The Onset of Jet Quenching Phenomenon

TL;DR

This study investigates jet quenching signatures in small proton-proton collision systems at RHIC and LHC energies using simulated data, revealing multiplicity-dependent suppression patterns that challenge current interpretations.

Contribution

It provides a baseline analysis of jet quenching indicators in small systems, highlighting the limitations of current suppression measures in p-p collisions.

Findings

Both near-side and away-side yields decrease with multiplicity.

Suppression patterns are observed at both collision energies.

Results suggest caution in interpreting jet quenching signals in small systems.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to set a baseline for the jet quenching measurements of the Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) formed in the large system size Nucleus-Nucleus (A-A) at top central collisions, via studying simulated small system size, Nucleon-Nucleon (N-N) collisions. The proton-proton (p-p) collisions were simulated using PYTHIA, at center of mass energies $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} = 200$ $GeV$ and $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} = 13$ $TeV$ corresponding to the available energies at the current collider experiments; the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). At both energies, the two-particle azimuthal correlation functions have been considered, and the yield associated with the high transverse momentum ($p_{_{T}}$) particles were extracted at its near-side ($\Delta\phi \approx 0$) and away-side ($\Delta\phi \approx \pi$) at mid pseudo rapidity ($|\eta| \le 2$). The ratio between the near-side yields in the high multiplicity events to these of the low multiplicity events ($I_{_{HL}}^{^{N}}$), as well as, the ratio of the away-side yields ($I_{_{HL}}^{^{A}}$) were calculated at both energies as a function of the hadron fractional energy $z_{_{T}}$ of the high-$p_{_{T}}$ particle. At both energies, the values of $I_{_{HL}}^{^{N}}$ and $I_{_{HL}}^{^{A}}$ were less than unity, and of trivial dependence on $z_{_{T}}$. The values of $I_{_{HL}}^{^{A}}$ are always less than these of $I_{_{HL}}^{^{N}}$ at the same multiplicity and energy, and both quantities show a pattern of systematic decreases with the multiplicity. Such multiplicity dependence cannot be used neither to exclude the jet quenching nor to prove it in the high multiplicity events in p-p collisions, as the suppressions have been found at both sides, near and away of the high-$p_{_{T}}$ particle.