Showing papers by "Malgorzata Anna Janik published in 2021"

Measurement of beauty and charm production in pp collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 5.02 TeV via non-prompt and prompt D mesons

Abstract: The pT-differential production cross sections of prompt and non-prompt (produced in beauty-hadron decays) D mesons were measured by the ALICE experiment at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) in proton-proton collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 5.02 TeV. The data sample used in the analysis corresponds to an integrated luminosity of (19.3 ± 0.4) nb−1. D mesons were reconstructed from their decays D0 → K−π+, D+ → K−π+π+, and $$ {\mathrm{D}}_{\mathrm{s}}^{+}\to \upphi {\uppi}^{+}\to {\mathrm{K}}^{-}{\mathrm{K}}^{+}{\uppi}^{+} $$ and their charge conjugates. Compared to previous measurements in the same rapidity region, the cross sections of prompt D+ and $$ {\mathrm{D}}_{\mathrm{s}}^{+} $$ mesons have an extended pT coverage and total uncertainties reduced by a factor ranging from 1.05 to 1.6, depending on pT, allowing for a more precise determination of their pT-integrated cross sections. The results are well described by perturbative QCD calculations. The fragmentation fraction of heavy quarks to strange mesons divided by the one to non-strange mesons, fs/(fu + fd), is compatible for charm and beauty quarks and with previous measurements at different centre-of-mass energies and collision systems. The $$ \mathrm{b}\overline{\mathrm{b}} $$ production cross section per rapidity unit at midrapidity, estimated from non-prompt D-meson measurements, is $$ \mathrm{d}{\sigma}_{\mathrm{b}\overline{\mathrm{b}}}/\mathrm{d}y\left|{}_{\left|\mathrm{y}\right|<0.5}=34.5\pm 2.4{\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)}_{-2.9}^{+4.7}\left(\mathrm{tot}.\mathrm{syst}\right)\right. $$ μb. It is compatible with previous measurements at the same centre-of-mass energy and with the cross section pre- dicted by perturbative QCD calculations.

$\rm \Lambda_{c}^{+}$ production and baryon-to-meson ratios in pp and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV at the LHC

Abstract: The prompt production of the charm baryon Λ c + and the Λ c + / D 0 production ratios were measured at midrapidity with the ALICE detector in p p and p -Pb collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV . These new measurements show a clear decrease of the Λ c + / D 0 ratio with increasing transverse momentum ( p T ) in both collision systems in the range 2 p T 12 GeV / c , exhibiting similarities with the light-flavor baryon-to-meson ratios p / π and Λ / K S 0 . At low p T , predictions that include additional color-reconnection mechanisms beyond the leading-color approximation, assume the existence of additional higher-mass charm-baryon states, or include hadronization via coalescence can describe the data, while predictions driven by charm-quark fragmentation processes measured in e + e - and e - p collisions significantly underestimate the data. The results presented in this Letter provide significant evidence that the established assumption of universality (colliding-system independence) of parton-to-hadron fragmentation is not sufficient to describe charm-baryon production in hadronic collisions at LHC energies.

Production of light-flavor hadrons in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~7\text { and }\sqrt{s} = 13 \, \text { TeV} $

