K* production in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_{NN}) = 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV in STAR

TL;DR

This paper presents measurements of $K^*$ meson production in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at 62.4 and 200 GeV, analyzing spectra, particle ratios, and flow to understand hadronic medium effects and quark coalescence.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on $K^*$ production and flow, supporting the quark coalescence model in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC energies.

Findings

$K^*$ spectra measured up to intermediate $p_T$

Particle ratios indicate rescattering and regeneration effects

$v_2$ and nuclear modification factor support quark coalescence

Abstract

We report the measurements of $p_T$ spectra of $K^*$ up to intermediate $p_T$ region in mid-rapidity through its hadronic decay channel using the STAR detector in Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$= 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV. Particle ratios such as $K^{*}/K$ and $K^{*}/\phi$ is used to understand the rescattering and regeneration effect on $K^{*}$ production in the hadronic medium. The $K^*$ $v_{2}$ measurement using a high statistics Au+Au 200 GeV dataset and nuclear modification factor measurement supports the quark coalescence model of particle production in the intermediate $p_T$ range.