Transverse momentum dependence of eta meson suppression in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

TL;DR

This study presents new eta meson production measurements in Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV, showing nuclear modification factors similar to pi^0, and provides data to refine theoretical models of quark-gluon plasma.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed eta meson suppression data at high transverse momentum in heavy-ion collisions, complementing pi^0 measurements for better theoretical constraints.

Findings

Nuclear modification factors for eta are similar to pi^0.

R_AA shows no significant slope across 5-20 GeV/c p_T.

Data extend the p_T range for eta suppression measurements.

Abstract

New measurements by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC for eta production at midrapidity as a function of transverse momentum (p_T) and collision centrality in sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV Au+Au and p+p collisions are presented. They indicate nuclear modification factors (R_AA) that are similar both in magnitude and trend to those found in earlier pi^0 measurements. Linear fits to R_AA in the 5--20 GeV/c p_T region show that the slope is consistent with zero within two standard deviations at all centralities although a slow rise cannot be excluded. Having different statistical and systematic uncertainties the pi^0 and eta measurements are complementary at high p_T; thus, along with the extended p_T range of these data they can provide additional constraints for theoretical modeling and the extraction of transport properties.