Proton number cumulants in a modified van der Waals hadron resonance gas

An estimate of the proton number cumulants in the hadronic matter is presented considering a van der Waals-type interaction between the constituent particles. We argue that the attractive and repulsive parameters in the VDW hadron resonance gas (VDWHRG) model change as functions of baryochemical potential ($\mu_{B}$) and temperature ($T$). This, in turn, affects the estimation of thermodynamic properties and, consequently, the conserved charge fluctuations. We employ a simple parametrization to bring in the center-of-mass energy ($\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$) dependence on temperature and baryochemical potential and then estimate the proton number cumulants with the modified approach. The modified van der Waals hadron resonance gas model (MVDWHRG) explains the existing experimental data very well.Comment: 9-pages and 6-captioned figures, Submitted for publicatio

Whole genome sequencing-based detection of antimicrobial resistance and virulence in non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica isolated from wildlife

The aim of this study was to generate a reference set of Salmonella enterica genomes isolated from wildlife from the United States and to determine the antimicrobial resistance and virulence gene profile of the isolates from the genome sequence data. We sequenced the whole genomes of 103 Salmonella isolates sampled between 1988 and 2003 from wildlife and exotic pet cases that were submitted to the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Stillwater, Oklahoma. Among 103 isolates, 50.48% were from wild birds, 0.9% was from fish, 24.27% each were from reptiles and mammals. 50.48% isolates showed resistance to at least one antibiotic. Resistance against the aminoglycoside streptomycin was most common while 9 isolates were found to be multi-drug resistant having resistance against more than three antibiotics. Determination of virulence gene profile revealed that the genes belonging to csg operons, the fim genes that encode for type 1 fimbriae and the genes belonging to type III secretion system were predominant among the isolates. The universal presence of fimbrial genes and the genes encoded by pathogenicity islands 1-2 among the isolates we report here indicates that these isolates could potentially cause disease in humans. Therefore, the genomes we report here could be a valuable reference point for future traceback investigations when wildlife is considered to be the potential source of human Salmonellosis.Peer reviewedOklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laborator

Exploring the effect of hadron cascade-time on particle production in Xe+Xe collisions at sNN\sqrt {s_{NN}} = 5.44 TeV through a multi-phase transport model

Heavy-ion collisions at ultrarelativistic energies provide extreme conditions of energy density and temperature to produce a deconfined state of quarks and gluons. Xenon (Xe), being a deformed nucleus, further gives access to the effect of initial geometry on final state particle production. This study focuses on the effect of nuclear deformation and hadron cascade-time on the particle production and elliptic flow using a multiphase transport (AMPT) model in Xe+Xe collisions at sNN=5.44TeV. We explore the effect of hadronic cascade time on identified particle production through the study of pT-differential particle ratios. The effect of hadronic cascade time on the generation of elliptic flow is studied by varying the cascade time between 5 and 25fm/c. This study shows the final state interactions among particles generate additional anisotropic flow with increasing hadron cascade time, especially at very low and high pT.Heavy-ion collisions at ultra-relativistic energies provide extreme conditions of energy density and temperature to produce a deconfined state of quarks and gluons. Xenon (Xe) being a deformed nucleus further gives access to the effect of initial geometry on final state particle production. This study focuses on the effect of nuclear deformation and hadron cascade-time on the particle production and elliptic flow using A Multi-Phase Transport (AMPT) model in Xe+Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV. We explore the effect of hadronic cascade-time on identified particle production through the study of $p_{\rm T}$-differential particle ratios. The effect of hadronic cascade-time on the generation of elliptic flow is studied by varying the cascade-time between 5 and 25 fm/$c$. This study shows the final state interactions among particles generate additional anisotropic flow with increasing hadron cascade-time, especially at very low and high-$p_{\rm T}$

Muon Puzzle: Bridging the gap between cosmic ray and accelerator experiments

International audienceMultiple cosmic ray experiments have observed that the various high-energy models used are unable to explain the muon multiplicities at very high primary energies. The models consistently predict lower numbers as compared to what is experimentally observed. This is termed the muon puzzle, as model tuning cannot resolve this issue. A possible solution proposed is the formation of quark-gluon plasma which invariantly produce more strange particles that decays into muons. We explore the electromagnetic to hadronic energy fraction in the final state particles and compare it with the strangeness production over different systems and energies used at the Large Hadron Collider using various models like EPOS LHC, SYBILL 2.3d, QGSJET II-04 and PYTHIA. The results will be presented with an outlook in view of the recently proposed OO and pO collisions at LHC

Energy flow in ultra-high energy cosmic ray interactions as a probe of thermalization: A potential solution to the muon puzzle