Abstract: The production of $\pi ^{\pm }$, $\mathrm{K}^{\pm }$, $\mathrm{K}^{0}_{S}$, $\mathrm{K}^{*}(892)^{0}$, $\mathrm{p}$, $\phi (1020)$, $\Lambda $, $\Xi ^{-}$, $\Omega ^{-}$, and their antiparticles was measured in inelastic proton–proton (pp) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) as a function of transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{T}}$) using the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC. Furthermore, the single-particle $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ distributions of $\mathrm{K}^{0}_{S}$, $\Lambda $, and $\overline{\Lambda }$ in inelastic pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV are reported here for the first time. The $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ distributions are studied at midrapidity within the transverse momentum range $0\le p_{\mathrm{T}}\le 20$ GeV/c, depending on the particle species. The $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ spectra, integrated yields, and particle yield ratios are discussed as a function of collision energy and compared with measurements at lower $\sqrt{s}$ and with results from various general-purpose QCD-inspired Monte Carlo models. A hardening of the spectra at high $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ with increasing collision energy is observed, which is similar for all particle species under study. The transverse mass and $x_{\mathrm{T}}\equiv 2p_{\mathrm{T}}/\sqrt{s}$ scaling properties of hadron production are also studied. As the collision energy increases from $\sqrt{s}$ = 7–13 TeV, the yields of non- and single-strange hadrons normalized to the pion yields remain approximately constant as a function of $\sqrt{s}$, while ratios for multi-strange hadrons indicate enhancements. The $p_\mathrm{{T}}$-differential cross sections of $\pi ^{\pm }$, $\mathrm {K}^{\pm }$ and $\mathrm {p}$ ($\overline{\mathrm{p}}$) are compared with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations, which are found to overestimate the cross sections for $\pi ^{\pm }$ and $\mathrm{p}$ ($\overline{\mathrm{p}}$) at high $p_\mathrm{{T}}$.

Coherent $\rm{J/\psi}$ and $\rm{\psi'}$ photoproduction at midrapidity in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~5.02$ TeV

Abstract: The coherent photoproduction of $\rm{J/\psi}$ and $\rm{\psi'}$ mesons was measured in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector. Charmonia are detected in the central rapidity region for events where the hadronic interactions are strongly suppressed. The $\rm{J/\psi}$ is reconstructed using the dilepton ($l^{+} l^{-}$) and proton-antiproton decay channels, while for the $\rm{\psi'}$, the dilepton and the $l^{+} l^{-} \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ decay channels are studied. The analysis is based on an event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 233 ${\mu b}^{-1}$. The results are compared with theoretical models for coherent $\rm{J/\psi}$ and $\rm{\psi'}$ photoproduction. The coherent cross section is found to be in a good agreement with models incorporating moderate nuclear gluon shadowing of about 0.65 at a Bjorken-$x$ of around $6\times 10^{-4}$, such as the EPS09 parametrization, however none of the models is able to fully describe the rapidity dependence of the coherent $\rm{J/\psi}$ cross section including ALICE measurements at forward rapidity. The ratio of $\rm{\psi'}$ to $\rm{J/\psi}$ coherent photoproduction cross sections was also measured and found to be consistent with the one for photoproduction off protons.

Pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles as a function of mid- and forward rapidity multiplicities in pp collisions at √{s } = 5.02, 7 and 13 TeV

Abstract: The multiplicity dependence of the pseudorapidity density of charged particles in proton–proton (pp) collisions at centre-of-mass energies $$\sqrt{s}~=~5.02$$ , 7 and 13 TeV measured by ALICE is reported. The analysis relies on track segments measured in the midrapidity range ( $$|\eta | < 1.5$$ ). Results are presented for inelastic events having at least one charged particle produced in the pseudorapidity interval $$|\eta |<1$$ . The multiplicity dependence of the pseudorapidity density of charged particles is measured with mid- and forward rapidity multiplicity estimators, the latter being less affected by autocorrelations. A detailed comparison with predictions from the PYTHIA 8 and EPOS LHC event generators is also presented. The results can be used to constrain models for particle production as a function of multiplicity in pp collisions.

