We present measurements of bulk properties of the matter produced in Au+Au collisions at √ sNN = 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, and 39 GeV using identified hadrons (π ± , K ± , p andp) from the STAR experiment in the Beam Energy Scan (BES) Program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Midrapidity (|y| <0.1) results for multiplicity densities dN/dy, average transverse momenta pT and particle ratios are presented. The chemical and kinetic freeze-out dynamics at these energies are discussed and presented as a function of collision centrality and energy. These results constitute the systematic measurements of bulk properties of matter formed in heavy-ion collisions over a broad range of energy (or baryon chemical potential) at RHIC.

We report the beam energy ( √ sNN = 7.7 -200 GeV) and collision centrality dependence of the mean (M ), standard deviation (σ), skewness (S), and kurtosis (κ) of the net-proton multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions. The measurements are carried out by the STAR experiment at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) and within the transverse momentum range 0.4 < pT < 0.8 GeV/c in the first phase of the Beam Energy Scan program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. These measurements are important for understanding the Quantum Chromodynamic (QCD) phase diagram.

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Vector mesons may be photoproduced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions when a virtual photon emitted by one nucleus scatters from the other nucleus, emerging as a vector meson. The STAR Collaboration has previously presented measurements of coherent ρ 0 photoproduction at center of mass energies of 130 GeV and 200 GeV in AuAu collisions. Here, we present a measurement of the cross section at 62.4 GeV; we find that the cross section for coherent ρ 0 photoproduction with nuclear breakup is 10.5 ± 1.5 ± 1.6 mb at 62.4 GeV. The cross-section ratio between 200 GeV and 62.4 GeV is 4.4 ± 0.6, less than is predicted by most theoretical models. It is, however, proportionally much larger than the previously observed 15% ± 55% increase between 130 GeV and 200 GeV.

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The STAR Collaboration reports the first observation of exclusive rho(0) photoproduction, AuAu-->AuAurho(0), and rho(0) production accompanied by mutual nuclear Coulomb excitation, AuAu-->Au*Au*rho(0), in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions. The rho(0) have low transverse momenta, consistent with coherent coupling to both nuclei. The cross sections at sqrt[s(NN)]=130 GeV agree with theoretical predictions treating rho(0) production and Coulomb excitation as independent processes.