452 research outputs found
Factorization and infrared properties of non-perturbative contributions to DIS structure functions
In this paper we present a new derivation of the QCD factorization. We deduce
the k_T- and collinear factorizations for the DIS structure functions by
consecutive reductions of a more general theoretical construction. We begin by
studying the amplitude of the forward Compton scattering off a hadron target,
representing this amplitude as a set of convolutions of two blobs connected by
the simplest, two-parton intermediate states. Each blob in the convolutions can
contain both the perturbative and non-perturbative contributions. We formulate
conditions for separating the perturbative and non-perturbative contributions
and attributing them to the different blobs. After that the convolutions
correspond to the QCD factorization. Then we reduce this totally unintegrated
(basic) factorization first to the k_T- factorization and finally to the
collinear factorization. In order to yield a finite expression for the Compton
amplitude, the integration over the loop momentum in the basic factorization
must be free of both ultraviolet and infrared singularities. This obvious
mathematical requirement leads to theoretical restrictions on the
non-perturbative contributions (parton distributions) to the Compton amplitude
and the DIS structure functions related to the Compton amplitude through the
Optical theorem. In particular, our analysis excludes the use of the singular
factors x^{-a} (with a > 0) in the fits for the quark and gluon distributions
because such factors contradict to the integrability of the basic convolutions
for the Compton amplitude. This restriction is valid for all DIS structure
functions in the framework of both the k_T- factorization and the collinear
factorization if we attribute the perturbative contributions only to the upper
blob.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure
QCD factorization for forward hadron scattering at high energies
We consider the QCD factorization of DIS structure functions at small x and
amplitudes of 2->2 -hadronic forward scattering at high energy. We show that
both collinear and k_T-factorization for these processes can be obtained
approximately as reductions of a more general (totally unintegrated) form of
the factorization. The requirement of ultraviolet and infrared stability of the
factorization convolutions allows us to obtain restrictions on the fits for the
parton distributions in k_T- and collinear factorization.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures In the present version misprints found in the
prevcious version are corrected and some more details are explaine
Universal behavior of baryons and mesons' transverse momentum distributions in the framework of percolation of strings
In the framework of percolation of strings, we present predictions for the
and for mesons and baryons and for ratios
at LHC energies.Comment: Presented at "Heavy Ion Collisions at the LHC: last call for
predictions", Geneva Switzerland, May 14th-June 8t
Jet Tomography in the Forward Direction at RHIC
Hadron production at high- displays a strong suppression pattern in a
wide rapidity region in heavy ion collisions at RHIC energies. This finding
indicates the presence of strong final state effects for both transversally and
longitudinally traveling partons, namely induced energy loss. We have developed
a perturbative QCD based model to describe hadron production in collision,
which can be combined with the Glauber -- Gribov model to describe hadron
production in heavy ion collisions. Investigating and collisions
at energy GeV at mid-rapidity, we find the opacity of the
strongly interacting hot matter to be proportional to the participant nucleon
number. Considering forward rapidities, the suppression pattern indicates the
formation of a longitudinally contracted dense deconfined zone in central heavy
ion collisions. We determine parameters for the initial geometry from the
existing data.Comment: 6 pages for Hot Quarks '06 Conferenc
Nuclear Modification Factor for Charged Pions and Protons at Forward Rapidity in Central Au+Au Collisions at 200 GeV
We present spectra of charged pions and protons in 0-10% central Au+Au
collisions at GeV at mid-rapidity () and forward
pseudorapidity () measured with the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC. The
spectra are compared to spectra from p+p collisions at the same energy scaled
by the number of binary collisions. The resulting nuclear modification factors
for central Au+Au collisions at both and exhibit suppression
for charged pions but not for (anti-)protons at intermediate . The
ratios have been measured up to GeV/ at the two
rapidities and the results indicate that a significant fraction of the charged
hadrons produced at intermediate range are (anti-)protons at both
mid-rapidity and
Inclusive Hadron Production in Photon-Photon Collisions at Next-to-Leading Order
We study inclusive charged-hadron production in collisions of quasireal
photons at NLO in perturbative QCD, using fragmentation functions recently
extracted from PEP and LEP1 data. We superimpose the direct (DD),
single-resolved (DR), and double-resolved (RR) gamma-gamma channels. First, we
confront existing data taken by TASSO at PETRA and by MARK II at PEP with our
NLO calculations. We also make comparisons with the neutral-kaon to
charged-hadron ratio measured by MARK II. Then, we present NLO predictions for
LEP2, a next-generation e+e- linear collider (NLC) in the TESLA design, and a
Compton collider obtained by converting a NLC. We analyze transverse-momentum
and rapidity spectra with regard to the scale dependence, the interplay of the
DD, DR, and RR components, the sensitivity to the gluon density in the resolved
photon, and the influence of gluon fragmentation. It turns out that the
