polarized proton collision produces direct photons (IMAGE)
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PHENIX physicists analyzed collisions of a proton polarized perpendicular to its direction of motion (pointing "up") with an unpolarized proton, searching for collisions that emitted "direct photons" (ϒ) back-to-back with jets of particles. The method works, but the scientists don't yet see a big difference in the number of direct photons emerging to the left or right of the "up" direction, which would indicate the internal transverse motion of the gluons. Future experiments at sPHENIX should provide a clearer picture.
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Brookhaven National Laboratory
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