Transverse polarization of Sigma(+)(1189) in photoproduction on a hydrogen target in CLAS

Experimental results on the Sigma(+)(1189) hyperon transverse polarization in photoproduction on a hydrogen target using the CLAS detector at Jefferson Laboratory are presented. The Sigma(+)(1189) was reconstructed in the exclusive reaction gamma + p -\u3e K-s(0) + Sigma(+)(1189) via the Sigma(+) -\u3e p pi(0) decay mode. The K-s(0) was reconstructed in the invariant mass of two oppositely charged pions with the pi(0) identified in the missing mass of the detected p pi(+)pi(-) final state. Experimental data were collected in the photon energy range E-gamma = 1.0-3.5 GeV (root s range 1.66-2.73 GeV). We observe a large negative polarization of up to 95%. As the mechanism of transverse polarization of hyperons produced in unpolarized photoproduction experiments is still not well understood, these results will help to distinguish between different theoretical models on hyperon production and provide valuable information for the searches of missing baryon resonances

Precise determination of the deuteron spin structure at low to moderate Q(2) with CLAS and extraction of the neutron contribution

We present the final results for the deuteron spin structure functions obtained from the full data set collected in 2000-2001 with Jefferson Lab\u27s continuous electron beam accelerator facility (CEBAF) using the CEBAF large acceptance spectrometer (CLAS). Polarized electrons with energies of 1.6, 2.5, 4.2, and 5.8 GeV were scattered from deuteron ((ND3)-N-15) targets, dynamically polarized along the beam direction, and detected with CLAS. From the measured double-spin asymmetry, the virtual photon absorption asymmetry A(1)(d) and the polarized structure function g(1)(d) were extracted over a wide kinematic range (0.05 GeV2 \u3c Q(2) \u3c 5 GeV2 and 0.9 GeV \u3c W \u3c 3 GeV). We use an unfolding procedure and a parametrization of the corresponding proton results to extract from these data the polarized structure functions A(1)(n) and g(1)(n) of the (bound) neutron, which are so far unknown in the resonance region, W \u3c 2 GeV. We compare our final results, including several moments of the deuteron and neutron spin structure functions, with various theoretical models and expectations, as well as parametrizations of the world data. The unprecedented precision and dense kinematic coverage of these data can aid in future extractions of polarized parton distributions, tests of perturbative QCD predictions for the quark polarization at large x, a better understanding of quark-hadron duality, and more precise values for higher-twist matrix elements in the framework of the operator product expansion

Near-threshold neutral pion electroproduction at high momentum transfers and generalized form factors

We report the measurement of near-threshold neutral pion electroproduction cross sections and the extraction of the associated structure functions on the proton in the kinematic range Q(2) from 2 to 4.5 GeV2 and W from 1.08 to 1.16 GeV. These measurements allow us to access the dominant pion-nucleon s-wave multipoles E0+ and S0+ in the near-threshold region. In the light-cone sum-rule framework (LCSR), these multipoles are related to the generalized form factors G(1)(pi 0p) (Q(2)) and G(2)(pi 0p) (Q(2)). The data are compared to these generalized form factors and the results for G(1)(pi 0p) (Q(2)) are found to be in good agreement with the LCSR predictions, but the level of agreement with G(2)(pi 0p) (Q(2)) is poor. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.87.04520

Precision measurements of g(1) of the proton and of the deuteron with 6 GeV electrons

The inclusive polarized structure functions of the proton and deuteron, g(1)(p) and g(1)(d) , were measured with high statistical precision using polarized 6 GeV electrons incident on a polarized ammonia target in Hall B at Jefferson Laboratory. Electrons scattered at laboratory angles between 18 and 45 degrees were detected using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). For the usual deep inelastic region kinematics, Q(2) \u3e 1 GeV2 and the final-state invariant mass W \u3e 2 GeV, the ratio of polarized to unpolarized structure functions g(1)/F-1 is found to be nearly independent of Q(2) at fixed x. Significant resonant structure is apparent at values of W up to 2.3 GeV. In the framework of perturbative quantum chromodynamics, the high-W results can be used to better constrain the polarization of quarks and gluons in the nucleon, as well as high-twist contributions

Determination of the Proton Spin Structure Functions for 0.05 \u3c Q\u3csup\u3e2\u3c/sup\u3e \u3c5GEV\u3csup\u3e2\u3c/sup\u3e Using CLAS

We present the results of our final analysis of the full data set of gp1 Q2, the spin structure function of the proton, collected using CLAS at Jefferson Laboratory in 2000-2001. Polarized electrons with energies of 1.6, 2.5, 4.2, and 5.7 GeV were scattered from proton targets 15NH3 dynamically polarized along the beam direction) and detected with CLAS. From the measured double spin asymmetries, we extracted virtual photon asymmetries Ap1 and Ap2 and spin structure functions g p1 and gp2 over a wide kinematic range (0.05 GeV2 \u3c Q2 \u3c 5 GeV2 and 1.08 GeV\u3c W \u3c 3 GeV) and calculated moments of gp1. We compare our final results with various theoretical models and expectations, as well as with parametrizations of the world data. Our data, with their precision and dense kinematic coverage, are able to constrain fits of polarized parton distributions, test pQCD predictions for quark polarizations at large x, offer a better understanding of quark-hadron duality, and provide more precise values of higher twist matrix elements in the framework of the operator product expansion

