Constraints on the χc1 versus χc2 Polarizations in Proton-Proton Collisions at s=8  TeV

The polarizations of promptly produced chi(c1) and chi(c2) mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at root s = 8 TeV. The chi(c) states are reconstructed via their radiative decays chi(c) -> J/psi gamma, with the photons being measured through conversions to e(+)e(-), which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the chi(c2) to chi(c1) yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the J/psi -> mu(+)mu(-) decay, in three bins of J/psi transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the hclicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum.