arXiv subjects

C. Butler

Publications and source records attributed to C. Butler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Measurement of elliptic flow of J$/\psi$ in $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV Au$+$Au collisions at forward rapidity

We report the first measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy of J$/\psi$ at forward rapidity ($1.2<|\eta|<2.2$) in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The data were collected by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 and 2016 with integrated luminosity of 14.5~nb$^{-1}$. The second Fourier coefficient ($v_2$) of the azimuthal distribution of $J/\psi$ is determined as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_T$) using the event-plane method. The measurements were performed for several selections of collision centrality: 0\%--50\%, 10\%--60\%, and 10\%-40\%. We find that in all cases the values of $v_2(p_T)$, which quantify the elliptic flow of J$/\psi$, are consistent with zero. The results are consistent with measurements at midrapidity, indicating no significant elliptic flow of the J$/\psi$ within the quark-gluon-plasma medium at collision energies of $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Measurements at forward rapidity of elliptic flow of charged hadrons and open-heavy-flavor muons in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

We present the first forward-rapidity measurements of elliptic anisotropy of open-heavy-flavor muons at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The measurements are based on data samples of Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV collected by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 and 2016 with integrated luminosity of 14.5~nb$^{-1}$. The measurements are performed in the pseudorapidity range $1.2<|\eta|<2$ and cover transverse momenta $1<p_T<4$~GeV/$c$. The elliptic flow of charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum is also measured in the same kinematic range. We observe significant elliptic flow for both charged hadrons and heavy-flavor muons. The results show clear mass ordering of elliptic flow of light- and heavy-flavor particles. The magnitude of the measured $v_2$ is comparable to that in the midrapidity region. This indicates that there is no strong longitudinal dependence in the quark-gluon-plasma evolution between midrapidity and the rapidity range of this measurement at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Disentangling centrality bias and final-state effects in the production of high-$p_T$ $\pi^0$ using direct $\gamma$ in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

PHENIX presents a simultaneous measurement of the production of direct $\gamma$ and $\pi^0$ in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV over a $p_T$ range of 7.5 to 18 GeV/$c$ for different event samples selected by event activity, i.e. charged-particle multiplicity detected at forward rapidity. Direct-photon yields are used to empirically estimate the contribution of hard-scattering processes in the different event samples. Using this estimate, the average nuclear-modification factor $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{\gamma^{\rm dir}}$ is $0.925{\pm}0.023({\rm stat}){\pm}0.15^{\rm (scale)}$, consistent with unity for minimum-bias (MB) $d$$+$Au events. For event classes with moderate event activity, $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{\gamma^{\rm dir}}$ is consistent with the MB value within 5\% uncertainty. These results confirm that the previously observed enhancement of high-$p_T$ $\pi^0$ production found in small-system collisions with low event activity is a result of a bias in interpreting event activity within the Glauber framework. In contrast, for the top 5\% of events with the highest event activity, $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{\gamma^{\rm dir}}$ is suppressed by 20\% relative to the MB value with a significance of $4.5\sigma$, which may be due to final-state effects.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

Perpetual Observational Studies: New strategies to support efficient implementation of observational studies and randomized trials in the infectious diseases arena

The increasing threat of emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance requires more efficient, high-quality research. Perpetual Observational Studies (POS) nested within a clinical research network can improve planning, quality and efficiency of interventional and observational studies, although real-life benefits and challenges need to be assessed. Ecraid (European Clinical Research Alliance on Infectious Diseases) has initiated POS and will monitor the impact for five specific infectious syndromes.

stat.ME↗

arXiv2022

Measurements of second-harmonic Fourier coefficients from azimuthal anisotropies in $p$$+$$p$, $p$$+$Au, $d$$+$Au, and $^3$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

Recently, the PHENIX Collaboration has published second- and third-harmonic Fourier coefficients $v_2$ and $v_3$ for midrapidity ($|\eta|<0.35$) charged hadrons in 0\%--5\% central $p$$+$Au, $d$$+$Au, and $^3$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV utilizing three sets of two-particle correlations for two detector combinations with different pseudorapidity acceptance [Phys. Rev. C {\bf 105}, 024901 (2022)]. This paper extends these measurements of $v_2$ to all centralities in $p$$+$Au, $d$$+$Au, and $^3$He$+$Au collisions, as well as $p$$+$$p$ collisions, as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$) and event multiplicity. The kinematic dependence of $v_2$ is quantified as the ratio $R$ of $v_2$ between the two detector combinations as a function of event multiplicity for $0.5$$<$$p_T$$<$$1$ and $2$$<$$p_T$$<$$2.5$ GeV/$c$. A multiphase-transport (AMPT) model can reproduce the observed $v_2$ in most-central to midcentral $d$$+$Au and $^3$He$+$Au collisions. However, the AMPT model systematically overestimates the measurements in $p$$+$$p$, $p$$+$Au, and peripheral $d$$+$Au and $^3$He$+$Au collisions, indicating a higher nonflow contribution in AMPT than in the experimental data. The AMPT model fails to describe the observed $R$ for $0.5$$<$$p_T$$<$$1$ GeV/$c$, but there is qualitative agreement with the measurements for $2$$<$$p_T$$<$$2.5$ GeV/$c$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Kinematic dependence of azimuthal anisotropies in $p$$+$Au, $d$$+$Au, $^3$He+Au at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV

