Measurement of two-particle correlations in hadronic $e^{+}e^{-}$ collisions at Belle

TL;DR

This study measures two-particle correlations in high-multiplicity electron-positron collisions at 10.52 GeV to investigate the presence of the ridge signal, providing insights into particle production mechanisms without initial state complexities.

Contribution

First measurement of two-particle angular correlations in high-multiplicity $e^+e^-$ collisions at KEKB, offering new constraints for phenomenological models in low-energy regimes.

Findings

No significant ridge signal observed.

Near side jet correlations absent in thrust axis analysis.

Results compared with event generator predictions.

Abstract

The enhancement of charged-particle pairs with large pseudorapidity difference and small azimuthal angle difference, often referred to as the ``ridge signal'', is a phenomenon widely observed in high multiplicity proton-proton, proton-ion and deutron-ion collisions, which is not yet fully understood. In heavy-ion collisions, the hydrodynamic expansion of the Quark-Gluon Plasma is one of the possible explanations of the origin of the ridge signal. Measurements in the $e^+e^-$ collision system, without the complexities introduced by hadron structure in the initial state, can serve as a complementary probe to examine the formation of a ridge signal. The first measurement of two-particle angular correlation functions in high multiplicity $e^+e^-$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=10.52$ GeV is reported. The hadronic $e^+e^-$ annihilation data collected by the Belle detector at KEKB are used in this study. Two-particle angular correlation functions are measured over the full azimuth and large pseudorapidity intervals which are defined by either the electron beam axis or the event thrust as a function of charged particle multiplicity. The measurement in the event thrust analysis, with mostly outgoing quark pairs determining the reference axis, is sensitive to the region of additional soft gluon emissions. No significant ridge signal is observed with either coordinates analyses. Near side jet correlations appear to be absent in the thrust axis analysis. The measurements are compared to predictions from various event generators and expected to provide new constraints to the phenomenological models in the low energy regime.