Experimental evidence for an attractive p-$\phi$ interaction

Abstract: This Letter presents the first experimental evidence of the attractive strong interaction between a proton and a $\phi$ meson. The result is obtained from two-particle correlations of combined p-$\phi \oplus \overline{\rm {p}}$-$\phi$ pairs measured in high-multiplicity pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~13$ TeV by the ALICE collaboration. The spin-averaged scattering length and effective range of the p-$\phi$ interaction are extracted from the fully corrected correlation function employing the Lednický-Lyuboshits approach. In particular, the imaginary part of the scattering length vanishes within uncertainties, indicating that inelastic processes do not play a prominent role for the p-$\phi$ interaction. These data demonstrate that the interaction is dominated by elastic p-$\phi$ scattering. Furthermore, an analysis employing phenomenological Gaussian- and Yukawa-type potentials is conducted. Under the assumption of the latter, the N-$\phi$ coupling constant is found to be $g_{\rm{N}-\phi} = 0.14\pm 0.03\,(\mathrm{stat.})\pm 0.02\,(\mathrm{syst.})$. This work provides valuable experimental input to accomplish a self-consistent description of the N-$\phi$ interaction, which is particularly relevant for the more fundamental studies on partial restoration of chiral symmetry in nuclear medium.

Elliptic Flow of Electrons from Beauty-Hadron Decays in Pb-Pb Collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV

Abstract: The elliptic flow of electrons from beauty hadron decays at midrapidity ($|y|$ $<$ 0.8) is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The azimuthal distribution of the particles produced in the collisions can be parameterized with a Fourier expansion, in which the second harmonic coefficient represents the elliptic flow, $v_{\rm 2}$. The $v_{\rm 2}$ coefficient is measured for the first time in transverse momentum ($p_{\rm{T}}$) range 1.3-6 GeV/$c$ in the centrality class 30-50%. The measurement of electrons from beauty-hadron decays exploits their larger mean proper decay length $c\tau \approx$ 500 $\mu$m compared to that of charm hadrons and most of the other background sources. The $v_{\rm 2}$ of electrons from beauty hadron decays at midrapidity is found to be positive with a significance of 3.75$\sigma$. The results provide insights on the degree of thermalization of beauty quarks in the medium. A model assuming full thermalization of beauty quarks is strongly disfavoured by the measurement at high $p_{\rm{T}}$, but is in agreement with the results at low $p_{\rm{T}}$. Transport models including substantial interactions of beauty quarks with an expanding strongly-interacting medium describe the measurement.

Charm-quark fragmentation fractions and production cross section at 4 midrapidity in pp collisions at the LHC

Abstract: Recent $p_{\rm T}$-integrated cross section measurements of the ground-state charm mesons and baryons, D$^{\rm 0}$, D$^+$, D$_{\rm s}^{+}$, $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$, and $\Xi_{\rm c}^0$, are used to evaluate the charm fragmentation fractions and production cross section per unit of rapidity at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$), in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV at the LHC. The latter is ${\rm d} \sigma^{\rm c \overline{c}}/{\rm d} y|_{|y| < 0.5}$ =1165 $\pm 44(\rm{stat})^{+134}_{-101}(\rm{syst})$$\mu b$. These measurements were obtained for the first time in hadronic collisions at the LHC including the charm baryon states, recently measured by ALICE at midrapidity. The charm fragmentation fractions differ significantly from the values measured in e$^+$e$^-$ and ep collisions, providing evidence of the dependence of the parton-to-hadron fragmentation fractions on the collision system, indicating that the assumption of their universality is not supported by the measured cross sections. An increase of a factor of about 3.3 for the fragmentation fraction for the $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$ with a significance of $5\,\sigma$ between the values obtained in pp collisions and those obtained in e$^+$e$^-$ (ep) collisions is reported. The fragmentation fraction for the $\Xi_{\rm c}^0$ was obtained for the first time in any collision system. The measured fragmentation fractions were used to update the $\rm c \overline{c}$ cross sections per unit of rapidity at $|y|<0.5$ at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ and 7 TeV, which are about 40% higher than the previously published results. The data were compared with perturbative-QCD calculations and lie at the upper edge of the theoretical bands.