Signatures of the formation of a strongly interacting thermalized matter of partons have been observed in nucleus-nucleus, proton-nucleus, and high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions at LHC energies. Strangeness enhancement in such ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions is considered to be a consequence of this thermalized phase, known as quark-gluon plasma (QGP). Simultaneously, proper modeling of hadronic energy fraction in interactions of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) has been proposed as a solution for the “muon puzzle”, an unexpected excess of muons in air showers. These interactions have center-of-mass collision energies of the order of energies attained at the LHC or even higher, indicating that the possibility of a thermalized partonic state cannot be overlooked in UHECR-air interactions. This work investigates the hadronic energy fraction and strangeness enhancement to explore QGP-like phenomena in UHECR-air interactions using various high-energy hadronic models. A core-corona system with a thermalized core undergoing statistical hadronization is considered through the EPOS LHC model. In contrast, PYTHIA 8, QGSJET II-04, and SYBILL 2.3d consider string fragmentation without thermalization. We have found that EPOS LHC gives a better description of strangeness enhancement as compared to other models. We conclude that adequately treating all the relevant effects and further retuning the models is necessary to explain the observed effects

Consequence of strangeness enhancement at LHC on excess muon production in cosmic ray air showers

International audiencePrimary cosmic rays (PCRs) can have energies up to 1020 eV and provide the unique opportunity to study particle production dynamics at center-of-mass energies and kinematic regions inaccessible at particle accelerators. On interacting with atmospheric nuclei, they produce a multitude of particles that further interact or decay based on their energies. This produces a cascade of particles known as extensive air showers (EAS)

Energy flow in Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray interactions as a probe of thermalization and potential solution to the Muon puzzle

International audienceIndicators that illustrate the formation of a strongly interacting thermalized matter of partons have been observed in high-multiplicity proton-proton, proton-nucleus, and nucleus-nucleus collisions at RHIC and LHC energies. Strangeness enhancement in such ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions is considered to be a consequence of this thermalized phase, known as quark-gluon plasma (QGP). Simultaneously, proper modeling of hadronic energy fraction in interactions of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) has been proposed as a solution for the muon puzzle. These interactions have center-of-mass collision energies in the order of LHC or higher, indicating that the possibility of a thermalized partonic state cannot be overlooked in UHECR-air interactions. This work investigates the hadronic energy fraction and strangeness enhancement to explore QGP-like phenomena in UHECR-air interactions using various high-energy hadronic models. A thermalized system with statistical hadronization is considered through the EPOS LHC model, while PYTHIA 8, QGSJET II-04, and SYBILL 2.3d consider string fragmentation in the absence of any thermalization. We have found that EPOS LHC gives a better description of strangeness enhancement as compared to other models. We conclude that adequately treating all the relevant effects and further retuning the models is necessary to explain the observed effects

Fluidity of the system produced in relativistic pp and heavy-ion collisions: Hadron resonance gas model approach

We have estimated the dimensionless parameters such as Reynolds number (Re), Knudsen number (Kn) and Mach number (Ma) for a multi-hadron system by using the excluded volume hadron resonance gas (EVHRG) model along with Hagedorn mass spectrum to include higher resonances in the system. The size dependence of these parameters indicate that the system formed in proton+proton collisions may achieve thermal equilibrium making it unsuitable as a benchmark to analyze the properties of the system produced in heavy ion collisions at similar energies. While the magnitude of Kn can be used to study the degree of thermalization and applicability of inviscid hydrodynamics, the variations of Re and Ma with temperature (T) and baryonic chemical potential ($\mu _B$) assist to understand the change in the nature of the flow in the system. Indeed the nature of flow changes from laminar to turbulent as Re increases and the system is characterized as incompressible for low $Ma (<<1)$ and compressible for larger Ma. Ma can also be used to understand whether the flow is subsonic or supersonic.We have estimated the dimensionless parameters such as Reynolds number ($Re$), Knudsen number ($Kn$) and Mach number ($Ma$) for a multi-hadron system by using the excluded volume hadron resonance gas (EVHRG) model along with Hagedorn mass spectrum to include higher resonances in the system. The size dependence of these parameters indicate that the system formed in proton+proton collisions may achieve thermal equilibrium making it unsuitable as a benchmark to analyze the properties of the system produced in heavy ion collisions at similar energies. While the magnitude of $Kn$ can be used to study the degree of thermalization and applicability of inviscid hydrodynamics, the variations of $Re$ and $Ma$ with temperature ($T$) and baryonic chemical potential ($\mu_B$) assist to understand the change in the nature of the flow in the system. Indeed the nature of flow changes from laminar to turbulent as $Re$ increases and the system is characterized as incompressible for low $Ma (<<1)$ and compressible for larger $Ma$. $Ma$ can also be used to understand whether the flow is subsonic or supersonic