Christine Aidala
· ProfessorVerifiedUniversity of Michigan · Physics
Active 2003–2026
About
Professor Christine Aidala works in experimental high-energy physics, focusing on the intersection between nuclear and particle physics. Her research is centered on quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the theory describing the strong force. She has extensively studied spin-momentum correlations inside the proton, drawing analogies to quantum electrodynamical spin-orbit couplings in the hydrogen atom. Recently, her work has shifted toward understanding mechanisms of hadronization, which involves the formation of new QCD bound states. She conducts her research as part of large, international collaborations at two major facilities: the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN and the PHENIX and sPHENIX experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Lab. Additionally, she is involved in efforts to establish a new facility for QCD studies, the Electron-Ion Collider. Beyond experimental work, Professor Aidala co-leads a theoretical project called 'Assumptions of Physics,' which aims to identify fundamental physical principles from which the basic laws of physics can be rigorously derived. Her contributions to physics have been recognized through awards such as a Sloan Research Fellowship, an NSF CAREER Award, and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. She was also a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
Research topics
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Particle physics
- Physics
- Algorithm
- Quantum mechanics
- Nuclear physics
- Mathematical physics
- Geometry
- Astrophysics
- Astronomy
Selected publications
arXiv (Cornell University) · 2026-04-14
preprintOpen accessA precision measurement of the $W$-boson production cross-section is performed using the $W \to μν$ decay channel, based on a sample of proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 $fb^{-1}$. The cross-section is measured for muons with transverse momentum between 25 and 55 GeV and pseudorapidity between 2.0 and 4.5. The integrated production cross-sections of $W$ bosons are measured to be $$ \begin{array}{lcl} σ_{W^+ \to μ^+ν} &=& 1754.2 \pm 1.5 \pm 11.9 \pm 35.1\text{ pb} \\ σ_{W^- \to μ^-\barν} &=& 1178.1 \pm 1.3 \pm 9.7 \pm 23.6\text{ pb} \end{array} $$ where uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the luminosity determination, respectively. Results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. This measurement is significantly more precise than previous results in this kinematic regime.
arXiv (Cornell University) · 2026-04-14
preprintOpen accessA precision measurement of the muon charge asymmetry from $W$-boson decays in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV is presented. The analysis utilizes data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1 $fb^{-1}$, recorded by the LHCb detector during 2016, 2017 and 2018. The asymmetry is measured for muons with transverse momentum between 25 and 55 GeV and pseudorapidity between 2.0 and 4.5. This result represents the most precise determination of the muon charge asymmetry in the forward region to date, exhibiting excellent agreement with next-to-next-to-leading-order predictions in perturbative quantum chromodynamics.
ArXiv.org · 2026-04-13
articleOpen accessThe inclusive production of the $η_c(1S)$, $η_c(2S)$ and $χ_{c}$ charmonium states in $b$-hadron decays is studied with LHCb Run~2 data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $5.9~\text{fb}^{-1}$, using charmonia decays to $ϕϕ$ pairs. The production branching fractions of the $χ_{c}(1P)$ states in $b$-hadron decays are measured, using $b \to η_c(1S) (\to ϕϕ) X$ as a normalisation channel, with $X$ indicating any additional particles. The results are \begin{align*} &{\cal{B}} (b \to χ_{c0} X) = (1.34 \pm 0.13 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.37) \times 10^{-3}, &{\cal{B}} (b \to χ_{c1} X) = (1.58 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.09 \pm 0.44) \times 10^{-3}, &{\cal{B}} (b \to χ_{c2} X) = (0.55 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.15) \times 10^{-3}, \end{align*} where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the last is due to the limited knowledge of externally measured branching fractions. The production branching fraction of $η_c(2S)$ times the branching fraction of its decay into $ϕϕ$ is measured as ${\cal{B}} (b \to η_c(2S) X) \times {\cal{B}} (η_c(2S) \to ϕϕ) = (4.0 \pm 0.6 \pm 0.6 \pm 1.1) \times 10^{-7}$. Furthermore, the mass of the $η_c(1S)$ state is measured to be $M_{η_c(1S)} = 2984.1 \pm 0.5 \pm 0.5$ MeV with the best precision to date.
