Methods for a blind analysis of isobar data collected by the STAR collaboration

Understand

In 2018, the STAR collaboration collected data from $_{44}^{96}Ru+_{44}^{96}Ru$ and $_{40}^{96}Zr+_{40}^{96}Zr$ at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV to search for the presence of the chiral magnetic effect in collisions of nuclei.

• The isobar collision species alternated frequently between $_{44}^{96}Ru+_{44}^{96}Ru$ and $_{40}^{96}Zr+_{40}^{96}Zr$.
• In order to conduct blind analyses of studies related to the chiral magnetic effect in these isobar data, STAR developed a three-step blind analysis procedure.
• Analysts are initially provided a "reference sample" of data, comprised of a mix of events from the two species, the order of which respects time-dependent changes in run conditions.