Jets and Jet-like correlations in STAR

TL;DR

This paper reviews STAR experiment measurements of jet and jet-like correlations in heavy-ion collisions, providing insights into jet modification, parton energy loss, and particle production mechanisms in quark-gluon plasma.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive set of jet-quenching measurements from STAR, utilizing advanced detection capabilities to test and constrain theories of parton energy loss.

Findings

Jet shape modifications observed in Au+Au collisions.

Differences between jet-related and bulk particle production identified.

Experimental tests of recombination models conducted.

Abstract

The propagation and modification of hard-scattered partons in the QGP can be studied using various types of jet and jet-like correlation measurements. The STAR detector with its full azimuthal and large pseudorapidity acceptance, as well as its wide transverse momentum (pT) coverage, is well-suited for these measurements. At mid-rapidity, azimuthal correlations of charged hadrons with the axis of a reconstructed trigger jet are used to study the modification of jet shapes and associated hadron yields from p+p to Au+Au. Dihadron correlations with back-to-back high-pT hadron pairs are used to investigate dijets and fragmentation biases. STAR's increased particle identification capabilities due to the Time-Of-Flight detector are utilized to investigate the differences between jet-related and bulk-related particle production. Dihadron correlations with identified trigger particles provide experimental tests of simple recombination theories. The comprehensive set of STAR jet-quenching measurements can be used to further constrain theories of parton energy loss at RHIC.