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CMS-PAS-HIN-23-006
Evidence of the medium response to hard probes with Z-hadron correlations in PbPb and pp collisions at $ \sqrt {\smash [b]{s_{_{\mathrm {NN}}}}} = $ 5.02 TeV
Abstract: The first measurement of low transverse momentum ($ p_\mathrm{T} $) charged hadron pseudorapidity and azimuthal angle distributions relative to Z bosons in PbPb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $ \sqrt {\smash [b]{s_{_{\mathrm {NN}}}}} = $ 5.02 TeV is presented. This study utilizes PbPb collision data recorded in 2018 with an integrated luminosity of 1.67 $ \pm $ 0.03 nb$ ^{-1} $, as well as pp collision data acquired in 2017 with an integrated luminosity of 301 $ \pm $ 6 pb$ ^{-1} $. For the first time in PbPb collisions, the azimuthal angle and pseudorapidity distributions of charged hadrons relative to Z bosons are measured in bins of charged hadron $ p_\mathrm{T} $ to search for in-medium parton shower modifications and medium recoil effects. The analysis focuses on events containing at least one Z boson with 40 $ < p_\mathrm{T} < $ 350 GeV. A significant modification in the azimuthal angle and pseudorapidity distributions for charged hadrons in the low $ p_\mathrm{T} $ range, around 1 to 2 GeV, is observed compared to reference measurements from pp collisions. The results are consistent with expectations from phenomenological models, including medium recoil and the medium response to hard probes traversing the quark-gluon plasma. The data provide significant new information about the correlation between hard and soft particles in heavy ion collisions, which can be used to test predictions of various jet quenching models. In data comparisons with models, the first evidence for medium recoil and hole effects caused by a hard probe is found.
Figures Summary References CMS Publications
Figures

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Figure 1:
The $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra in the Z boson side for events with Z boson $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^z > $ 40 GeV in pp and PbPb collisions. The filled circles (squares) are the PbPb (pp) data and the open circles (squares) are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are presented in centrality intervals of 0-30%, 30-50%, and 50-90% and in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right).

png pdf
Figure 1-a:
The $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra in the Z boson side for events with Z boson $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^z > $ 40 GeV in pp and PbPb collisions. The filled circles (squares) are the PbPb (pp) data and the open circles (squares) are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are presented in centrality intervals of 0-30%, 30-50%, and 50-90% and in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right).

png pdf
Figure 1-b:
The $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra in the Z boson side for events with Z boson $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^z > $ 40 GeV in pp and PbPb collisions. The filled circles (squares) are the PbPb (pp) data and the open circles (squares) are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are presented in centrality intervals of 0-30%, 30-50%, and 50-90% and in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right).

png pdf
Figure 1-c:
The $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra in the Z boson side for events with Z boson $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^z > $ 40 GeV in pp and PbPb collisions. The filled circles (squares) are the PbPb (pp) data and the open circles (squares) are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are presented in centrality intervals of 0-30%, 30-50%, and 50-90% and in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right).

png pdf
Figure 2:
The $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra in the Z boson side ($ |\Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}}| < \pi/ $ 2) for events with Z boson $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^z > $ 40 GeV in pp and PbPb collisions. The filled circles (squares) are the PbPb (pp) data and the open circles (squares) are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are presented in centrality intervals of 0-30%, 30-50%, and 50-90% and in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right).

png pdf
Figure 2-a:
The $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra in the Z boson side ($ |\Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}}| < \pi/ $ 2) for events with Z boson $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^z > $ 40 GeV in pp and PbPb collisions. The filled circles (squares) are the PbPb (pp) data and the open circles (squares) are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are presented in centrality intervals of 0-30%, 30-50%, and 50-90% and in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right).

png pdf
Figure 2-b:
The $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra in the Z boson side ($ |\Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}}| < \pi/ $ 2) for events with Z boson $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^z > $ 40 GeV in pp and PbPb collisions. The filled circles (squares) are the PbPb (pp) data and the open circles (squares) are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are presented in centrality intervals of 0-30%, 30-50%, and 50-90% and in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right).

png pdf
Figure 2-c:
The $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra in the Z boson side ($ |\Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}}| < \pi/ $ 2) for events with Z boson $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^z > $ 40 GeV in pp and PbPb collisions. The filled circles (squares) are the PbPb (pp) data and the open circles (squares) are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are presented in centrality intervals of 0-30%, 30-50%, and 50-90% and in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right).

