H. W. van Hecke

Evidence of Early Multistrange Hadron Freeze-Out in High Energy Nuclear Collisions

Recently reported transverse momentum distributions of strange hadrons produced in Pb(158A GeV ) on Pb collisions and corresponding results from the relativistic quantum molecular dynamics approach are examined. We argue that the experimental observations favor a scenario in which multi-strange hadrons are formed and decouple from the system rather early at large energy densities (at about 1 GeV/fm{sup 3} ). The systematics of the strange and nonstrange particle spectra indicate that the observed transverse flow develops mainly in the late hadronic stages of these reactions. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}

The CLEO detector

Abstract The construction and performance of a large aperture magnetic detector designed for use at the Cornell Electon Storage Ring is descr bed.

Identified pion interferometry in heavy-ion collisions at CERN

Abstract π + π + correlations from S + Pb collisions at 200 GeV/ c per nucleon, measured by the focusing spectrometer of the NA44 experiment at CERN, are presented. The large data set, particularly at small values of Q inv , allows determination of the detailed shape of the correlation function. We construct the background by event mixing, and correct for resolution, Coulomb interaction, and distortion of single-particle spectra which produce effects large compared to the statistical errors at small Q inv . An exponential, rather than gaussian, source distribution is slightly favoured, but both are statistically acceptable.

PHENIX inner detectors

Abstract The timing, location and particle multiplicity of a PHENIX collision are determined by the Beam–Beam Counters (BBC), the Multiplicity/Vertex Detector (MVD) and the Zero-Degree Calorimeters (ZDC). The BBCs provide both the time of interaction and position of a collision from the flight time of prompt particles. The MVD provides a measure of event particle multiplicity, collision vertex position and fluctuations in charged particle distributions. The ZDCs provide information on the most grazing collisions. A Normalization Trigger Counter (NTC) is used to obtain absolute cross-section measurements for p–p collisions. The BBC, MVD and NTC are described below.

Mid-rapidity protons in 158A·GeV Pb+Pb collisions

Abstract Proton distributions at mid-rapidity (2 ≤ y ≤ 3) have been measured for 158A·GeV Pb+Pb collisions in the focusing spectrometer experiment NA44 at CERN. From baryon number conservation and by comparing the experimentally measured d N d y distribution with the transport model RQMD, we conclude that a rather high degree of nuclear stopping has been reached for the truly heavy-ion collisions at these energies. Transverse mass distributions exhibit characteristically thermal shapes and the slope parameters increase with the mass of the colliding system.

Use of aerogel for imaging Cherenkov counters

Abstract In the past, detectors using silica aerogel as a Cherenkov radiator treated this material as a diffuse source of Cherenkov photons. In this paper we report on measurements made to explore the feasibility of using aerogel for imaging Cherenkov purposes. The results of the measurements are reproduced by a detailed Monte Carlo. This allows us to identify parameters critical for the use of aerogel as a radiator in imaging detectors. We conclude that commercially available aerogel can be used for these purposes.

Three Pion Correlations in Sulphur Lead Collisions at the CERN SPS

Abstract π + π + π + correlations from sulphur-lead collisions at 200 GeV/c per nucleon are presented as measured by the focusing spectrometer of experiment NA44 at CERN. We have investigated the three-pion correlation function at mid-rapidity and found that a genuine three-body correlation is suppressed. A possible interpretation of this result is that the emission of particles is partially coherent.

Search for strange quark matter in high-energy heavy-ion collisions

Abstract We have initiated a search for strange quark matter in the products of 14.6 GeV/ c per nucleon 28 Si collisions with nuclei, utilizing the apparatus of E-814 at Brookhaven National Laboratorys AGS. We report the first results of this search, which is sensitive to particles with charge-to-mass ratios between 0.1 and 0.3 (GeV/ c 2 ) −1 that are produced within approximately ±0.5 units of the center of mass rapidity.

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.

Strange meson enhancement in PbPb collisions

Abstract The NA44 Collaboration has measured yields and differential distributions of K + , K − , π + , π − in transverse kinetic energy and rapidity, around the center-of-mass rapidity in 158 A GeV/ c Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN SPS. A considerable enhancement of K + production per π is observed, as compared to p + p collisions at this energy. To illustrate the importance of secondary hadron rescattering as an enhancement mechanism, we compare strangeness production at the SPS and AGS with predictions of the transport model RQMD.The NA44 Collaboration has measured yields and differential distributions of K+, K-, pi+, pi- in transverse kinetic energy and rapidity, around the center-of-mass rapidity in 158 A GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN SPS. A considerable enhancement of K+ production per pi is observed, as compared to p+p collisions at this energy. To illustrate the importance of secondary hadron rescattering as an enhancement mechanism, we compare strangeness production at the SPS and AGS with predictions of the transport model RQMD.