Production of pions, kaons, (anti-)protons and phi mesons in Xe–Xe collisions at √sNN = 5.44 TeV

Abstract: The first measurement of the production of pions, kaons, (anti-)protons and $$\phi $$ mesons at midrapidity in Xe–Xe collisions at $$\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.44~\text {TeV}$$ is presented. Transverse momentum ( $$p_{\mathrm{T}}$$ ) spectra and $$p_{\mathrm{T}}$$ -integrated yields are extracted in several centrality intervals bridging from p–Pb to mid-central Pb–Pb collisions in terms of final-state multiplicity. The study of Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb collisions allows systems at similar charged-particle multiplicities but with different initial geometrical eccentricities to be investigated. A detailed comparison of the spectral shapes in the two systems reveals an opposite behaviour for radial and elliptic flow. In particular, this study shows that the radial flow does not depend on the colliding system when compared at similar charged-particle multiplicity. In terms of hadron chemistry, the previously observed smooth evolution of particle ratios with multiplicity from small to large collision systems is also found to hold in Xe–Xe. In addition, our results confirm that two remarkable features of particle production at LHC energies are also valid in the collision of medium-sized nuclei: the lower proton-to-pion ratio with respect to the thermal model expectations and the increase of the $$\phi $$ -to-pion ratio with increasing final-state multiplicity.

Measurement of the cross sections of $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$ and $\Xi^+_{\rm c}$ baryons and branching-fraction ratio BR($\Xi^0_{\rm c} \rightarrow \Xi^-{\rm e}^+\nu_{\rm e}$)/BR($\Xi^0_{\rm c} \rightarrow \Xi^-\pi^+$) in pp collisions at 13 TeV

Abstract: The $p_{\rm T}$-differential cross sections of prompt charm-strange baryons $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$ and $\Xi^+_{\rm c}$ were measured at midrapidity ($|y| < 0.5$) in proton$-$proton (pp) collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$ baryon was reconstructed via both the semileptonic decay ($\Xi^{-}{\rm e^{+}} u_{\rm e}$) and the hadronic decay ($\Xi^{-}{\rm \pi^{+}}$) channels. The $\Xi^+_{\rm c}$ baryon was reconstructed via the hadronic decay ($\Xi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+}$) channel. The branching-fraction ratio $\rm {\rm BR}(\Xi_c^0\rightarrow \Xi^-e^+ u_e)/\rm {\rm BR}(\Xi_c^0\rightarrow \Xi^{-}\pi^+)=$ 1.38 $\pm$ 0.14 (stat) $\pm$ 0.22 (syst) was measured with a total uncertainty reduced by a factor of about 3 with respect to the current world average reported by the Particle Data Group. The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) dependence of the $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$- and $\Xi^+_{\rm c}$-baryon production relative to the ${\rm D^0}$-meson and to the $\Sigma^{0,+,++}_{\rm c}$- and $\Lambda^+_{\rm c}$-baryon production are reported. The baryon-to-meson ratio increases towards low $p_{\rm T}$ up to a value of approximately 0.3. The measurements are compared with various models that take different hadronisation mechanisms into consideration. The results provide stringent constraints to these theoretical calculations and additional evidence that different processes are involved in charm hadronisation in electron$-$positron ($\rm e^+e^-$) and hadronic collisions.

Centrality dependence of J/ψ and ψ(2S) production and nuclear modification in p-Pb collisions at √sNN = 8.16 TeV

