Azimuthal correlations of forward di-hadrons in d+Au collisions suppressed by saturation

TL;DR

This paper explains the disappearance of the away-side peak in forward di-hadron correlations in d+Au collisions at RHIC as a saturation effect predicted by the Color Glass Condensate framework, highlighting small-x evolution.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the suppression of the away-side peak in forward di-hadron correlations can be explained by saturation physics within the Color Glass Condensate model, matching experimental data.

Findings

Data shows disappearance of away-side peak in central d+Au collisions

Color Glass Condensate framework accurately describes the data

Suppression linked to small-x evolution into saturation regime

Abstract

RHIC experiments have recently measured the azimuthal correlation function of forward di-hadrons. The data show a disappearance of the away-side peak in central d+Au collisions, compared to p+p collisions, as was predicted by saturation physics. Indeed, we argue that this effect, absent at mid-rapidity, is a consequence of the small-x evolution into the saturation regime of the Gold nucleus wave function. We show that the data are well described in the Color Glass Condensate framework.