Global constraint on the jet transport coefficient from single-hadron, dihadron, and γ -hadron spectra in high-energy heavy-ion collisions

Abstract

Modifications of large transverse momentum single-hadron, dihadron, and γ-hadron spectra in relativistic heavy-ion collisions are direct consequences of parton-medium interactions in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). The interaction strength and underlying dynamics can be quantified by the jet transport coefficient q̂. We carry out the first global constraint on q̂ using a next-to-leading order pQCD parton model with higher-twist parton energy loss and combining world experimental data on single-hadron, dihadron, and γ-hadron suppression at both RHIC and LHC energies with a wide range of centralities. The global Bayesian analysis using the information field (IF) priors provides the most stringent constraint on q̂(T). We demonstrate in particular the progressive constraining power of the IF Bayesian analysis on the strong temperature dependence of q̂ using data from different centralities and colliding energies. We also discuss the advantage of using both inclusive and correlation observables with different geometric biases. As a verification, the obtained q̂(T) is shown to describe data on single-hadron anisotropy at high transverse momentum well. Predictions for future jet quenching measurements in oxygen-oxygen collisions are also provided. Published by the American Physical Society 2024