Centrality dependence of J/$\psi$ and $\psi$(2S) production and nuclear modification in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} =$ 8.16 TeV

TL;DR

This study measures how the production of J/ψ and ψ(2S) particles varies with collision centrality in proton-lead collisions at 8.16 TeV, revealing different nuclear effects and centrality dependencies for these charmonium states.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed centrality-dependent analysis of J/ψ and ψ(2S) production in p-Pb collisions at 8.16 TeV, including nuclear modification factors and comparison with models.

Findings

Suppression of both states in p-going direction increases with centrality.

J/ψ nuclear modification factor rises above unity in central collisions in Pb-going direction.

No significant energy dependence observed compared to 5.02 TeV measurements.

Abstract

The inclusive production of the J/$\psi$ and $\psi$(2S) charmonium states is studied as a function of centrality in p-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 8.16$ TeV at the LHC. The measurement is performed in the dimuon decay channel with the ALICE apparatus in the centre-of-mass rapidity intervals $-4.46 < y_{\rm cms} < -2.96$ (Pb-going direction) and $2.03 < y_{\rm cms} < 3.53$ (p-going direction), down to zero transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$). The J/$\psi$ and $\psi$(2S) production cross sections are evaluated as a function of the collision centrality, estimated through the energy deposited in the zero degree calorimeter located in the Pb-going direction. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential J/$\psi$ production cross section is measured at backward and forward rapidity for several centrality classes, together with the corresponding average $\langle p_{\rm T} \rangle$ and $\langle p^{2}_{\rm T} \rangle$ values. The nuclear effects affecting the production of both charmonium states are studied using the nuclear modification factor. In the p-going direction, a suppression of the production of both charmonium states is observed, which seems to increase from peripheral to central collisions. In the Pb-going direction, however, the centrality dependence is different for the two states: the nuclear modification factor of the J/$\psi$ increases from below unity in peripheral collisions to above unity in central collisions, while for the $\psi$(2S) it stays below or consistent with unity for all centralities with no significant centrality dependence. The results are compared with measurements in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV and no significant dependence on the energy of the collision is observed. Finally, the results are compared with theoretical models implementing various nuclear matter effects.