Determination of the proton spin structure functions for 0.05 \u3c Q(2) \u3c 5GeV(2) using CLAS

We present the results of our final analysis of the full data set of g(1)(p) (Q(2)), the spin structure function of the proton, collected using CLAS at Jefferson Laboratory in 2000-2001. Polarized electrons with energies of 1.6, 2.5, 4.2, and 5.7 GeV were scattered from proton targets ((NH3)-N-15 dynamically polarized along the beam direction) and detected with CLAS. From the measured double spin asymmetries, we extracted virtual photon asymmetries A(1)(p) and A(2)(p) and spin structure functions g(1)(p) and g(2)(p) over a wide kinematic range (0.05 GeV2 \u3c Q(2) \u3c 5 GeV2 and 1.08 GeV\u3c W \u3c 3 GeV) and calculated moments of g(1)(p). We compare our final results with various theoretical models and expectations, as well as with parametrizations of the world data. Our data, with their precision and dense kinematic coverage, are able to constrain fits of polarized parton distributions, test pQCD predictions for quark polarizations at large x, offer a better understanding of quark-hadron duality, and provide more precise values of higher twist matrix elements in the framework of the operator product expansion

Longitudinal Spin Transfer to Λ\Lambda and Λˉ\bar{\Lambda} Hyperons in Polarized Proton-Proton Collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 200 GeV

The longitudinal spin transfer, $D_{LL}$, from high energy polarized protons to $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ hyperons has been measured for the first time in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200 \mathrm{GeV}$ with the STAR detector at RHIC. The measurements cover pseudorapidity, $\eta$, in the range $|\eta| < 1.2$ and transverse momenta, $p_\mathrm{T}$, up to $4 \mathrm{GeV}/c$. The longitudinal spin transfer is found to be $D_{LL}= -0.03\pm 0.13(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.04(\mathrm{syst})$ for inclusive $\Lambda$ and $D_{LL} = -0.12 \pm 0.08(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.03(\mathrm{syst})$ for inclusive $\bar{\Lambda}$ hyperons with $= 0.5$ and $= 3.7 \mathrm{GeV}/c$. The dependence on $\eta$ and $p_\mathrm{T}$ is presented.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

An Experimental Exploration of the QCD Phase Diagram: The Search for the Critical Point and the Onset of De-confinement

The QCD phase diagram lies at the heart of what the RHIC Physics Program is all about. While RHIC has been operating very successfully at or close to its maximum energy for almost a decade, it has become clear that this collider can also be operated at lower energies down to 5 GeV without extensive upgrades. An exploration of the full region of beam energies available at the RHIC facility is imperative. The STAR detector, due to its large uniform acceptance and excellent particle identification capabilities, is uniquely positioned to carry out this program in depth and detail. The first exploratory beam energy scan (BES) run at RHIC took place in 2010 (Run 10), since several STAR upgrades, most importantly a full barrel Time of Flight detector, are now completed which add new capabilities important for the interesting physics at BES energies. In this document we discuss current proposed measurements, with estimations of the accuracy of the measurements given an assumed event count at each beam energy.Comment: 59 pages, 78 figure

Measurements of Dihadron Correlations Relative to the Event Plane in Au+Au Collisions at sNN=200\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV

Dihadron azimuthal correlations containing a high transverse momentum (\pt) trigger particle are sensitive to the properties of the nuclear medium created at RHIC through the strong interactions occurring between the traversing parton and the medium, i.e. jet-quenching. Previous measurements revealed a strong modification to dihadron azimuthal correlations in Au+Au collisions with respect to \pp\ and \dAu\ collisions. The modification increases with the collision centrality, suggesting a path-length dependence to the jet-quenching effect. This paper reports STAR measurements of dihadron azimuthal correlations in mid-central (20-60\%) Au+Au collisions at \snn=200~GeV as a function of the trigger particle's azimuthal angle relative to the event plane, \phis=|\phit-\psiEP|. The azimuthal correlation is studied as a function of both the trigger and associated particle \pt. The subtractions of the combinatorial background and anisotropic flow, assuming Zero Yield At Minimum (\zyam), are described. The away-side correlation is strongly modified, and the modification varies with \phis, which is expected to be related to the path-length that the away-side parton traverses. The pseudo-rapidity (\deta) dependence of the near-side correlation, sensitive to long range \deta correlations (the ridge), is also investigated. The ridge and jet-like components of the near-side correlation are studied as a function of \phis. The ridge appears to drop with increasing \phis while the jet-like component remains approximately constant. ...Comment: 50 pages, 39 figures, 6 table