Journal of Instrumentation · 2026-04-01
articleOpen accessAbstract The data acquisition system of the upgraded LHCb experiment includes the fast reconstruction of all hits in the vertex locator (VELO) pixel detector at the beam-crossing rate of 40 MHz, implemented as on-the-fly clustering embedded in the firmware of the readout board FPGAs. The availability of a high rate of reconstructed clusters in real time enables a new fast approach for measuring luminosity and monitoring the LHCb luminous region, directly at the detector readout level. This methodology has been implemented as an array of real-time cluster counters in the VELO readout FPGAs and has been in operation since the start of the 2024 physics run of LHCb. This paper describes the methodology and its features and performance, both on proton-proton and lead-lead collision data. The method shows a statistical resolution better than the percent level, and a sensitivity to variable running conditions of the same level. This is achieved with an intrinsic time granularity better than 100 ms, undersampled to 3 s for analysis purposes. Nonlinear behaviour is compatible with zero in a luminosity range including the LHCb Run 3 operating point.
Classical mechanics as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics
Physica Scripta · 2026-01-19
preprintOpen accessSenior authorAbstract We show that classical mechanics can be recovered as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics. That is, the high entropy masks quantum effects, and mixed states of high enough entropy can be approximated with classical distributions. The mathematical limit ℏ → 0 can be reinterpreted as setting the zero entropy of pure states to −∞, in the same way that non-relativistic mechanics can be recovered mathematically with c → ∞. Physically, these limits are more appropriately defined as S ≫ 0 and v ≪ c . Both limits can then be understood as approximations independently of what circumstances allow those approximations to be valid. Consequently, the limit presented is independent of possible underlying mechanisms and of what interpretation is chosen for both quantum states and entropy.
Physical Review Letters · 2026-01-14
articleOpen accessA search is presented for the two-body charmed baryonic decays, B[over ¯]_{(s)}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}, using a data sample collected by the LHCb experiment during 2011-2012 and 2015-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb^{-1}. The first observation of the B[over ¯]_{s}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} decay is reported with 6.2σ significance along with 4.3σ evidence for the B[over ¯]^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} decay. The branching fractions are measured to be B(B[over ¯]^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-})=(1.01_{-0.28}^{+0.27}±0.08±0.15)×10^{-5} and B(B[over ¯]_{s}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-})=(5.0±1.3±0.5±0.8)×10^{-5}, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to external inputs. These results provide novel experimental inputs for the theoretical framework describing two-body baryonic decays of B mesons via W-emission and W-exchange mechanisms.
Physical Review Letters · 2025-12-09 · 1 citations
preprintOpen accessSearches are presented for B_{c}^{+}→Dh^{+}h^{-} decays, where D is a charmed meson and h^{±} is a charged pion or kaon, using pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb^{-1}. The decays B_{c}^{+}→D^{+}K^{+}π^{-}, B_{c}^{+}→D^{*+}K^{+}π^{-}, and B_{c}^{+}→D_{s}^{+}K^{+}K^{-} are observed for the first time. Their branching fractions, expressed as ratios relative to that of the B_{c}^{+}→B_{s}^{0}π^{+} decay, are determined to be R(B_{c}^{+}→D^{+}K^{+}π^{-})=(1.96±0.23±0.08±0.10)×10^{-3}, R(B_{c}^{+}→D^{*+}K^{+}π^{-})=(3.67±0.55±0.24±0.20)×10^{-3}, R(B_{c}^{+}→D_{s}^{+}K^{+}K^{-})=(1.61±0.35±0.13±0.07)×10^{-3}, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the limited precision on the D-meson branching fractions. The decay channels proceed primarily through excited K^{0} or D^{0} resonances or ϕ mesons, and open a new avenue for studies of charge-parity violation in beauty mesons.
Journal of High Energy Physics · 2025-10-15
articleOpen accessA bstract The elliptic and triangular flow of charged particles are measured using two-particle angular correlations in p Pb collisions in the pseudorapidity range 2.0 < | η | < 4.8. The data sample was collected by the LHCb experiment in 2016 at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $$ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}=8.16 $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msqrt> <mml:msub> <mml:mi>s</mml:mi> <mml:mi>NN</mml:mi> </mml:msub> </mml:msqrt> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mn>8.16</mml:mn> </mml:math> TeV, containing in total approximately 1.5 billion collision events. Non-flow contributions are obtained in low-multiplicity collisions and subtracted to extract the flow harmonics. The results are presented as a function of event multiplicity and hadron transverse momentum. Comparisons with a full (3+1)D dynamic model indicate that it overestimates the measured elliptic flow. A comparison between the forward and backward regions reveals no significant differences in flow parameters, suggesting that final-state effects may dominate over initial-state effects in the origin of flow in small systems.
