The polarizations of promptly produced χ_{c1} and χ_{c2} mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at \sqrt{s}= 8 TeV. The χ_{c} states are reconstructed via their radiative decays χc → J/ψγ, with the photons being measured through conversions to e^+e^−, which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the χ_{c2} to χ_{c1} yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the J/ψ → μ^+μ^− decay, in three bins of J/ψ transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the helicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum

Constraints on the 𝜒_{𝑐⁢1} versus 𝜒_{𝑐⁢2} Polarizations in Proton-Proton Collisions at \sqrt{𝑠} =8  TeV

Ligabue F.;
2020

Abstract

The polarizations of promptly produced χ_{c1} and χ_{c2} mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at \sqrt{s}= 8 TeV. The χ_{c} states are reconstructed via their radiative decays χc → J/ψγ, with the photons being measured through conversions to e^+e^−, which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the χ_{c2} to χ_{c1} yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the J/ψ → μ^+μ^− decay, in three bins of J/ψ transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the helicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum
2020
Settore FIS/01 - Fisica Sperimentale
Settore PHYS-01/A - Fisica sperimentale delle interazioni fondamentali e applicazioni
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
PhysRevLett.124.162002.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Published version
Licenza: Creative Commons
Dimensione 528.27 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
528.27 kB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11384/149755
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 16
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 11
  • OpenAlex 13
social impact