CERN Accelerating science

Top-view schematic layout of the NA61/SHINE detector at the CERN SPS \cite{abgrall2014na61} showing the components present in the 2017 90 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data taking. The detector configuration upstream of the target is shown in the inset. The alignment of the chosen coordinate system is shown on the plot; its origin $(x=y=z=0)$ lies in the middle of VTPC-2, on the beam axis. The nominal beam direction is along the $z$-axis. Target is placed at $z = -590.20$ cm. The magnetic field bends charged particle trajectories in the $x$-$z$ (horizontal) plane. The drift direction in the TPCs is along the (vertical) $y$-axis.

Armenteros-Podolanski distributions before (top left) and after applying all of the cuts in the neutral-hadron analyses to select $K^0_S$ (top-right), $\Lambda$ (bottom-left), and $\bar{\Lambda}$ (bottom-right). $\alpha$ is the longitudinal momentum asymmetry of the decay products, as defined in Equation \ref{eq:apAlpha}.

Armenteros-Podolanski distributions before (top left) and after applying all of the cuts in the neutral-hadron analyses to select $K^0_S$ (top-right), $\Lambda$ (bottom-left), and $\bar{\Lambda}$ (bottom-right). $\alpha$ is the longitudinal momentum asymmetry of the decay products, as defined in Equation \ref{eq:apAlpha}.

Armenteros-Podolanski distributions before (top left) and after applying all of the cuts in the neutral-hadron analyses to select $K^0_S$ (top-right), $\Lambda$ (bottom-left), and $\bar{\Lambda}$ (bottom-right). $\alpha$ is the longitudinal momentum asymmetry of the decay products, as defined in Equation \ref{eq:apAlpha}.

Armenteros-Podolanski distributions before (top left) and after applying all of the cuts in the neutral-hadron analyses to select $K^0_S$ (top-right), $\Lambda$ (bottom-left), and $\bar{\Lambda}$ (bottom-right). $\alpha$ is the longitudinal momentum asymmetry of the decay products, as defined in Equation \ref{eq:apAlpha}.

Example invariant mass fits for $K^0_S$, $\Lambda$, and $\bar{\Lambda}$. The signal shape is shown alone in red, the background is shown in blue, and the sum of the signal and background is shown in black. At the bottom of each fit is a plot of the fit residual over the statistical uncertainty on the number of entries for each bin; the fit residual is the fit result minus the number of entries.

Example invariant mass fits for $K^0_S$, $\Lambda$, and $\bar{\Lambda}$. The signal shape is shown alone in red, the background is shown in blue, and the sum of the signal and background is shown in black. At the bottom of each fit is a plot of the fit residual over the statistical uncertainty on the number of entries for each bin; the fit residual is the fit result minus the number of entries.

Example invariant mass fits for $K^0_S$, $\Lambda$, and $\bar{\Lambda}$. The signal shape is shown alone in red, the background is shown in blue, and the sum of the signal and background is shown in black. At the bottom of each fit is a plot of the fit residual over the statistical uncertainty on the number of entries for each bin; the fit residual is the fit result minus the number of entries.

Two-dimensional distributions of charged track \dedx vs. $\ln(p)$ after applying track quality cuts. The lines on the plot represent the Bethe--Bloch predictions for each particle species in the energy loss fit. A prominent peak in the positively charged track \dedx distribution is visible at the beam momentum of 90 GeV/$c$ (ln($p$ / [GeV/$c$]) = 4.50) in the left plot; the right plot shows the negatively charged track \dedx distribution.

Two-dimensional distributions of charged track \dedx vs. $\ln(p)$ after applying track quality cuts. The lines on the plot represent the Bethe--Bloch predictions for each particle species in the energy loss fit. A prominent peak in the positively charged track \dedx distribution is visible at the beam momentum of 90 GeV/$c$ (ln($p$ / [GeV/$c$]) = 4.50) in the left plot; the right plot shows the negatively charged track \dedx distribution.

Example of a \dedx distribution fit for one kinematic bin. Both the positively and negatively charged track fits are shown, and both fits show a clear abundance of pions. At the bottom of each fit is a plot of the fit residual over the statistical uncertainty on the number of entries for each bin; the fit residual is the fit result minus the number of entries.

Example of a \dedx distribution fit for one kinematic bin. Both the positively and negatively charged track fits are shown, and both fits show a clear abundance of pions. At the bottom of each fit is a plot of the fit residual over the statistical uncertainty on the number of entries for each bin; the fit residual is the fit result minus the number of entries.

Example $K^0_S$ systematic uncertainty breakdown for the angular bins [0, 0.02) rad and [0.02, 0.04) rad. For each kinematic bin shown in the plot, the total uncertainty is shown in black, and all of the constituent uncertainties are shown as well. These uncertainties correspond to the multiplicity measurements shown in Figure \ref{fig:sampleK0SMultiplicities}.

Example $K^0_S$ systematic uncertainty breakdown for the angular bins [0, 0.02) rad and [0.02, 0.04) rad. For each kinematic bin shown in the plot, the total uncertainty is shown in black, and all of the constituent uncertainties are shown as well. These uncertainties correspond to the multiplicity measurements shown in Figure \ref{fig:sampleK0SMultiplicities}.

