Radial Flow and Differential Freeze-out in Proton-Proton Collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 7$ TeV at the LHC

TL;DR

This study investigates the particle production and freeze-out conditions in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV, revealing mass-dependent freeze-out parameters and a trend towards thermal equilibrium with increasing multiplicity.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of freeze-out parameters using BGBW and Tsallis models, highlighting mass ordering and multiplicity dependence in small collision systems.

Findings

Mass ordering observed in freeze-out temperature and non-extensivity parameter.

Higher multiplicity leads to parameters approaching thermal equilibrium.

System exhibits differential freeze-out behavior across particle species.

Abstract

We analyse the transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$)-spectra as a function of charged-particle multiplicity at midrapidity ($|y| < 0.5$) for various identified particles such as $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $K_S^0$, $p+\overline{p}$, $\phi$, $K^{*0} + \overline {K^{*0}}$, and $\Lambda$ + $\bar{\Lambda}$ in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV using Boltzmann-Gibbs Blast Wave (BGBW) model and thermodynamically consistent Tsallis distribution function. We obtain the multiplicity dependent kinetic freeze-out temperature ($T_{\rm kin}$) and radial flow ($\beta$) of various particles after fitting the $p_{\rm T}$-distribution with BGBW model. Here, $T_{\rm kin}$ exhibits mild dependence on multiplicity class while $\beta$ shows almost independent behaviour. The information regarding Tsallis temperature and the non-extensivity parameter ($q$) are drawn by fitting the $p_{\rm T}$-spectra with Tsallis distribution function. The extracted parameters of these particles are studied as a function of charged particle multiplicity density ($dN_{ch}/d\eta$). In addition to this, we also study these parameters as a function of particle mass to observe any possible mass ordering. All the identified hadrons show a mass ordering in temperature, non-extensive parameter and also a strong dependence on multiplicity classes, except the lighter particles. It is observed that as the particle multiplicity increases, the $q$-parameter approaches to Boltzmann-Gibbs value, hence a conclusion can be drawn that system tends to thermal equilibrium. The observations are consistent with a differential freeze-out scenario of the produced particles.