The effect of strong electric field on the evolution of charmonium in quark gluon plasma

TL;DR

This paper investigates how strong electric fields in quark-gluon plasma affect charmonium evolution, showing significant dissociation of J/ψ and formation of χc through electric field-induced transitions.

Contribution

It introduces a time-dependent Schrödinger equation approach to study electric field effects on charmonium states in QGP, highlighting state transitions and dissociation mechanisms.

Findings

Electric field causes significant J/ψ dissociation.

Electric field induces transitions from J/ψ to χc.

Altered yields of charmonium states in early collision stages.

Abstract

In ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions, the strong electric field can be produced by the colliding nuclei. The magnitude of the electric field $E$ is on the order of $eE\sim m_{\pi}^2$ at the early stage of the collision. In quark gluon plasma (QGP), such a strong electric field can have a significant impact on the evolution of charmonia. We employ the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation to study the evolution of charmonium states in the strong electric field generated by the moving charges. The electric field can result in transitions between charmonium states with different angular momenta. In order to see this effect, we make comparisons between the yields of $ J/\psi$, $\psi'$ and $\chi_c$ with and without the electric field. The results show that in the early stage of the collision the electric field induces significant dissociation of $J/\psi$. In the meantime, $\chi_c$ is generated via the transition from $J/\psi$ by the electric field.