inclusive measurement of small-p_T hadrons at a Compton collider would greatly
constrain the gluon density of the photon and the gluon fragmentation function.Comment: 16 pages, 12 Postscript figure
Origins of the Ambient Solar Wind: Implications for Space Weather
The Sun's outer atmosphere is heated to temperatures of millions of degrees,
and solar plasma flows out into interplanetary space at supersonic speeds. This
paper reviews our current understanding of these interrelated problems: coronal
heating and the acceleration of the ambient solar wind. We also discuss where
the community stands in its ability to forecast how variations in the solar
wind (i.e., fast and slow wind streams) impact the Earth. Although the last few
decades have seen significant progress in observations and modeling, we still
do not have a complete understanding of the relevant physical processes, nor do
we have a quantitatively precise census of which coronal structures contribute
to specific types of solar wind. Fast streams are known to be connected to the
central regions of large coronal holes. Slow streams, however, appear to come
from a wide range of sources, including streamers, pseudostreamers, coronal
loops, active regions, and coronal hole boundaries. Complicating our
understanding even more is the fact that processes such as turbulence,
stream-stream interactions, and Coulomb collisions can make it difficult to
unambiguously map a parcel measured at 1 AU back down to its coronal source. We
also review recent progress -- in theoretical modeling, observational data
analysis, and forecasting techniques that sit at the interface between data and
theory -- that gives us hope that the above problems are indeed solvable.Comment: Accepted for publication in Space Science Reviews. Special issue
connected with a 2016 ISSI workshop on "The Scientific Foundations of Space
Weather." 44 pages, 9 figure
Phi meson production in Au+Au and p+p collisions at sqrt (s)=200 GeV
We report the STAR measurement of Phi meson production in Au+Au and p+p
collisions at sqrt (s)=200 GeV. Using the event mixing technique, the Phi
spectra and yields are obtained at mid-rapidity for five centrality bins in
Au+Au collisions and for non-singly-diffractive p+p collisions. It is found
that the Phi transverse momentum distributions from Au+Au collisions are better
fitted with a single-exponential while the p+p spectrum is better described by
a double-exponential distribution. The measured nuclear modification factors
indicate that Phi production in central Au+Au collisions is suppressed relative
to peripheral collisions when scaled by the number of binary collisions. The
systematics of versus centrality and the constant Phi/K- ratio versus beam
species, centrality, and collision energy rule out kaon coalescence as the
dominant mechanism for Phi production.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Formation of dense partonic matter in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions at RHIC: Experimental evaluation by the PHENIX collaboration
Extensive experimental data from high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions were
recorded using the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider
(RHIC). The comprehensive set of measurements from the first three years of
RHIC operation includes charged particle multiplicities, transverse energy,
yield ratios and spectra of identified hadrons in a wide range of transverse
momenta (p_T), elliptic flow, two-particle correlations, non-statistical
fluctuations, and suppression of particle production at high p_T. The results
are examined with an emphasis on implications for the formation of a new state
of dense matter. We find that the state of matter created at RHIC cannot be
described in terms of ordinary color neutral hadrons.Comment: 510 authors, 127 pages text, 56 figures, 1 tables, LaTeX. Submitted
to Nuclear Physics A as a regular article; v3 has minor changes in response
to referee comments. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures
for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available
at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Experimental and Theoretical Challenges in the Search for the Quark Gluon Plasma: The STAR Collaboration's Critical Assessment of the Evidence from RHIC Collisions
We review the most important experimental results from the first three years
of nucleus-nucleus collision studies at RHIC, with emphasis on results from the
STAR experiment, and we assess their interpretation and comparison to theory.
The theory-experiment comparison suggests that central Au+Au collisions at RHIC
produce dense, rapidly thermalizing matter characterized by: (1) initial energy
densities above the critical values predicted by lattice QCD for establishment
of a Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP); (2) nearly ideal fluid flow, marked by
constituent interactions of very short mean free path, established most
probably at a stage preceding hadron formation; and (3) opacity to jets. Many
of the observations are consistent with models incorporating QGP formation in
the early collision stages, and have not found ready explanation in a hadronic
framework. However, the measurements themselves do not yet establish
unequivocal evidence for a transition to this new form of matter. The
theoretical treatment of the collision evolution, despite impressive successes,
invokes a suite of distinct models, degrees of freedom and assumptions of as
yet unknown quantitative consequence. We pose a set of important open
questions, and suggest additional measurements, at least some of which should
be addressed in order to establish a compelling basis to conclude definitively
that thermalized, deconfined quark-gluon matter has been produced at RHIC.Comment: 101 pages, 37 figures; revised version to Nucl. Phys.
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