Multiplicity dependence of charged-particle intra-jet properties in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

The first measurement of the multiplicity dependence of intra-jet properties of leading charged-particle jets in proton-proton (pp) collisions is reported. The mean charged-particle multiplicity and jet fragmentation distributions are measured in minimum-bias and high-multiplicity pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV using the ALICE detector. Jets are reconstructed from charged particles produced in the midrapidity region ($|\eta|<~0.9$) using the sequential recombination anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm with jet resolution parameters $R=0.2$, 0.3, and 0.4 for the transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) interval 5-110 GeV/$c$. High-multiplicity events are selected by the forward V0 scintillator detectors. The mean charged-particle multiplicity inside the leading jet cone rises monotonically with increasing jet $p_{\rm T}$ in qualitative agreement with previous measurements at lower energies. The distributions of jet fragmentation function variables $z^{\rm ch}$ and $\xi^{\rm ch}$ are measured for different jet-$p_{\rm T}$ intervals. Jet-$p_{\rm T}$ independent fragmentation of leading jets is observed for wider jets except at high- and low-$z^{\rm ch}$. The observed hump-backed plateau structure in the $\xi^{\rm ch}$ distribution indicates suppression of low-$p_{\rm T}$ particles. In high-multiplicity events, an enhancement of the fragmentation probability of low-$z^{\rm ch}$ particles accompanied by a suppression of high-$z^{\rm ch}$ particles is observed compared to minimum-bias events. This behavior becomes more prominent for low-$p_{\rm T}$ jets with larger jet radius. The results are compared with predictions of QCD-inspired event generators, PYTHIA 8 with Monash 2013 tune and EPOS LHC. It is found that PYTHIA 8 qualitatively reproduces the jet modification in high-multiplicity events except at high jet $p_{\rm T}$. These measurements provide important constraints to models of jet fragmentation.

 

Eur. Phys. J. C (2024) 84: 1079
HEP Data
e-Print: arXiv:2311.13322 | PDF | inSPIRE
CERN-EP-2023-264
Figure group

Figure 1

$\langle N_{\rm ch} \rangle$ as a function of leading jet $\pt$ for MB (top) and HM (bottom) events for jet radii $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right). The distributions are compared with PYTHIA 8 predictions.

Figure 2

Top panel: The ratio of $\langle N_{\rm ch} \rangle$ between HM and MB events for jet radii $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right) compared to PYTHIA 8 predictions. Bottom panel: Ratio between PYTHIA 8 predictions and the measured values.

Figure 3

$z^{\rm ch}$ distributions in leading jets for different jet transverse momenta in MB (top) and HM (bottom) events for jet $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right).

Figure 4

Top: Ratios of PYTHIA 8 and EPOS LHC predictions to data for $z^{\rm ch}$ distributions in different $p_{\rm T}^{\rm jet,\,ch}$ intervals in MB events for jet $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right). Bottom: Ratios of PYTHIA 8 predictions to data for $z^{\rm ch}$ distributions in different $p_{\rm T}^{\rm jet,\,ch}$ intervals in HM events for jet $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right).

Figure 5

The ratio between HM and MB distributions of $z^{\rm ch}$ for $p_{\rm T}^{\rm jet,\,ch}$ intervals 10--20 GeV/$c$ (top), 30--40 GeV/$c$ (middle), and 60--80 GeV/$c$ (bottom) for jet $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right).

Figure 6

Left panel: Distributions of $z^{\rm ch}$ for the jet-$\pt$ interval 10--20 GeV/$c$ for inclusive (quark- and gluon-initiated) jets with `MPI: ON, CR: ON' and `MPI: OFF, CR: OFF' configurations, and for gluon-initiated jets with `MPI: OFF, CR: OFF' configuration using PYTHIA 8. Right panel: Ratio of $z^{\rm ch}$ distributions between HM and MB events.

Figure 7

$\xi^{\rm ch}$ distributions in leading jets for different jet transverse momenta in MB (top) and HM (bottom) events for jet $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right).

Figure 8

Ratios of PYTHIA 8 predictions to data for $\xi^{\rm ch}$ distributions in different $p_{\rm T}^{\rm jet,\,ch}$ intervals in MB (top) and HM (bottom) events for jet $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right).

Figure 9

The ratio between HM and MB distributions of $\xi^{\rm ch}$ for $p_{\rm T}^{\rm jet,\,ch}$ intervals 10--20 GeV/$c$ (top), 30--40 GeV/$c$ (middle), and 60--80 GeV/$c$ (bottom) for jet $R$ = 0.2 (left), 0.3 (middle), and 0.4 (right).