CGC predictions for p+A collisions at the LHC and signature of QCD saturation

TL;DR

This paper provides predictions for p+Pb collisions at 5 TeV using the CGC formalism, focusing on various particle production observables and their uncertainties, to test QCD saturation effects at the LHC.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive set of predictions for p+Pb collisions at the LHC within the CGC framework, highlighting the impact of initial saturation scale uncertainties.

Findings

Large theoretical uncertainties due to initial saturation scale.

Predictions for charged hadron and photon production at the LHC.

A proposed scheme to test CGC dynamics despite uncertainties.

Abstract

We present various predictions for the upcoming p+Pb collisions at \sqrt{S}=5 TeV within the color glass condensate (CGC) formalism, including single inclusive charged hadron production, single inclusive prompt photon production, direct photon production, charged hadron multiplicity distribution and photon-hadron azimuthal correlations. Using the running-coupling Balitsky-Kovchegov evolution equation for calculating various observables, we show that the main source of uncertainties is due to less constrained initial nuclear saturation scale. This gives rise to rather large theoretical uncertainties for nuclear modification factor R_{pA} at the LHC. Nevertheless, we propose a simple scheme in which one can still test the main dynamics of the CGC/saturation in p+A collisions at the LHC.