Example $K^0_S$ systematic uncertainty breakdown for the angular bins [0, 0.02) rad and [0.02, 0.04) rad. For each kinematic bin shown in the plot, the total uncertainty is shown in black, and all of the constituent uncertainties are shown as well. These uncertainties correspond to the multiplicity measurements shown in Figure \ref{fig:sampleK0SMultiplicities}.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ systematic uncertainty breakdown for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. For each kinematic bin shown in the plot, the total uncertainty is shown in black, and all of the constituent uncertainties are shown as well. These uncertainties correspond to the multiplicity measurements shown in Figure~\ref{fig:samplePionMultiplicities}. The bins before the Bethe--Bloch overlap region generally have higher uncertainty than the bins after the overlap region, as can be seen here.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ systematic uncertainty breakdown for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. For each kinematic bin shown in the plot, the total uncertainty is shown in black, and all of the constituent uncertainties are shown as well. These uncertainties correspond to the multiplicity measurements shown in Figure~\ref{fig:samplePionMultiplicities}. The bins before the Bethe--Bloch overlap region generally have higher uncertainty than the bins after the overlap region, as can be seen here.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ systematic uncertainty breakdown for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. For each kinematic bin shown in the plot, the total uncertainty is shown in black, and all of the constituent uncertainties are shown as well. These uncertainties correspond to the multiplicity measurements shown in Figure~\ref{fig:samplePionMultiplicities}. The bins before the Bethe--Bloch overlap region generally have higher uncertainty than the bins after the overlap region, as can be seen here.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ systematic uncertainty breakdown for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. For each kinematic bin shown in the plot, the total uncertainty is shown in black, and all of the constituent uncertainties are shown as well. These uncertainties correspond to the multiplicity measurements shown in Figure~\ref{fig:samplePionMultiplicities}. The bins before the Bethe--Bloch overlap region generally have higher uncertainty than the bins after the overlap region, as can be seen here.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ systematic uncertainty breakdown for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. For each kinematic bin shown in the plot, the total uncertainty is shown in black, and all of the constituent uncertainties are shown as well. These uncertainties correspond to the multiplicity measurements shown in Figure~\ref{fig:samplePionMultiplicities}. The bins before the Bethe--Bloch overlap region generally have higher uncertainty than the bins after the overlap region, as can be seen here.

Example $K^0_S$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0, 0.02) rad and [0.02, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $K^0_S$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0, 0.02) rad and [0.02, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $\Lambda$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.04, 0.06) rad and [0.06, 0.10) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $\Lambda$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.04, 0.06) rad and [0.06, 0.10) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $\bar{\Lambda}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0, 0.04) rad and [0.04, 0.08) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $\bar{\Lambda}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0, 0.04) rad and [0.04, 0.08) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $\pi^{\pm}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in red, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $K^{\pm}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in light purple, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $K^{\pm}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in light purple, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $K^{\pm}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in light purple, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $K^{\pm}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.02, 0.03) rad and [0.03, 0.04) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in light purple, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $p / \bar{p}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.05, 0.06) rad and [0.06, 0.08) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in dark blue, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $p / \bar{p}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.05, 0.06) rad and [0.06, 0.08) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in dark blue, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $p / \bar{p}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.05, 0.06) rad and [0.06, 0.08) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in dark blue, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Example $p / \bar{p}$ multiplicity measurements for the angular bins [0.05, 0.06) rad and [0.06, 0.08) rad. The uncertainties shown are the total ones. The data points, shown in dark blue, are compared to four physics lists from \GeantFour version 10.7.0.

Multiplicity measurements for the $K^0_S$ analysis. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Multiplicity measurements for the $\Lambda$ analysis. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Multiplicity measurements for the $\bar{\Lambda}$ analysis. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Multiplicity measurements for the $\pi^{\pm}$ analyses. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Multiplicity measurements for the $\pi^{\pm}$ analyses. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Multiplicity measurements for the $K^{\pm}$ analyses. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Multiplicity measurements for the $K^{\pm}$ analyses. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Multiplicity measurements for the $p / \bar{p}$ analyses. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Multiplicity measurements for the $p / \bar{p}$ analyses. Numerical results can be found in \cite{pC90EDMS}.

Example comparison in the measured differential multiplicity between the 2017 90 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data analyzed in this manuscript and the 2016 and 2017 120 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data~\cite{adhikary2023measurementscharged}.

Example comparison in the measured differential multiplicity between the 2017 90 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data analyzed in this manuscript and the 2016 and 2017 120 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data~\cite{adhikary2023measurementscharged}.

Example comparison in the measured differential multiplicity between the 2017 90 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data analyzed in this manuscript and the 2016 and 2017 120 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data~\cite{adhikary2023measurementscharged}.

Example comparison in the measured differential multiplicity between the 2017 90 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data analyzed in this manuscript and the 2016 and 2017 120 GeV$/c$ proton-carbon data~\cite{adhikary2023measurementscharged}.