Speaker
Description
$\quad$The $\phi$ vector meson is the lightest bound state of hidden strangeness, consisting of a ($s\bar{s}$) quark-antiquark pair. It has a long lifetime (46 fm/c) and relatively small hadronic interaction cross section. Therefore, it is less susceptible to final-state effects and can be used to study the early evolution of the system. In addition, coalescence model calculations indicate that the $\Omega/\phi$ yield ratio is sensitive to strange quark thermodynamic properties, and its dependence on collision energy can potentially be used to probe the onset of deconfinement.
$\quad$In this poster, we will present new measurements on transverse momentum ($p_T$), rapidity ($y$), and centrality dependence of $\phi$ meson yields in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 27, 19.6, 14.6 and 7.7 GeV using data taken during Beam Energy Scan (BES) II by the STAR experiment. Resonance to non-resonance yield ratios ($\phi/K$) will be shown as a function of centrality for various collision energies. The nuclear modification factor using the peripheral Au+Au collision as a reference for $\phi$ at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7-27 GeV will also be presented and the physics implications will be discussed.
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