Symmetric correlations as seen at RHIC

TL;DR

This paper investigates how forward-backward multiplicity correlations vary with pseudorapidity in Au+Au and p+p collisions at RHIC, revealing contrasting correlation patterns that suggest different underlying particle production mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed comparison of symmetric and asymmetric pseudorapidity correlations in heavy-ion and proton-proton collisions at RHIC energies.

Findings

Central Au+Au collisions show stronger correlations at large pseudorapidity separation.

Proton-proton collisions exhibit the opposite correlation pattern.

Results indicate different particle correlation behaviors in heavy-ion versus proton-proton collisions.

Abstract

We analyze the forward-backward multiplicity correlation coefficient as measured by STAR. We show that in the most central Au+Au collisions bins located symmetrically around \eta = 0 with large separation in pseudorapidity are more strongly correlated than bins located asymmetrically with smaller separation. In proton-proton collisions the opposite effect is observed. It suggests a qualitatively different behavior of the two-particle correlation as a function of pseudorapidity sum in p+p and Au+Au collisions.