2009/06/23 by Alejandro Ayala, Eleazar Cuautle, G. Herrera Corral +3
Physics and Astronomy · #High-Energy Particle Collisions Research #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2009.11.030
published as Phys.Lett.B682:408-412,2010 · 5 pages, two figures
arxiv created 2009/06/23 · openalex publication_date 2009/11/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
The spin alignment matrix element ρ00 for the vector mesons K∗0 and ϕ(1020) has been measured in RHIC at central rapidities. These measurements are consistent with the absence of polarization with respect to the reaction plane in mid-central Au+Au collisions whereas, when measured with respect to the production plane in the same reactions and in p+p collisions, a non-vanishing and p⊥-dependent ρ00 is found. We show that this behavior can be understood in a simple model of vector meson production where the spin of their constituent quarks is oriented during hadronization as the result of Thomas precession.