Relating Meson and Baryon Fragmentation Functions by Shower-Parton Recombination

We relate the fragmentation functions of partons into mesons and baryons in the framework of recombination of shower partons. The results are in reasonable agreement with the data. The implication is that the meson and baryon fragmentation functions are not independent when hadronization of the shower partons are taken into account. The conclusion therefore closes a conceptual gap in the system of fragmentation functions whose $Q^2$ evolution has been more extensively studied than their interrelationship.Comment: 10 pages in LaTex + 3 figures in ep

Proton enhancement at large p_T at LHC without structure in associated-particle distribution

The production of pions and protons in the $p_T$ range between 10 and 20 GeV/c for Pb+Pb collisions at LHC is studied in the recombination model. It is shown that the dominant mechanism for hadronization is the recombination of shower partons from neighboring jets when the jet density is high. Protons are more copiously produced than pions in that $p_T$ range because the coalescing partons can have lower momentum fractions, but no thermal partons are involved. The proton-to-pion ratio can rise beyond 20. When such a high $p_T$ hadron is used as a trigger particle, there will not be any associated particles that are not in the background.Comment: Revised version with new material adde

Centrality Dependence of Baryon and Meson Momentum Distributions in pApA Collisions

The proton and neutron inclusive distributions in the projectile fragmentation region of $pA$ collisions are studied in the valon model. Momentum degradation and flavor changes due to the nuclear medium are described at the valon level using two parameters. Particle production is treated by means of the recombination subprocess. Pion inclusive distributions can be calculated without any adjustable parameters.Comment: 4 pages talk given at XXXI International Symposium on Multiparticle Dynamics, Sep. 1-7, 2001, Datong China URL http://ismd31.ccnu.edu.cn

Centrality Dependence of Baryon and Meson Momentum Distributions in Proton-Nucleus Collisions

The proton and neutron inclusive distributions in the projectile fragmentation region of $pA$ collisions are studied in the valon model. Momentum degradation and flavor changes due to the nuclear medium are described at the valon level using two parameters. Particle production is treated by means of the recombination subprocess. The centrality dependences of the net proton and neutron spectra of the NA49 data are satisfactorily reproduced. The effective degradation length is determined to be 17 fm. Pion inclusive distributions can be calculated without any adjustable parameters.Comment: 22 pages in RevTeX, 9 eps figures include

Field-ionization threshold and its induced ionization-window phenomenon for Rydberg atoms in a short single-cycle pulse

We study the field-ionization threshold behavior when a Rydberg atom is ionized by a short single-cycle pulse field. Both hydrogen and sodium atoms are considered. The required threshold field amplitude is found to scale \emph{inversely} with the binding energy when the pulse duration becomes shorter than the classical Rydberg period, and, thus, more weakly bound electrons require larger fields for ionization. This threshold scaling behavior is confirmed by both 3D classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulations and numerically solving the time-dependent Schr\"{o}dinger equation. More surprisingly, the same scaling behavior in the short pulse limit is also followed by the ionization thresholds for much lower bound states, including the hydrogen ground state. An empirical formula is obtained from a simple model, and the dominant ionization mechanism is identified as a nonzero spatial displacement of the electron. This displacement ionization should be another important mechanism beyond the tunneling ionization and the multiphoton ionization. In addition, an "ionization window" is shown to exist for the ionization of Rydberg states, which may have potential applications to selectively modify and control the Rydberg-state population of atoms and molecules