Abstract: A.I. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory (Yerevan Physics Insti- tute) Foundation (ANSL), State Committee of Science and World Federation of Scientists (WFS), Armenia; Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austrian Science Fund (FWF): [M 2467- N36] and Nationalstiftung fur Forschung, Technologie und Entwicklung, Austria; Ministry of Communications and High Technologies, National Nuclear Research Center, Azerbaijan; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq), Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (Finep), Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Ministry of Education of China (MOEC), Ministry of Science & Technology of China (MSTC) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), China; Ministry of Science and Education and Croatian Science Foundation, Croatia; Centro de Aplicaciones Tecnologi- cas y Desarrollo Nuclear (CEADEN), Cubaenergia, Cuba; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic; The Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences, the VILLUM FONDEN and Danish National Research Foun- dation (DNRF), Denmark; Helsinki Institute of Physics (HIP), Finland; Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (CEA) and Institut National de Physique Nucleaire et de Physique des Particules (IN2P3) and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France; Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) and GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Germany; General Secretariat for Research and Technol- ogy, Ministry of Education, Research and Religions, Greece; National Research, Develop- ment and Innovation Office, Hungary; Department of Atomic Energy Government of India (DAE), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (DST), University Grants Commission, Government of India (UGC) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India; Indonesian Institute of Science, Indonesia; Centro Fermi — MuseoStorico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche Enrico Fermi and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Italy; Institute for Innovative Science and Technology, Nagasaki Insti- tute of Applied Science (IIST), Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAK- ENHI, Japan; Consejo Nacional de Ciencia (CONACYT) y Tecnologia, through Fondo de Cooperacion Internacional en Ciencia y Tecnologia (FONCICYT) and Direccion Gen- eral de Asuntos del Personal Academico (DGAPA), Mexico; Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), Netherlands; The Research Council of Norway, Nor- way; Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), Pakistan; Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, Peru; Ministry of Sci- ence and Higher Education, National Science Centre and WUT ID-UB, Poland; Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information and National Research Foundation of Ko- rea (NRF), Republic of Korea; Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, Institute of Atomic Physics and Ministry of Research and Innovation and Institute of Atomic Physics, Romania; Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute, Russian Science Foundation and Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Russia; Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia; National Research Foun- dation of South Africa, South Africa; Swedish Research Council (VR) and Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW), Sweden; European Organization for Nuclear Research, Switzerland; Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSDTA) and Office of the Higher Education Commission under NRU project of Thailand, Thailand; Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK), Turkey; Na- tional Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine; Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), United Kingdom; National Science Foundation of the United States of America (NSF) and United States Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Physics (DOE NP), United States of America.

Investigating the role of strangeness in baryon$-$antibaryon annihilation at the LHC

Abstract: Annihilation dynamics plays a fundamental role in the baryon$-$antibaryon interaction (B$-\rm{\overline{B}}$) at low-energy and its strength and range are crucial in the assessment of possible baryon bound states. Experimental data on annihilation cross sections are available for the p$-\rm{\overline{p}}$ system but not in the low relative momentum region. Data regarding the B$\rm{\overline{B}}$ interaction with strange degrees of freedom are extremely scarce or absent, hence the modeling of the annihilation contributions is mainly based on nucleon$-$antinucleon (N$-\rm{\overline{N}}$) results, when available. In this letter we present a measurement of the p$-\rm{\overline{p}}$, p$-\overline{\Lambda}\oplus\rm{\overline{p}}-\Lambda$ and $\Lambda-\overline{\Lambda}$ interaction using correlation functions in the relative momentum space in high-multiplicity triggered pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. In the p$-\rm{\overline{p}}$ system the couplings to the mesonic channels in different partial waves are extracted by adopting a coupled-channel approach with recent $\chi\rm{EFT}$ potentials. The inclusion of these inelastic channels provides good agreement with the data, showing a significant presence of the annihilation term down to zero momentum. Predictions obtained using the Lednický$-$Lyuboshits formula and scattering parameters obtained from heavy-ion collisions, hence mainly sensitive to elastic processes, are compared with the experimental p$-\overline{\Lambda}\oplus\rm{\overline{p}}-\Lambda$ and $\Lambda-\overline{\Lambda}$ correlations. The model describes the $\Lambda-\overline{\Lambda}$ data and underestimates the p$-\overline{\Lambda}\oplus\rm{\overline{p}}-\Lambda$ data in the region of momenta below 200 MeV/$c$. The observed deviation indicates a different contribution of annihilation channels to the two systems containing strange hadrons.

