Nuclear in-medium effects on $\eta$ dynamics in proton-nucleus collisions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how in-medium effects, specifically an attractive $ta$-nucleon potential, influence $ta$ meson production and reabsorption in proton-nucleus collisions using a quantum molecular dynamics model.

Contribution

It introduces in-medium modifications, including an attractive potential, into the LQMD model to study $ta$ dynamics in nuclear reactions, highlighting the impact on production spectra.

Findings

Attractive potential reduces high-momentum $ta$ production.

Increases $ta$ reabsorption by surrounding nucleons.

Modifies the momentum distribution and cross sections.

Abstract

The dynamics of $\eta$ meson produced in proton-induced nuclear reactions via the decay of N$^{\ast}(1535)$ has been investigated within the Lanzhou quantum molecular dynamics transport model (LQMD). The in-medium modifications of the $\eta$ production in dense nuclear matter are included in the model, in which an attractive $\eta$-nucleon potential is implemented. The impact of the $\eta$ optical potential on the $\eta$ dynamics is investigated. It is found that the attractive potential leads to the reduction of high-momentum (kinetic energy) production from the spectra of momentum distributions and inclusive cross sections and increasing the reabsorption process by surrounding nucleons.