There is strong evidence for the formation of small droplets of quark-gluon plasma in $p/d/^{3}$He+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and in $p$+$p$/Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. In particular, the analysis of data at RHIC for different geometries obtained by varying the projectile size and shape has proven insightful. In the present analysis, we find excellent agreement with the previously published PHENIX at RHIC results on elliptical and triangular flow with an independent analysis via the two-particle correlation method, which has quite different systematic uncertainties and an independent code base. In addition, the results are extended to other detector combinations with different kinematic (pseudorapidity) coverage. These results provide additional constraints on contributions from nonflow and longitudinal decorrelations.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Pseudorapidity dependence of particle production and elliptic flow in asymmetric nuclear collisions of $p$$+$Al, $p$$+$Au, $d$$+$Au, and $^{3}$He$+$Au at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

Asymmetric nuclear collisions of $p$$+$Al, $p$$+$Au, $d$$+$Au, and $^{3}$He$+$Au at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV provide an excellent laboratory for understanding particle production, as well as exploring interactions among these particles after their initial creation in the collision. We present measurements of charged hadron production $dN_{\rm ch}/d\eta$ in all such collision systems over a broad pseudorapidity range and as a function of collision multiplicity. A simple wounded quark model is remarkably successful at describing the full data set. We also measure the elliptic flow $v_{2}$ over a similarly broad pseudorapidity range. These measurements provide key constraints on models of particle emission and their translation into flow.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Creating small circular, elliptical, and triangular droplets of quark-gluon plasma

The experimental study of the collisions of heavy nuclei at relativistic energies has established the properties of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), a state of hot, dense nuclear matter in which quarks and gluons are not bound into hadrons. In this state, matter behaves as a nearly inviscid fluid that efficiently translates initial spatial anisotropies into correlated momentum anisotropies among the produced particles, producing a common velocity field pattern known as collective flow. In recent years, comparable momentum anisotropies have been measured in small-system proton-proton ($p$$+$$p$) and proton-nucleus ($p$$+$$A$) collisions, despite expectations that the volume and lifetime of the medium produced would be too small to form a QGP. Here, we report on the observation of elliptic and triangular flow patterns of charged particles produced in proton-gold ($p$$+$Au), deuteron-gold ($d$$+$Au), and helium-gold ($^3$He$+$Au) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$~=~200 GeV. The unique combination of three distinct initial geometries and two flow patterns provides unprecedented model discrimination. Hydrodynamical models, which include the formation of a short-lived QGP droplet, provide a simultaneous description of these measurements.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurements of azimuthal anisotropy and charged-particle multiplicity in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=$200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV

We present measurements of the elliptic flow, $v_2$, as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$), pseudorapidity ($\eta$), and centrality in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=$200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV. The beam-energy scan of $d$$+$Au collisions provides a testing ground for the onset of flow signatures in small collision systems. We measure a nonzero $v_2$ signal at all four collision energies, which, at midrapidity and low $p_T$, is consistent with predictions from viscous hydrodynamic models. Comparisons with calculations from parton transport models (based on the {\sc ampt} Monte Carlo generator) show good agreement with the data at midrapidity to forward ($d$-going) rapidities and low $p_T$. At backward (Au-going) rapidities and $p_T>1.5$ GeV/$c$, the data diverges from {\sc ampt} calculations of $v_2$ relative to the initial geometry, indicating the possible dominance of nongeometry related correlations, referred to as nonflow. We also present measurements of the charged-particle multiplicity ($dN_{\rm ch}/d\eta$) as a function of $\eta$ in central $d$$+$Au collisions at the same energies. We find that in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=$200 GeV the $v_2$ scales with $dN_{\rm ch}/d\eta$ over all $\eta$ in the PHENIX acceptance. At $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=$62.4, and 39 GeV, $v_2$ scales with $dN_{\rm ch}/d\eta$ at midrapidity and forward rapidity, but falls off at backward rapidity. This departure from the $dN_{\rm ch}/d\eta$ scaling may be a further indication of nonflow effects dominating at backward rapidity.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurements of multiparticle correlations in $d$$+$Au collisions at 200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV and $p$$+$Au collisions at 200 GeV and implications for collective behavior