Λk femtoscopy in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN =2.76 TeV

Abstract: Author(s): Acharya, S; Adamova, D; Adler, A; Adolfsson, J; Aggarwal, MM; Aglieri Rinella, G; Agnello, M; Agrawal, N; Ahammed, Z; Ahmad, S; Ahn, SU; Akbar, Z; Akindinov, A; Al-Turany, M; Alam, SN; Albuquerque, DSD; Aleksandrov, D; Alessandro, B; Alfanda, HM; Alfaro Molina, R; Ali, B; Ali, Y; Alici, A; Alkin, A; Alme, J; Alt, T; Altenkamper, L; Altsybeev, I; Anaam, MN; Andrei, C; Andreou, D; Andronic, A; Angeletti, M; Anguelov, V; Anson, C; Anticic, T; Antinori, F; Antonioli, P; Apadula, N; Aphecetche, L; Appelshauser, H; Arcelli, S; Arnaldi, R; Arratia, M; Arsene, IC; Arslandok, M; Augustinus, A; Averbeck, R; Aziz, S; Azmi, MD; Badala, A; Baek, YW; Bagnasco, S; Bai, X; Bailhache, R; Bala, R; Balbino, A; Baldisseri, A; Ball, M; Balouza, S; Banerjee, D; Barbera, R; Barioglio, L; Barnafoldi, GG; Barnby, LS; Barret, V; Bartalini, P; Bartels, C; Barth, K; Bartsch, E; Baruffaldi, F; Bastid, N; Basu, S; Batigne, G; Batyunya, B; Bauri, D; Bazo Alba, JL; Bearden, IG; Beattie, C; Bedda, C; Behera, NK; Belikov, I; Bell Hechavarria, ADC; Bellini, F; Bellwied, R | Abstract: The first measurements of the scattering parameters of ΛK pairs in all three charge combinations (ΛK+, ΛK-, and ΛKS0) are presented. The results are achieved through a femtoscopic analysis of ΛK correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV recorded by ALICE at the Large Hadron Collider. The femtoscopic correlations result from strong final-state interactions and are fit with a parametrization allowing for both the characterization of the pair emission source and the measurement of the scattering parameters for the particle pairs. Extensive studies with the THERMINATOR 2 event generator provide a good description of the nonfemtoscopic background, which results mainly from collective effects, with unprecedented precision. Furthermore, together with HIJING simulations, this model is used to account for contributions from residual correlations induced by feed-down from particle decays. The extracted scattering parameters indicate that the strong force is repulsive in the ΛK+ interaction and attractive in the ΛK- interaction. The data hint that the ΛKS0 interaction is attractive; however, the uncertainty of the result does not permit such a decisive conclusion. The results suggest an effect arising either from different quark-antiquark interactions between the pairs (ss¯ in ΛK+ and uū in ΛK-) or from different net strangeness for each system (S=0 for ΛK+, and S=-2 for ΛK-). Finally, the ΛK systems exhibit source radii larger than expected from extrapolation from identical particle femtoscopic studies. This effect is interpreted as resulting from the separation in space-time of the single-particle Λ and K source distributions.

Multiharmonic Correlations of Different Flow Amplitudes in Pb-Pb Collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV

Abstract: The event-by-event correlations between three flow amplitudes are measured for the first time in Pb-Pb collisions, using higher-order symmetric cumulants. We find that different three-harmonic correlations develop during the collective evolution of the medium when compared to correlations that exist in the initial state. These new results cannot be interpreted in terms of previous lower-order flow measurements since contributions from two-harmonic correlations are explicitly removed in the new observables. A comparison to Monte Carlo simulations provides new and independent constraints for the initial conditions and system properties of nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions. © 2021 CERN, for the ALICE Collaboration.

