https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2016-16278-0
Regular Article
Correction methods for finite-acceptance effects in two-particle correlation analyses
1
Yale University, 06511, New Haven, CT, USA
2
CERN, 1211, Geneva 23, Switzerland
3
LBNL, 94720, Berkeley, CA, USA
* e-mail: saehanseul.oh@yale.edu
Received:
6
May
2016
Accepted:
12
July
2016
Published online:
15
August
2016
Two-particle angular correlations have been widely used as a tool to explore particle production mechanisms in heavy-ion collisions. The mixed-event technique is generally used as a standard method to correct for finite-acceptance effects. We demonstrate that event mixing only provides an approximate acceptance correction, and propose new methods for finite-acceptance corrections. Starting from discussions about 2-dimensional correction procedures, new methods are derived for specific assumptions on the properties of the signal, such as uniform signal distribution or 
-function-like trigger particle distribution, and suitable for two-particle correlation analyses from particles at mid-rapidity and jet-hadron or high p
T -triggered hadron-hadron correlations. Per-trigger associated particle yields from the mixed-event method and the new methods are compared through Monte Carlo simulations containing well-defined correlation signals. Significant differences are observed at large pseudorapidity differences in general and especially for asymmetric particle distribution like that produced in proton-nucleus collisions. The applicability and validity of the new methods are discussed in detail.
© Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2016