Recently, multiparticle-correlation measurements of relativistic $p/d/^3$He$+$Au, $p$$+$Pb, and even $p$$+$$p$ collisions have shown surprising collective signatures. Here we present beam-energy-scan measurements of 2-, 4-, and 6-particle angular correlations in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV. We also present measurements of 2- and 4-particle angular correlations in $p$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV. We find the 4-particle cumulant to be real-valued for $d$$+$Au collisions at all four energies. We also find that the 4-particle cumulant in $p$$+$Au has the opposite sign as that in $d$$+$Au, indicating that the correlations are geometrical and therefore collective in origin. Further we find that the 6-particle cumulant agrees with the 4-particle cumulant in $d$$+$Au collisions at 200 GeV, which indicates that nonflow effects are subdominant and provides strong evidence of collectivity.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Nuclear dependence of the transverse-single-spin asymmetry for forward neutron production in polarized $p$$+$$A$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

During 2015 the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) provided collisions of transversely polarized protons with Au and Al nuclei for the first time, enabling the exploration of transverse-single-spin asymmetries with heavy nuclei. Large single-spin asymmetries in very forward neutron production have been previously observed in transversely polarized $p$$+$$p$ collisions at RHIC, and the existing theoretical framework that was successful in describing the single-spin asymmetry in $p$$+$$p$ collisions predicts only a moderate atomic-mass-number ($A$) dependence. In contrast, the asymmetries observed at RHIC in $p$$+$$A$ collisions showed a surprisingly strong $A$ dependence in inclusive forward neutron production. The observed asymmetry in $p$$+$Al collisions is much smaller, while the asymmetry in $p$$+$Au collisions is a factor of three larger in absolute value and of opposite sign. The interplay of different neutron production mechanisms is discussed as a possible explanation of the observed $A$ dependence.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Cross section and transverse single-spin asymmetry of muons from open heavy-flavor decays in polarized $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV

The cross section and transverse single-spin asymmetries of $\mu^{-}$ and $\mu^{+}$ from open heavy-flavor decays in polarized $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV were measured by the PHENIX experiment during 2012 at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Because heavy-flavor production is dominated by gluon-gluon interactions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV, these measurements offer a unique opportunity to obtain information on the trigluon correlation functions. The measurements are performed at forward and backward rapidity ($1.4<|y|<2.0$) over the transverse momentum range of $1.25<p_T<7$ GeV/$c$ for the cross section and $1.25<p_T<5$ GeV/$c$ for the asymmetry measurements. The obtained cross section is compared to a fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log perturbative-quantum-chromodynamics calculation. The asymmetry results are consistent with zero within uncertainties, and a model calculation based on twist-3 three-gluon correlations agrees with the data.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurements of $e^+e^-$ pairs from open heavy flavor in $p$+$p$ and $d$+$A$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV

We report a measurement of $e^+e^-$ pairs from semileptonic heavy-flavor decays in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$~GeV. The $e^+e^-$ pair yield from $b\bar{b}$ and $c\bar{c}$ is separated by exploiting a double differential fit done simultaneously in dielectron invariant mass and $p_T$. We used three different event generators, {\sc pythia}, {\sc mc@nlo}, and {\sc powheg}, to simulate the $e^+e^-$ spectra from $c\bar{c}$ and $b\bar{b}$ production. The data can be well described by all three generators within the detector acceptance. However, when using the generators to extrapolate to $4\pi$, significant differences are observed for the total cross section. These difference are less pronounced for $b\bar{b}$ than for $c\bar{c}$. The same model dependence was observed in already published $d$+$A$ data. The $p$+$p$ data are also directly compared with $d$+$A$ data in mass and $p_T$, and within the statistical accuracy no nuclear modification is seen.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

B-meson production at forward and backward rapidity in $p$+$p$ and Cu+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV

The fraction of $J/\psi$ mesons which come from B-meson decay, $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$, is measured for J/$\psi$ rapidity \mbox{$1.2<|y|<2.2$} and $p_T>0$ in $p$+$p$ and Cu+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV with the PHENIX detector. The extracted fraction is $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ = 0.025 $\pm$ 0.006(stat) $\pm$ 0.010(syst) for $p$+$p$ collisions. For Cu+Au collisions, $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ is 0.094 $\pm$ 0.028(stat) $\pm$ 0.037(syst) in the Au-going direction ($-2.2<y<-1.2$) and 0.089 $\pm$ 0.026(stat) $\pm$ 0.040(syst) in the Cu-going direction ($1.2<y<2.2$). The nuclear modification factor, $R_{\rm CuAu}$, of B mesons in Cu+Au collisions is consistent with binary scaling of measured yields in $p$+$p$ at both forward and backward rapidity.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurements of $B \rightarrow J/\psi$ at forward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV

