Investigating the Long-Range, Near-Side Two-Particle Correlation Ridge Using ATLAS Recorded sqrt s = 7 TeV Proton-Proton Collisions

Results are presented on the attempt to observe a long-range, near-side ridge in the two-particle angular correlation function ($R(\Delta \eta, \Delta \phi)$), analogous to the unexpected observation presented by the CMS collaboration in September, 2010. A result which hinted at the presence of a hot, dense medium in proton-proton collisions. The possibility of a prosaic interpretation of the ridge, specifically that of a colour string effect, is investigated. This was performed by analysing 2010 proton-proton collision data with $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV, recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Descriptions are provided of the analysis, data handling, quality control and trigger selection, all of which were developed specifically for the investigation. The results, entirely a product of this study, exhibit intriguing features when high multiplicity events are analysed along with requesting a high sum of the total energy of all the jets - at approximately 1.3 TeV or greater. However, overall the results are inconclusive, thus possibly implying at a quark gluon plasma being produced in proton-proton collisions.