Search for the decay K+→π+ννˉK^+\to \pi^+ \nu \bar\nu in the momentum region Pπ<195 MeV/cP_\pi < 195 {\rm ~MeV/c}

We have searched for the decay $K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar\nu$ in the kinematic region with pion momentum below the $K^+ \to \pi^+ \pi^0$ peak. One event was observed, consistent with the background estimate of $0.73\pm 0.18$. This implies an upper limit on $B(K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar\nu)< 4.2\times 10^{-9}$ (90% C.L.), consistent with the recently measured branching ratio of $(1.57^{+1.75}_{-0.82}) \times 10^{-10}$, obtained using the standard model spectrum and the kinematic region above the $K^+ \to \pi^+ \pi^0$ peak. The same data were used to search for $K^+ \to \pi^+ X^0$, where $X^0$ is a weakly interacting neutral particle or system of particles with $150 < M_{X^0} < 250 {\rm ~MeV/c^2}$.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Search for the decay K+ to pi+ gamma gamma in the pi+ momentum region P>213 MeV/c

We have searched for the K+ to pi+ gamma gamma decay in the kinematic region with pi+ momentum close to the end point. No events were observed, and the 90% confidence-level upper limit on the partial branching ratio was obtained, B(K+ to pi+ gamma gamma, P>213 MeV/c) < 8.3 x 10-9 under the assumption of chiral perturbation theory including next-to-leading order ``unitarity'' corrections. The same data were used to determine an upper limit on the K+ to pi+ gamma branching ratio of 2.3 x 10-9 at the 90% confidence level.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures; no change in the results, accepted for publication in Physics Letters

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

Reentrant magnetism at the borderline between long range antiferromagnetic order and spin glass behavior in the B site disordered perovskite system Ca2 xSrxFeRuO6

We report on the coexistence of magnetic order and disorder in the atomically disordered double perovskites Ca2FeRuO6 and CaSrFeRuO6. Powder x ray and neutron diffraction were used to investigate the crystal structure and magnetic ordering of these oxides. Both compounds are described by the orthorhombic space group Pbnm down to 3 K, where the B site is found to be statistically occupied by Fe3 and Ru5 ions. The compound Ca2FeRuO6 shows a G type antiferromagnetic ordering at TN 220 K, where the moments are aligned parallel to the c axis. The exchange of Ca by Sr suppresses long range ordering in this system with the consequence that CaSrFeRuO6 shows a diffuse scattering pattern, indicating only the presence of a short range order of the magnetic moments. Mössbauer measurements additionally reveal the coexistence of a long range ordered and paramagnetic phase in Ca2FeRuO6, and spin glass behavior in CaSrFeRuO6. The random occupancy of iron and ruthenium atoms at the B site gives rise to locally varying competing magnetic exchange interactions, which favors the emergence of reentrant magnetism with a spin glass like transition at Tf 87 K for Ca2FeRuO6 and a spin glass transition at 65 K for CaSrFeRuO6, as evidenced by frequency dependent ac susceptibility measurements. Our results are an interesting example for crossing the borderline between antiferromagnetism and spin glass behavior in a 3d 4d hybrid perovskite system by modifying the structural distortion associated to the tolerance factor of the perovskite structure rather than changing the concentration of magnetic ion

Matter-Antimatter Asymmetry in the Large Hadron Collider

The matter-antimatter asymmetry is one of the greatest challenges in the modern physics. The universe including this paper and even the reader him(her)self seems to be built up of ordinary matter only. Theoretically, the well-known Sakharov's conditions remain the solid framework explaining the circumstances that matter became dominant against the antimatter while the universe cools down and/or expands. On the other hand, the standard model for elementary particles apparently prevents at least two conditions out of them. In this work, we introduce a systematic study of the antiparticle-to-particle ratios measured in various $NN$ and $AA$ collisions over the last three decades. It is obvious that the available experimental facilities turn to be able to perform nuclear collisions, in which the matter-antimatter asymmetry raises from $\sim 0$ at AGS to $\sim 100$ at LHC. Assuming that the final state of hadronization in the nuclear collisions takes place along the freezeout line, which is defined by a constant entropy density, various antiparticle-to-particle ratios are studied in framework of the hadron resonance gas (HRG) model. Implementing modified phase space and distribution function in the grand-canonical ensemble and taking into account the experimental acceptance, the ratios of antiparticle-to-particle over the whole range of center-of-mass-energies are very well reproduced by the HRG model. Furthermore, the antiproton-to-proton ratios measured by ALICE in $pp$ collisions is also very well described by the HRG model. It is likely to conclude that the LHC heavy-ion program will produce the same particle ratios as the $pp$ program implying the dynamics and evolution of the system would not depend on the initial conditions. The ratios of bosons and baryons get very close to unity indicating that the matter-antimatter asymmetry nearly vanishes at LHC.Comment: 9 pages, 5 eps-figures, revtex4-styl

Event Reconstruction in the PHENIX Central Arm Spectrometers

The central arm spectrometers for the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider have been designed for the optimization of particle identification in relativistic heavy ion collisions. The spectrometers present a challenging environment for event reconstruction due to a very high track multiplicity in a complicated, focusing, magnetic field. In order to meet this challenge, nine distinct detector types are integrated for charged particle tracking, momentum reconstruction, and particle identification. The techniques which have been developed for the task of event reconstruction are described.Comment: Accepted for publication in Nucl. Instrum. A. 34 pages, 23 figure

Further search for the decay K+→π+ννˉK^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar \nu in the momentum region P < 195 MeV/c

We report the results of a search for the decay $K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar \nu$ in the kinematic region with $\pi^+$ momentum $140 < P < 195$ MeV/c using the data collected by the E787 experiment at BNL. No events were observed. When combined with our previous search in this region, one candidate event with an expected background of $1.22 \pm 0.24$ events results in a 90% C.L. upper limit of $2.2 \times 10^{-9}$ on the branching ratio of $K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar \nu$. We also report improved limits on the rates of $K^+ \to \pi^+ X^0$ and $K^+ \to \pi^+ X^1 X^2$ where $X^0, X^1, X^2$ are hypothetical, massless, long-lived neutral particles.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

A Reaction Plane Detector for PHENIX at RHIC

A plastic scintillator paddle detector with embedded fiber light guides and photomultiplier tube readout, referred to as the Reaction Plane Detector (RXNP), was designed and installed in the PHENIX experiment prior to the 2007 run of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The RXNP's design is optimized to accurately measure the reaction plane (RP) angle of heavy-ion collisions, where, for mid-central $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions, it achieved a $2^{nd}$ harmonic RP resolution of $\sim$0.75, which is a factor of $\sim$2 greater than PHENIX's previous capabilities. This improvement was accomplished by locating the RXNP in the central region of the PHENIX experiment, where, due to its large coverage in pseudorapidity ($1.0<|\eta|<2.8$) and $\phi$ (2$\pi$), it is exposed to the high particle multiplicities needed for an accurate RP measurement. To enhance the observed signal, a 2-cm Pb converter is located between the nominal collision region and the scintillator paddles, allowing neutral particles produced in the heavy-ion collisions to contribute to the signal through conversion electrons. This paper discusses the design, operation and performance of the RXNP during the 2007 RHIC run.Comment: 28 authors from 10 institutions, 24 pages, 16 figures and 3 tables. Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section

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.