton ($n/p$) effective mass splitting at high isospin density. We look at observable effects from collective flows in Heavy Ion Collisions ($HIC$) of charge asymmetric nuclei at intermediate energies. Using microscopic kinetic equation simulations nucleon transverse and elliptic collective flows in $Au+Au$ collisions are evaluated. In spite of the reduced charge asymmetry of the interacting system interesting $isospin-MD$ effects are revealed. Good observables, particularly sensitive to the $n/p$-mass splitting, appear to be the differences between neutron and proton flows. The importance of more exclusive measurements, with a selection of different bins of the transverse momenta ($p_t$) of the emitted particles, is stressed. In more inclusive data a compensation can be expected from different $p_t$-contributions, due to the microscopic $isospin-MD$ structure of the nuclear mean field in asymmetric matter.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figure

K*(892)0 Production in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV

Preliminary results on the K*(892)0 -> pi + K production using the mixed-event technique are presented. The measurements are performed at mid-rapidity by the STAR detector in sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV Au-Au collisions at RHIC. The K*0 to negative hadron, kaon and phi ratios are obtained and compared to the measurements in e+e-, pp and pbarp at various energies.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, proceedings of Strange Quarks in Matter (SQM2001), Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to be published in J. Phys.

Does HBT Measure the Freeze-out Source Distribution?

It is generally assumed that as a result of multiple scattering, the source distribution measured in HBT interferometry corresponds to a chaotic source at freeze-out. This assumption is subject to question as effects of multiple scattering in HBT measurements must be investigated within a quantum-mechanical framework. Applying the Glauber multiple scattering theory at high energies and the optical model at lower energies, we find that multiple scattering leads to an effective HBT density distribution that depends on the initial chaotic source distribution with an absorption.Comment: 4 pages, talk presented at QM2004 Conference, January 11-17, 2004, Oakland, California, USA, to be published in the Proceeding

HBT: A (mostly) experimental overview

I will present a review of the field of Hanbury Brown-Twiss interferometry in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The "HBT puzzle" is explored in detail, emphasizing recent theoretical attempts to understand the persisting puzzle. I also present recent experimental results on azimuthally sensitive HBT, HBT of direct photons, and some surprises in the comparison of HBT results from p+p and Au+Au collisions at RHIC.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings of the Quark Matter 2004 conference (Oalkland, CA, USA, January 2004

Recent high pT measurements in STAR

After five years of data taking, the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory provides precise measurements of particle production at high transverse momentum in p-p, d-Au, and Au-Au collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV. We review recent results on the flavor dependence of high pT particle suppression and hadron particle spectra at sqrt(s) = 62.4 GeV. New results on two-particle angular correlations for identified trigger particles and for low momentum associated charged hadrons in p-p and Au-Au as well as near-side $\Delta\eta$ correlations will be presented and discussed.Comment: 5th International Conference on Physics and Astrophysics of Quark Gluon Plasma, Calcutta. 8 pages, 10 figures, submitted to J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phy

What do we learn from Resonance Production in Heavy Ion Collisions?

Resonances with their short life time and strong coupling to the dense and hot medium are suggested as a signature of the early stage of the fireball created in a heavy ion collision \cite{rap00,lut01,lut02}. The comparison of resonances with different lifetimes and quark contents may give information about time evolution and density and temperature of during the expanding of fireball medium. Resonances in elementary reactions have been measured since 1960. Resonance production in elementary collisions compared with heavy ion collisions where we expect to create a hot and dense medium may show the direct of influence of the medium on the resonances. This paper shows a selection of the recent resonance measurements from SPS and RHIC heavy ion colliders.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, HotQuarks 2004 conference proceeding

Resonance production in heavy ion collisions

Recent results of resonance production from RHIC at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} =$ 200 GeV and SPS at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} =$ 17 GeV are presented and discussed in terms of the evolution and freeze-out conditions of a hot and dense fireball medium. Yields and spectra are compared with thermal model predictions at chemical freeze-out. Deviations in the low transverse momentum region of the resonance spectrum of the hadronic decay channel, suggest a strongly interaction hadronic phase between chemical and kinetic freeze-out. Microscopic models including resonance rescattering and regeneration are able to describe the trend of the data. The magnitude of the regeneration cross sections for different inverse decay channels are discussed. Model calculations which include elastic hadronic interactions between chemical freeze-out and thermal freeze-out based on the K(892)/K and $\Lambda$(1520)/$\Lambda$ ratios suggest a time between two freeze-outs surfaces of $\Delta \tau>$ 4 fm/c. The difference in momentum distributions and yields for the $\phi$(1020) resonance reconstructed from the leptonic and hadronic decay channels at SPS energy are discussed taking into account the impact of a hadronic phase and possible medium modifications.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, conference proceedings (SQM2004

Resonance Production

Recent results on rho(770)^0, K(892)^*0, f_0(980), phi(1020), Delta(1232)^++, and Lambda(1520) production in A+A and p+p collisions at SPS and RHIC energies are presented. These resonances are measured via their hadronic decay channels and used as a sensitive tool to examine the collision dynamics in the hadronic medium through their decay and regeneration. The modification of resonance mass, width, and shape due to phase space and dynamical effects are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, proceedings of the Quark Matter 2004, in Oakland, California, to be published in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physic