Multiplicity dependencies of midrapidity transverse momentum spectra of identified charged particles in p+p collisions at (s)1/2 = 13 TeV at LHC

Multiplicity dependencies of midrapidity [Formula: see text] spectra of identified charged particles in inelastic [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), measured by ALICE Collaboration, have been analyzed. The combined minimum [Formula: see text] fits with thermodynamically consistent Tsallis function as well as Hagedorn function with the embedded transverse flow describe quite satisfactorily the [Formula: see text] spectra of particles in the studied 10 different classes of charged-particle multiplicity in inelastic [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV. The obtained effective temperatures [Formula: see text] of thermodynamically consistent Tsallis function demonstrate a consistent growth with an increase in multiplicity of charged particles in inelastic [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV, and the corresponding [Formula: see text] versus the average charged-particle (pseudorapidity) multiplicity density [Formula: see text] dependence is described very well by the simple power function with exponent parameter [Formula: see text] (1/3) in the whole analyzed range [Formula: see text]. It is found that the transverse (radial) flow becomes significant at higher multiplicity events in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV, reaching the maximum value [Formula: see text] at the largest studied multiplicity density [Formula: see text]. It is estimated from analysis of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text] dependencies, obtained using Hagedorn function with the embedded transverse flow, that the probable onset of deconfinement phase transition in inelastic [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV occurs at [Formula: see text].

Measurements of $$\pi ^\pm $$, $$K^\pm $$, p and $$\bar{p}$$ spectra in $$^7$$Be+$$^9$$Be collisions at beam momenta from 19A to 150A $${\mathrm{Ge} \mathrm{V}}\!/\!c$$ with the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS

The NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) studies the onset of deconfinement in hadron matter by a scan of particle production in collisions of nuclei with various sizes at a set of energies covering the SPS energy range. This paper presents results on inclusive double-differential spectra, transverse momentum and rapidity distributions and mean multiplicities of $$\pi ^\pm $$ π ± , $$K^\pm $$ K ± , p and $$\bar{p}$$ p ¯ produced in the 20% most central$$^7$$ 7 Be+$$^9$$ 9 Be collisions at beam momenta of 19A, 30A, 40A, 75A and 150A $${\mathrm{Ge} \mathrm{V}}\!/\!c$$ Ge V / c . The energy dependence of the $$K^\pm $$ K ± /$$\pi ^\pm $$ π ± ratios as well as of inverse slope parameters of the $$K^\pm $$ K ± transverse mass distributions are close to those found in inelastic p+p reactions. The new results are compared to the world data on p+p and Pb+Pb collisions as well as to predictions of the Epos, Urqmd, Ampt, Phsd and Smash models.

The special point on the hybrid star mass–radius diagram and its multi–messenger implications

We show the existence and investigate the location of the special point (SP) in which hybrid neutron star mass-radius (M-R) curves have to cross each other when they belong to a class of hybrid equation of state (EoS) constructed with generic constant–speed–of–sound (CSS) quark matter models for which the onset deconfinement is varied. We demonstrate that for a three-parameter CSS model the position of the SP in the M-R diagram is largely independent of the choice of the hadronic EoS, but in dependence on the stiffness of the quark matter EoS it spans a region that we identify. We find that the difference between the maximum mass and the SP mass depends on the mass at the onset of deconfinement so that an upper limit of 0.19 M⊙ for this difference is obtained from which a lower limit on the radius of hybrid stars is deduced. Together with a lower limit on the radius of hadronic stars, derived from a class of reasonably soft hadronic EoS including hyperons, we identify a region in the M-R diagram which can be occupied only by hybrid stars. Accordingly, we suggest that a NICER radius measurement on the massive pulsar PSR J0740 + 6620 in the range of 8.6-11.9 km would indicate that this pulsar is a hybrid neutron star with deconfined quark matter in the inner core.

