Energy dependence of nuclear effects in hadron-nucleus collisions

TL;DR

This paper examines how nuclear effects in hadron-nucleus collisions vary with energy, highlighting the transition from Glauber rescattering to coherent production at RHIC energies and providing predictions for LHC.

Contribution

It analyzes the energy dependence of nuclear effects and particle production mechanisms, emphasizing the role of coherence and energy-momentum conservation across different energies.

Findings

At lower energies, production aligns with Glauber rescattering.

At RHIC energies, coherent processes dominate particle production.

Predictions are made for LHC energy effects.

Abstract

The energy dependence of light and heavy particle production in hadron-nucleus collisions is discussed. Whereas the production mechanism at lower energies can be understood in the Glauber rescattering picture, experimental data at RHIC indicate that particles are mostly produced in coherent processes. The importance of energy-momentum conservation is shown to be crucial at forward rapidities for the whole energy range. We also discuss the behaviour of $\alpha (x_F)$ with energy for light particles and $J/\psi$. Finally, we make predictions for the future LHC experiment.