Anomalous \phi Meson Suppression in Au+Au Collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV Measured by the PHENIX Experiment at RHIC

TL;DR

This paper reports on the measurement of -meson production in various collision systems at RHIC, revealing anomalous suppression patterns in Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV, which may indicate quark-gluon plasma effects.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed measurement of -meson production and suppression across multiple collision systems at RHIC, highlighting unexpected suppression in Au+Au collisions.

Findings

Observation of -meson suppression in Au+Au collisions.

Comparison of -meson production across different collision systems.

Insights into medium effects in high-energy nuclear collisions.

Abstract

The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has measured the \phi-meson production at mid-rapidity in p+p, d+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV via the K^+K^- decay mode. The transverse momentum spectra of the \phi-meson and the nuclear modification factor as a function of centrality are reviewed here.