Measurements of $$\pi ^-$$ production in $$^7$$Be + $$^9$$Be collisions at beam momenta from 19A to 150$$A\,\text{ GeV }\!/\!c$$ in the NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS

The NA61/SHINE collaboration studies at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) the onset of deconfinement in hadronic matter by the measurement of particle production in collisions of nuclei with various sizes at a set of energies covering the SPS energy range. This paper presents results on inclusive double-differential spectra and mean multiplicities of $$\pi ^{-}$$ π - mesons produced in the 5% most central$$^7$$ 7 Be + $$^9$$ 9 Be collisions at beam momenta of 19A, 30A, 40A, 75A and 150$$A\,\text{ GeV }\!/\!c$$ A GeV / c obtained by the so-called $$h^-$$ h - method which does not require any particle identification. The shape of the transverse mass spectra differs from the shapes measured in central Pb + Pb collisions and inelastic p+p interactions. The normalized width of the rapidity distribution decreases with increasing collision energy and is in between the results for inelastic nucleon–nucleon and central Pb + Pb collisions. The mean multiplicity of pions per wounded nucleon in central$$^7$$ 7 Be + $$^9$$ 9 Be collisions is close to that in central Pb + Pb collisions up to 75$$A\,\text{ GeV }\!/\!c$$ A GeV / c . However, at the top SPS energy the result lies between those for nucleon–nucleon and Pb + Pb interactions. The results are discussed in the context of predictions for the onset of deconfinement at the CERN SPS collision energies.

Strange particle effective temperatures in relativistic nuclear collisions

The energy dependence of the effective temperatures of charged kaons, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] produced in Au[Formula: see text]Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) Beam Energy Scan (BES) energies are presented. At energies around [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]GeV, there is a sudden change in the energy dependence of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] effective temperatures, while at higher energies a slower, continuous rise up to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]TeV is observed. This behavior is similar with previous SPS results and could indicate the onset of deconfinement in this energy range. The [Formula: see text] effective temperatures increase with energy and no plateau-like behavior is evidenced by the data.

Upgrade of the NA61/SHINE Facility beyond 2020 for an Expanded Physics Programme

The NA61/SHINE experiment studies hadron production in hadron-hadron, hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions. The physics programme includes the study of the onset of deconfinement and search for the critical point as well as reference measurements for neutrino and cosmic ray experiments. For strong interactions, future plans are to extend the programme of study of the onset of deconfinement by measurements of open-charm and possibly other short-lived, exotic particle production in nucleus-nucleus collisions. This new programme is planned to start after 2020 and requires upgrades to the present NA61/SHINE detector setup. Besides the construction of a large acceptance silicon detector, a 10-fold increase of the event recording rate is foreseen, which will necessitate a general upgrade of most detectors.

Recent results of strong interaction program from NA61/SHINE experiment at CERN SPS

The NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS pursues a rich program of strong interactions. The main physics goals of this program are the study of properties of the onset of deconfinement and search for the signatures of the critical point of strongly interacting matter by performing the two-dimensional scan in a broad region of energy (beam momentum 13A-158A GeV/c) and system size (p+p, Be+Be, Ar+Sc and Xe+La). Recent NA61/SHINE results on particle spectra and event-by-event fluctuations in p+p, Be+Be and Ar+Sc collisions are shown with emphasis on the measurements of particle ratios, namely of pion a strangeness production, multiplicity fluctuations versus energy and the system size of colliding nuclei. It will be shown that the hadron production properties in heavy ion collisions which change rapidly in the low SPS energy domain and are interpreted as the beginning of quark-gluon plasma production – onset of deconfinement could be also the case in inelastic p+p interactions and probably in Be+Be collisions. The paper presents a selection of NA61/SHINE results on particle production properties discussed together with existing data from the NA49 collaboration. The evolution of non-monotonic structures in the pion and strangeness production as a function of the system size and energy is addressed. The rapid change of hadron production properties from p+p and Be+Be up to Ar+Sc and Pb+Pb collisions can be interpreted as the beginning of the large clusters formation of strongly interacting matter - the onset of fireball. The NA61/SHINE strong interaction programme is presented including the recent status on proton intermittency analysis and strongly intensive fluctuation observables of particle multiplicity and transverse momentum.