Energy dependence of $\phi$ meson production at forward rapidity in pp collisions at the LHC

Abstract: The production of $\phi$ mesons has been studied in pp collisions at LHC energies with the ALICE detector via the dimuon decay channel in the rapidity region $2.5 < y < 4$. Measurements of the differential cross section ${\rm d}^2\sigma/{\rm d}y {\rm d}p_{\rm T}$ are presented as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) at the center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s}=5.02$, 8 and 13 TeV and compared with the ALICE results at midrapidity. The differential cross sections at $\sqrt{s}=5.02$ and 13 TeV are also studied in several rapidity intervals as a function of $p_{\rm T}$, and as a function of rapidity in three $p_{\rm T}$ intervals. A hardening of the $p_{\rm T}$-differential cross section with the collision energy is observed, while, for a given energy, $p_{\rm T}$ spectra soften with increasing rapidity and, conversely, rapidity distributions get slightly narrower at increasing $p_{\rm T}$. The new results, complementing the published measurements at $\sqrt{s}=2.76$ and 7 TeV, allow one to establish the energy dependence of $\phi$ meson production and to compare the measured cross sections with phenomenological models.

Soft-Dielectron Excess in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV.

Abstract: A measurement of dielectron production in proton-proton (pp) collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, recorded with the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC, is presented in this Letter The data set was recorded with a reduced magnetic solenoid field This enables the investigation of a kinematic domain at low dielectron invariant mass $m_{\rm ee}$ and pair transverse momentum $p_{\rm T,ee}$ that was previously inaccessible at the LHC The cross section for dielectron production is studied as a function of $m_{\rm ee}$, $p_{\rm T,ee}$, and event multiplicity ${\rm d} N_{\rm ch}/{\rm d} \eta$ The expected dielectron rate from hadron decays, called hadronic cocktail, utilizes a parametrization of the measured $\eta/\pi^0$ ratio in pp and proton-nucleus (p-A) collisions, assuming that this ratio shows no strong dependence on collision energy at low transverse momentum Comparison of the measured dielectron yield to the hadronic cocktail at $015

Measurements of the groomed and ungroomed jet angularities in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV

Abstract: The jet angularities are a class of jet substructure observables which characterize the angular and momentum distribution of particles within jets. These observables are sensitive to momentum scales ranging from perturbative hard scatterings to nonperturbative fragmentation into final-state hadrons. We report measurements of several infrared- and collinear-safe jet angularities in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector. Jets are reconstructed using charged particle tracks at midrapidity. The anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm is used with jet resolution parameters $R = 0.2$ and $R = 0.4$ for several transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}^{\text{ch jet}}$ intervals in the 20$-$100 GeV/$c$ range. Using the jet grooming algorithm Soft Drop, the sensitivity to softer, wide-angle processes, as well as the underlying event, can be reduced in a way which is well-controlled in theoretical calculations. We report the ungroomed jet angularities, $\lambda_{\alpha}$, and groomed jet angularities, $\lambda_{\alpha\text{ , g}}$, to investigate the interplay between perturbative and nonperturbative effects at low jet momenta. Various angular exponent parameters $\alpha = 1$, 1.5, 2, and 3 are used to systematically vary the sensitivity of the observable to collinear and soft radiation. Results are compared to analytical predictions at next-to-leading-logarithmic accuracy, which provide a generally good description of the data in the perturbative regime but exhibit discrepancies in the nonperturbative regime. Moreover, these measurements serve as a baseline for future ones in heavy-ion collisions by providing new insight into the interplay between perturbative and nonperturbative effects in the angular and momentum substructure of jets. They supply crucial guidance on the selection of jet resolution parameter, jet transverse momentum and angular scaling variable for jet quenching studies.

