Nuclear modification of psi^prime, chi_c and J/psi production in d+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

TL;DR

This study investigates how different charmonium states are modified in d+Au collisions at 200 GeV, revealing that suppression patterns depend on impact parameter and are not solely due to nuclear absorption effects.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the nuclear modification of psi' and chi_c states relative to J/psi in d+Au collisions at RHIC energies, highlighting impact parameter dependence.

Findings

Psi' suppression scales with charged-particle multiplicity.

Similar suppression of psi' and J/psi in large impact-parameter collisions.

Greater suppression of psi' in central collisions not explained by meson formation time effects.

Abstract

We present results for three charmonia states (psi^prime, chi_c and J/psi) in d+Au collisions at |y|<0.35 and sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. We find that the modification of the psi^prime yield relative to that of the J/psi scales approximately with charged-particle multiplicity at midrapidity across p+A, d+Au, and A+A results from the Super Proton Synchrotron and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In large impact-parameter collisions we observe a similar suppression for the psi^prime and J/psi, while in small impact-parameter collisions the more weakly bound psi^prime is more strongly suppressed. Owing to the short time spent traversing the Au nucleus, the larger psi^prime suppression in central events is not explained by an increase of the nuclear absorption due to meson formation time effects.