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The first simultaneous measurements of the ${\nu }_{\mu }$quasielasticlike cross section on C, CH, ${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$, Fe, and Pb targets as a function of kinematic imbalance variables in the plane transverse to the incoming neutrino direction are presented. These variables combine the muon and proton information to provide a new way to disentangle the effects of the nucleus in quasielasticlike processes. The data were obtained using a wideband ${\nu }_{\mu }$beam with $⟨{\mathrm{E}}_{\nu }⟩\sim 6\mathrm{GeV}$. Cross-section ratios of the different target materials to CH are also shown. These measurements are used to explore the nature of the cross-section $A$scaling, as well as initial and final state interaction effects. Comparisons are made to predictions from a number of commonly used neutrino Monte Carlo event generators. The range of predictions of the different models tends to cover the data but the degree and consistency of the agreement suffers in regions, and on higher $A$targets, where the final state interactions are expected to be more pronounced. 

Abstract Quantum Chromodynamics predicts a phase transition from hadronic matter to quark–gluon plasma (QGP) at high temperatures and energy densities, where quarks and gluons (partons) are no longer confined within hadrons. The QGP forms in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. Anisotropic flow coefficients, quantifying the azimuthal expansion of produced matter, probe QGP properties. Flow measurements in high-energy heavy-ion collisions show a distinctive grouping of anisotropic flow for baryons and mesons at intermediate transverse momentum – a feature associated with flow imparted at the quark level, confirming QGP existence. The observation of QGP-like features in proton–proton and proton–ion collisions has sparked debate about QGP formation in smaller systems. For the first time, we demonstrate the distinctive grouping of anisotropic flow for baryons and mesons in high-multiplicity proton–lead and proton–proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). These results are described by a model including hydrodynamic flow followed by hadron formation via quark coalescence, consistent with the formation of partonic flowing systems in these collisions. 

Abstract Neutrinos are one of the most promising messengers for signals of new physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM). On the theoretical side, their elusive nature, combined with their unknown mass mechanism, seems to indicate that the neutrino sector is indeed opening a window to new physics. On the experimental side, several long-standing anomalies have been reported in the past decades, providing a strong motivation to thoroughly test the standard three-neutrino oscillation paradigm. In this Snowmass21 white paper, we explore the potential of current and future neutrino experiments to explore BSM effects on neutrino flavor during the next decade. 

A<sc>bstract</sc> The yields of prompt and non-prompt J/ψand the fraction of non-prompt J/ψare measured at midrapidity (|y| < 0.9) via the dielectron decay channel as a function of the midrapidity charged-particle multiplicity (|η| < 0.9) in pp collisions at$$\sqrt{s}=13$$TeV. The J/ψyields and the multiplicity are normalized by their average value in inelastic collisions. The multiplicity-dependent yield ratio between prompt J/ψand D⁰is reported. The multiplicity is further divided into three azimuthal regions with respect to the J/ψmomentum: toward the J/ψemission direction, transverse, or opposite to it. A stronger-than-linear increase of the self-normalized yields is observed for both prompt and non-prompt J/ψproduction, with similar trends. This behaviour is also observed in the toward region, while a weaker increase is observed in the transverse and away regions. 

Abstract Two-particle angular correlations probe particle production mechanisms and the underlying event-wide phenomena present in hadronic collisions. The correlations are examined as a function of rapidity and azimuthal-angle differences ($$\Delta y, \Delta \varphi $$ $\Delta y,\Delta \phi$) for pairs of like- and unlike-sign pions, kaons, and (anti-)protons produced in pp collisions at$$\sqrt{s}$$ $\sqrt{s}$= 13 TeV, measured by the ALICE experiment. Two-particle correlation functions are provided together with$$\Delta y$$ $\Delta y$and$$\Delta \varphi $$ $\Delta \phi$projections and compared to Monte Carlo (MC) model predictions. For the first time, the measurement is performed as a function of the event’s charged-particle density. Previous studies conducted for pp collisions at$$\sqrt{s}$$ $\sqrt{s}$= 7 TeV at ALICE revealed a near-side anticorrelation for baryon–baryon and antibaryon–antibaryon pairs, whose origin remains unresolved. Here, an additional approach is introduced to study the multiplicity dependence and the expected inverse multiplicity scaling of the correlation function. This method highlights qualitative differences in the underlying sources of correlations, such as quantum-statistics effects, final-state interactions, and resonance decays. The puzzling near-side anticorrelation in baryon baryon measurements is observed across all multiplicity classes and continues to challenge current particle-production models. Furthermore, the multiplicity dependence of the correlations between mesons provides an independent probe of the sensitivity of current MC models to soft-QCD effects and hadronization dynamics. The presented measurements, together with the baryon results, enrich the experimental picture of two-particle correlations in pp collisions and serve as valuable input for ongoing theoretical developments. 

Neutron production in antineutrino interactions can lead to bias in energy reconstruction in neutrino oscillation experiments, but these interactions have rarely been studied. MINERvA previously studied neutron production at an average antineutrino energy of ∼3 GeV in 2016 and found deficiencies in leading models. In this paper, the MINERvA 6 GeV average antineutrino energy dataset is shown to have similar disagreements. A measurement of the cross section for an antineutrino to produce two or more neutrons and have low visible energy is presented as an experiment-independent way to explore neutron production modeling. This cross section disagrees with several leading models’ predictions. Neutron modeling techniques from nuclear physics are used to quantify neutron detection uncertainties on this result. 