Long- and short-range correlations and their event-scale dependence in high-multiplicity pp collisions at s=13 TeV

Abstract: Two-particle angular correlations are measured in high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =13$ TeV by the ALICE Collaboration. The yields of particle pairs at short-($\Delta\eta$ $\sim$ 0) and long-range ($1.6 < |\Delta\eta| < 1.8$) in pseudorapidity are extracted on the near-side ($\Delta\varphi$ $\sim$ 0). They are reported as a function of transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm T}$) in the range $1

Anisotropic flow of identified hadrons in Xe-Xe collisions at s NN $$ \sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} $$ = 5.44 TeV

Abstract: Measurements of elliptic ($v_2$) and triangular ($v_3$) flow coefficients of $\pi^{\pm}$, K$^{\pm}$, p+$\rm \overline{p}$, K$^0_{\rm S}$, and $\Lambda + \overline{\Lambda}$ obtained with the scalar product method in Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV are presented. The results are obtained in the rapidity range $\left | y \right |<0.5$ and reported as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, for several collision centrality classes. The flow coefficients exhibit a particle mass dependence for $p_{\rm T}<3$ GeV/$c$, while a grouping according to particle type (i.e., meson and baryon) is found at intermediate transverse momenta (3< $p_{\rm T}$ <8 GeV/$c$). The magnitude of the baryon $v_{2}$ is larger than that of mesons up to $p_{\rm T}$ = 6 GeV/$c$. The centrality dependence of the shape evolution of the $p_{\rm T}$-differential $v_2$ is studied for the various hadron species. The $v_2$ coefficients of $\pi^{\pm}$, K$^{\pm}$, and p+$\rm \overline{p}$ are reproduced by MUSIC hydrodynamic calculations coupled to a hadronic cascade model (UrQMD) for $p_{\rm T} <1$ GeV/$c$. A comparison with $v_{\rm n}$ measurements in the corresponding centrality intervals in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV yields an enhanced $v_2$ in central collisions and diminished value in semicentral collisions.

Unfolding the effects of final-state interactions and quantum statistics in two-particle angular correlations

Abstract: Angular correlations of identified particles measured in ultrarelativistic proton-proton (pp) and heavy-ion collisions exhibit a number of features which depend on the collision system and the particle type under consideration. Most prominently, distinct near- ($\Delta\varphi\approx0$) and away-side ($\Delta\varphi\approx\pi$) structures can be observed which reflect the jet and, in the case of heavy-ion reactions, jet phenomena. However, other effects are also present and come with their own specific features. Of particular importance are those related to the quantum statistics (QS) and final state interactions (FSI). In this work we show how to unfold the QS and FSI contributions in angular correlation functions by employing a Monte Carlo approach and using momentum correlations (femtoscopy), focusing on pp reactions. We validate the proposed method with PYTHIA 8 Monte Carlo simulations of pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, coupled to calculations of QS and FSI effects with the Lednický& Lyuboshitz formalism, and provide predictions for the unfolded effects. In particular, we show how those effects modify the shape of the angular correlation function, with emphasis on baryons. Most importantly, specific depletions observed in the near-side region for both baryon-baryon and baryon-antibaryon pairs, originating from the strong interaction, are unveiled with the proposed method.

Direct observation of the dead-cone effect in QCD

Abstract: At particle collider experiments, elementary particle interactions with large momentum transfer produce quarks and gluons (known as partons) whose evolution is governed by the strong force, as described by the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). The vacuum is not transparent to the partons and induces gluon radiation and quark pair production in a process that can be described as a parton shower. Studying the pattern of the parton shower is one of the key experimental tools in understanding the properties of QCD. This pattern is expected to depend on the mass of the initiating parton, through a phenomenon known as the dead-cone effect, which predicts a suppression of the gluon spectrum emitted by a heavy quark of mass $m$ and energy $E$, within a cone of angular size $m$/$E$ around the emitter. A direct observation of the dead-cone effect in QCD has not been possible until now, due to the challenge of reconstructing the cascading quarks and gluons from the experimentally accessible bound hadronic states. We report the first direct observation of the QCD dead-cone by using new iterative declustering techniques to reconstruct the parton shower of charm quarks. This result confirms a fundamental feature of QCD, which is derived more generally from its origin as a gauge quantum field theory. Furthermore, the measurement of a dead-cone angle constitutes a direct experimental observation of the non-zero mass of the charm quark, which is a fundamental constant in the standard model of particle physics.