png pdf
Figure 3:
Upper: Distributions of $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ in pp collisions compared to 0-30% PbPb collisions (left to right) in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right). Lower: Difference between the PbPb and pp distributions. The filled circles are PbPb data and the open circles are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are compared to predictions from theoretical models.

png pdf
Figure 4:
Upper: Distributions of $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ in pp collisions compared to 0-30% PbPb collisions (left to right) in the charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ intervals of 1-2 (left), 2-4 and 4-10 GeV (right). Lower: Difference between the PbPb and pp distributions. The filled circles are PbPb data and the open circles are reflected data. The vertical bars and shaded boxes represent the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. The results are compared to predictions from theoretical models.
Summary
In summary, this note presents the first measurement of Z-tagged charged hadron spectra in bins of charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}} $ in $pp$ and PbPb collisions at $ \sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}} = $ 5.02 TeV. The spectra are analyzed with respect to the Z boson, specifically in pseudorapidity distribution and azimuthal angle, for Z bosons within the 40 $ < p_{\mathrm{T}}^\mathrm{Z} < $ 350 GeV range. The analysis utilizes data from 2017 and 2018, with integrated luminosities of 301 $ \pm $ 6 pb$^{-1}$ and 1.67 $ \pm $ 0.03 nb$^{-1}$, respectively. The normalized associated yield of Z-tagged charged hadrons in bins of azimuthal angle difference ($ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $) and rapidity difference ($ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $) are compared between the PbPb and reference pp data. In PbPb collisions, a dip at $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} = $ 0 indicates negative medium wake or medium holes, and an excess at $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} = \pi $ suggests medium-induced radiation and momentum-broadening effects. Central collisions show a larger modulation in $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ distribution at low $ p_{\mathrm{T}} $ than pp data, and the difference diminishes in more peripheral events. At high $ p_{\mathrm{T}} $ (4 $ < p_{\mathrm{T}} < $ 10 GeV), a reduction in the jet peak normalized associated yield is consistent with the expectation from jet quenching. The $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ distribution shows significant deviations in central collisions with respect to the pp reference, especially at low charged hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}} $, where the PbPb yield is lower than pp near the Z boson ($ |\Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}}| \sim $ 0). The full HYBRID model, incorporating both negative and positive wake contributions, gives a good description of the central PbPb data, showing a dip at small $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ and $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ due to the negative wake, and excess at $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} \sim \pi $ due to the positive wake. The JEWEL model attributes the dip to negative contributions from holes and the excess at $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} = \pi $ to medium recoils, predicting a narrower $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ dip due to the absence of parton rescattering. Without a medium response, both HYBRID and JEWEL models fail to represent the data accurately. The PYQUEN model, which lacks energy-momentum conservation, predicts smaller modifications than the ones observed in data and fails to capture the dip structure at small $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ and $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ values. The \sc Co-LBT model predicts an enhancement of normalized associated yield on the jet side due to reheating of the QGP caused by quenched energy, while the diffusion wakes trailing the hard-scattered parton suppresses the normalized associated yield on the Z boson side. This model provides a reasonable description of the $ \Delta\phi_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ spectra but overestimates the normalized associated yield at small $ \Delta y_{\mathrm{ch,Z}} $ for low charged-hadron $ p_{\mathrm{T}} $. Finally, PbPb data are compared to PYTHIA8 events with a $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\mathrm{Z} $ threshold of 20 GeV, tuned to match the high $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $ normalized associated yield distribution, to see if a quenched jet in data resembles a lower-energy vacuum jet. However, the PbPb data diverge from PYTHIA8 at low $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\text{ch} $, indicating that quenched jets are not merely lower $ p_{\mathrm{T}} $ vacuum-like jets. The PbPb data are better reproduced by theoretical models that include medium recoil effects and differ from lower $ p_{\mathrm{T}}^\mathrm{Z} \mathrm{Z} $-tagged events. The data provide significant new inputs on jet quenching models and the correlation between hard and soft particles in heavy-ion collisions. These findings provide the first evidence of medium recoil and hole effects caused by a hard probe, though it remains unclear which theoretical model on the medium recoils and negative wake best aligns with the data.
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