A New Correlator to Detect and Characterize the Chiral Magnetic Effect

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new charge-sensitive correlator designed to detect and analyze the Chiral Magnetic Effect in heavy ion collisions, demonstrating its effectiveness through model tests.

Contribution

It proposes a novel correlator method for identifying and characterizing the CME, with validation using reaction models and sensitivity analysis.

Findings

The correlator can distinguish background from CME signals.

It shows sensitivity to charge separation relative to event planes.

Effective for characterizing CME via AVFD model comparisons.

Abstract

A charge-sensitive in-event correlator is proposed and tested for its efficacy to detect and characterize charge separation associated with the Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME) in heavy ion collisions. Tests, performed with the aid of two reaction models, indicate discernible responses for background- and CME-driven charge separation, relative to the second- ($\Psi_{2}$) and third-order ($\Psi_{3}$) event planes, which could serve to identify the CME. The tests also indicate a degree of sensitivity which would enable robust characterization of the CME via Anomalous Viscous Fluid Dynamics (AVFD) model comparisons.