A<sc>bstract</sc> Measurements of transverse momentum (p_T) and pseudorapidity (η) dependent flow vector fluctuations in p–Pb collisions at$$\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=5.02$$TeV at the CERN Large Hadron Collider are presented. By studying long-range two-particle correlations with a template fit method, potential biases from non-flow effects such as jets and resonance decays are effectively suppressed. Significantp_T- andη-dependent fluctuations of the second-harmonic flow vector are observed with more than 5σconfidence in p–Pb collisions, similar to the observations in Pb–Pb collisions. The influence of residual non-flow effects has been evaluated and cannot account for the observed fluctuations, thereby confirming the observation of flow vector fluctuations in small collision systems at the LHC. Comparisons to model calculations from 3DGlauber+MUSIC+UrQMD and the parton transport model from AMPT are also presented. The measurements provide constraints on the theoretical modelling of the three-dimensional initial geometry and its event-by-event fluctuations, offering critical insights into the origin of collective flow in small collision systems at the LHC. 

A<sc>bstract</sc> The probability to observe a specific number of strange and multi-strange hadrons (n_S), denoted as P(n_S), is measured by ALICE at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in$$\sqrt{s}=5.02$$TeV proton-proton (pp) collisions, dividing events into several multiplicity-density classes. Exploiting, for the first time, a technique based on counting the number of strange-particle candidates event-by-event, this measurement allows one to extend the study of strangeness production beyond the mean of the distribution. This constitutes a new test bench for production mechanisms, probing events with a large imbalance between strange and non-strange content. The analysis of a large-statistics data sample makes it possible to extract P(n_S) up to a maximumn_Sof 7 for$${\text{K}}_{\text{S}}^{0}$$, 5 for Λ and$$\overline{\Lambda }$$, 4 for Ξ⁻and$${\overline{\Xi } }^{+}$$, and 2 for Ω⁻and$${\overline{\Omega } }^{+}$$. From this, the probability of producing strange hadron multiplets per event is calculated, thereby enabling the extension of the study of strangeness enhancement to extreme situations where several strange quarks hadronize in a single event at midrapidity. Moreover, comparing hadron combinations with differentuanddquark compositions and equal overallsquark content, the contribution to the enhancement pattern coming from non-strangeness related mechanisms is isolated. The results are compared with state-of-the-art phenomenological models implemented in commonly used Monte Carlo event generators, including PYTHIA 8 Monash 2013, PYTHIA 8 with QCD-based Color Reconnection and Rope Hadronization (QCD-CR + Ropes), and EPOS LHC, which incorporates both partonic interactions and hydrodynamic evolution. These comparisons show that the new approach dramatically enhances the sensitivity to the different underlying physics mechanisms modeled by each generator. 

Abstract The azimuthal-correlation distributions between electrons from the decays of heavy-flavor hadrons and associated charged particles in Pb–Pb collisions at$$\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} = 5.02$$ $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}=5.02$TeV are reported for the 0–10% and 30–50% centrality classes. This measurement provides access to the jet-like correlation observables in the heavy-flavor sector in Pb–Pb collisions. The analysis is performed for trigger electrons from heavy-flavor hadron decays with transverse momentum$$4< p_\textrm{T}^\textrm{e} < 16~\textrm{GeV}/c$$ $4<p_{\text{T}}^{\text{e}}<16\text{GeV}/c$, considering associated particles within the transverse-momentum range$$1< p_\textrm{T}^\textrm{assoc} < 7$$ $1<p_{\text{T}}^{\text{assoc}}<7$$$\textrm{GeV}/c$$ $\text{GeV}/c$, and a pseudorapidity difference of$$|\Delta \eta |<1$$ $\left|\Delta \eta \right|<1$between the trigger electron and associated particles. The per-trigger nuclear modification factor ($$I_\textrm{AA}$$ $I_{\text{AA}}$) is calculated to compare the near- and away-side peak yields to those in pp collisions at$$\sqrt{s} = 5.02$$ $\sqrt{s}=5.02$TeV. In 0–10% central collisions, the$$I_\textrm{AA}$$ $I_{\text{AA}}$indicates a hint of enhancement of associated-particle yields with$$p_\textrm{T}<3$$ $p_{\text{T}}<3$GeV/con the near side, and a suppression of yields with$$p_\textrm{T}>4$$ $p_{\text{T}}>4$GeV/con the away side. The$$I_\textrm{AA}$$ $I_{\text{AA}}$for electron triggers from heavy-flavor hadron decays is compared with that for light-flavor and strange-particle triggers to investigate the dependence on different fragmentation processes and parton-medium dynamics, and is found to be the same within uncertainties. 

We present the measurement of ${\pi }^{+}$-argon inelastic cross sections using the ProtoDUNE single-phase liquid argon time projection chamber in the incident ${\pi }^{+}$kinetic energy range of 500–800 MeV in multiple exclusive channels (absorption, charge exchange, and the remaining inelastic interactions). The results of this analysis are important inputs to simulations of liquid argon neutrino experiments such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the Short Baseline Neutrino program at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. They will be employed to improve the modeling of final state interactions within neutrino event generators used by these experiments, as well as the modeling of ${\pi }^{+}$-argon secondary interactions within the liquid argon. This is the first measurement of ${\pi }^{+}$-argon absorption at this kinetic energy range as well as the first ever measurement of ${\pi }^{+}$-argon charge exchange.