First measurement of b-jet mass with and without grooming
Physics Letters B · 2025-09-05 · 1 citations
articleOpen access<div>The LHCb collaboration presents a novel suite of heavy-flavour jet substructure measurements at forward rapidity in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √ = 13 TeV . The jet mass is a perturbatively calculable probe of the virtuality of hard-scattered quarks and gluons, connecting small-distance quantum chromodynamics (QCD) with long-distance experimental measurement. The jet mass is dominated by nonperturbative corrections at small values, presenting an excellent test of QCD across a broad range of jet energies. Measuring heavy-flavour jet mass with a theoretically unambiguous flavour definition for the first time probes the gluon splitting mechanism for heavy-flavour production and offers tests of perturbative QCD at new levels of theoretical precision. Utilising the soft drop jet-grooming technique to access the perturbative jet core further enhances constraints on first-principles theory. Measurements of the jet mass for jets containing fully reconstructed ± hadrons are reported with and without grooming. The unique phase space instrumented by LHCb offers a different quarkgluon fraction than at midrapidity. These results offer unparalleled tests of quark flavour and mass dependence in QCD and provide a baseline for future studies of heavy-flavour jet quenching in heavy-ion collisions.</div><div/><div/><div/>
Observation of the doubly-charmed-baryon decay $$ {\Xi}_{cc}^{++}\to {\Xi}_c^0{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{+} $$
Journal of High Energy Physics · 2025-10-16 · 3 citations
articleOpen accessA bstract A search for the doubly-charmed-baryon decay $$ {\Xi}_{cc}^{++}\to {\Xi}_c^0{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{+} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Ξ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>cc</mml:mi> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> <mml:mo>→</mml:mo> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Ξ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:msubsup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> is performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 . 4 fb − 1 . A significant structure consistent with the $$ {\Xi}_{cc}^{++} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Ξ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>cc</mml:mi> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> </mml:math> baryon is observed in the $$ {\Xi}_c^0{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{+} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Ξ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:msubsup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> invariant-mass spectrum. Using the $$ {\Xi}_{cc}^{++}\to {\Lambda}_c^{+}{K}^{-}{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{+} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Ξ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>cc</mml:mi> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> <mml:mo>→</mml:mo> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Λ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msubsup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>K</mml:mi> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> decay as the normalisation channel, the branching fraction ratio, $$ \frac{\mathcal{B}\left({\Xi}_{cc}^{++}\to {\Xi}_c^0{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{+}\right)}{\mathcal{B}\left({\Xi}_{cc}^{++}\to {\Lambda}_c^{+}{K}^{-}{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{+}\right)} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mfrac> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>B</mml:mi> <mml:mfenced> <mml:mrow> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Ξ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>cc</mml:mi> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> <mml:mo>→</mml:mo> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Ξ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:msubsup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:mfenced> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>B</mml:mi> <mml:mfenced> <mml:mrow> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Ξ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>cc</mml:mi> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> <mml:mo>→</mml:mo> <mml:msubsup> <mml:mi>Λ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msubsup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>K</mml:mi> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>π</mml:mi> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:mfenced> </mml:mrow> </mml:mfrac> </mml:math> , is measured to be 1 . 37 ± 0 . 18 (stat) ± 0 . 09 (syst) ± 0 . 35 (ext). This measurement provides critical input for testing QCD factorisation methods in the weak decays of doubly-heavy baryons, particularly in quantifying nonperturbative effects such as final-state interactions and resonance contributions to the hadronisation process.
Recent grants
CAREER: Valence and Sea Quark Dynamics at Fermilab
NSF · $738k · 2015–2021
Studying Quantum Chromodynamics at LHCb
NSF · $698k · 2020–2023
Frequent coauthors
- 1505 shared
V. V. Gligorov
Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
- 1286 shared
K. Tanida
- 1013 shared
Y. Goto
Augustana University
- 981 shared
Y. Akiba
- 940 shared
E. Ben-Haim
Université Paris Cité
- 916 shared
Z. Xu
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- 914 shared
J. A. de Vries
Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
- 900 shared
J. F. Marchand
Université Savoie Mont Blanc
Education
- 2005
Ph.D., Physics
Columbia University
Awards & honors
- Sloan Research Fellowship
- NSF CAREER Award
- Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
- U.S. Fulbright Scholar (2019-20)
- Fellow of the American Physical Society
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