T. Kohama

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.

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.

One and two-dimensional analysis of 3π correlations measured in Pb+Pb interactions

Abstract π−π−π− correlations from Pb+Pb collisions at 158 GeV/c per nucleon are presented as measured by the focusing spectrometer of the NA44 experiment at CERN. The three-body effect is found to be stronger for Pb+Pb than for S+Pb. The two-dimensional three-particle correlation function is also measured and the longitudinal extension of the source is larger than the transverse extension.

A start-timing detector for the collider experiment PHENIX at RHIC-BNL

Abstract We describe a start-timing detector for the PHENIX experiment at the relativistic heavy-ion collider RHIC. The role of the detector is to detect a nuclear collision, provide precise time information with an accuracy of 50 ps, and determine the collision point along the beam direction with a resolution of a few cm. Technical challenges are that the detector must be operational in a wide particle-multiplicity range in a high radiation environment and a strong magnetic field. We present the performance of the prototype and discuss the final design of the detector.

Deuteron and triton production in Pb+Pb collisions at 158 A·GeV.

Abstract NA44 has measured the invariant cross section of deuterons and tritons at non zero p t in 158 A·GeV lead on lead collisions at CERN SPS. Normalized transverse mass spectra and coalescence parameters versus p t have been calculated showing a significant transverse flow. Radius parameters have been extracted using a simple thermal coalescence model. Results from RQMD+coalescence calculations are compared to the data.

Two kaon correlations from Pb+Pb collisions at 160 AGeV from NA44

Abstract K+K+ correlations from Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN experiment NA44 will be presented. NA44 is a focussing spectrometer that uses the 160 AGeV Pb beam at the SPS and specializes in the detection of a few artices near mid-rapidity. A comparison of the results from pion and kaon correlations will be made, and the mt dependence of hadron correlations will also be discussed.

Coalescence, interferometry and flow

Abstract NA44 has measured proton and deuteron distributions from SS and SPb collisions at 200 GeV/ c and PbPb collisions at 158 GeV/ c . The mean p T of both protons and deuterons grows with system size but the deuterons are somewhat slower than the protons. The phase space density of protons falls with m T but increases for larger systems. The phase space density of p s is much lower than of protons while their average freeze-out radii are similar. The proton source size increases with system size but not as rapidly as the pion source. For PbPb collisions, all radii lie on a single curve.