We report the first measurement of the fraction of $J/\psi$ mesons coming from $B$-meson decay ($F_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$) in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$ 510 GeV. The measurement is performed using the forward silicon vertex detector and central vertex detector at PHENIX, which provide precise tracking and distance-of-closest-approach determinations, enabling the statistical separation of $J/\psi$ due to $B$-meson decays from prompt $J/\psi$. The measured value of $F_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ is 8.1\%$\pm$2.3\% (stat)$\pm$1.9\% (syst) for $J/\psi$ with transverse momenta $0<p_T<5$ GeV/$c$ and rapidity $1.2<|y|<2.2$. The measured fraction $F_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ at PHENIX is compared to values measured by other experiments at higher center of mass energies and to fixed-order-next-to-leading-logarithm and color-evaporation-model predictions. The $b\bar{b}$ cross section per unit rapidity ($d\sigma/dy(pp{\rightarrow}b\bar{b})$) extracted from the obtained $F_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ and the PHENIX inclusive $J/\psi$ cross section measured at 200 GeV scaled with color-evaporation-model calculations, at the mean $B$ hadron rapidity $y={\pm}1.7$ in 510 GeV $p$$+$$p$ collisions, is $3.63^{+1.92}_{-1.70}\mu$b, and it is consistent with the fixed-order-next-to-leading-logarithm calculations.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Angular decay coefficients of $J/\psi$ mesons at forward rapidity from $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV

We report the first measurement of the full angular distribution for inclusive $J/\psi\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ decays in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV. The measurements are made for $J/\psi$ transverse momentum $2<p_{T}<10$ GeV/$c$ and rapidity $1.2<y<2.2$ in the Helicity, Collins-Soper, and Gottfried-Jackson reference frames. In all frames the polar coefficient $\lambda_{\theta}$ is strongly negative at low $p_{T}$ and becomes close to zero at high $p_{T}$, while the azimuthal coefficient $\lambda_{\phi}$ is close to zero at low $p_{T}$, and becomes slightly negative at higher $p_{T}$. The frame-independent coefficient $\tilde{\lambda}$ is strongly negative at all $p_{T}$ in all frames. The data are compared to the theoretical predictions provided by nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics models.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of the relative yields of $\psi(2S)$ to $\psi(1S)$ mesons produced at forward and backward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$, $p$$+$Al, $p$$+$Au, and $^{3}$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

The PHENIX Collaboration has measured the ratio of the yields of $\psi(2S)$ to $\psi(1S)$ mesons produced in $p$$+$$p$, $p$$+$Al, $p$$+$Au, and $^{3}$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV over the forward and backward rapidity intervals $1.2<|y|<2.2$. We find that the ratio in $p$$+$$p$ collisions is consistent with measurements at other collision energies. In collisions with nuclei, we find that in the forward ($p$-going or $^{3}$He-going) direction, the relative yield of $\psi(2S)$ mesons to $\psi(1S)$ mesons is consistent with the value measured in \pp collisions. However, in the backward (nucleus-going) direction, the $\psi(2S)$ is preferentially suppressed by a factor of $\sim$2. This suppression is attributed in some models to breakup of the weakly-bound $\psi(2S)$ through final state interactions with comoving particles, which have a higher density in the nucleus-going direction. These breakup effects may compete with color screening in a deconfined quark-gluon plasma to produce sequential suppression of excited quarkonia states.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Nonperturbative-transverse-momentum effects and evolution in dihadron and direct photon-hadron angular correlations in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=510 GeV

Dihadron and isolated direct photon-hadron angular correlations are measured in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV. Correlations of charged hadrons of $0.7<p_T<10$ GeV/$c$ with $\pi^0$ mesons of $4<p_T<15$ GeV/$c$ or isolated direct photons of $7<p_T<15$ GeV/$c$ are used to study nonperturbative effects generated by initial-state partonic transverse momentum and final-state transverse momentum from fragmentation. The nonperturbative behavior is characterized by measuring the out-of-plane transverse momentum component $p_{\rm out}$ perpendicular to the axis of the trigger particle, which is the high-$p_T$ direct photon or $\pi^0$. Nonperturbative evolution effects are extracted from Gaussian fits to the away-side inclusive-charged-hadron yields for different trigger-particle transverse momenta ($p_T^{\rm trig}$). The Gaussian widths and root mean square of $p_{\rm out}$ are reported as a function of the interaction hard scale $p_T^{\rm trig}$ to investigate possible transverse-momentum-dependent evolution differences between the $\pi^0$-h$^\pm$ and direct photon-h$^\pm$ correlations and factorization breaking effects. The widths are found to decrease with $p_T^{\rm trig}$, which indicates that the Collins-Soper-Sterman soft factor is not driving the evolution with the hard scale in nearly back-to-back dihadron and direct photon-hadron production in $p$$+$$p$ collisions. This behavior is in contrast to Drell-Yan and semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering measurements.

hep-ex↗