Nuclear modification factor $I_{AA}$ in $AA$ collisions at RHIC and LHC energies in scenarios with and without quark-gluon plasma formation in $pp$ collisions

TL;DR

This paper calculates the nuclear modification factor $I_{AA}$ in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and LHC energies, comparing scenarios with and without quark-gluon plasma formation in $pp$ collisions, and predicts outcomes for future O+O collisions.

Contribution

It introduces a comparative analysis of $I_{AA}$ in different collision scenarios, including predictions for O+O collisions at the LHC, to probe jet quenching in $pp$ collisions.

Findings

Theoretical $I_{AA}$ results agree with existing data at RHIC and LHC energies.

Predictions for $I_{AA}$ in 7 TeV O+O collisions are provided.

Measuring $I_{OO}$ at small centrality may reveal jet quenching in $pp$ collisions.

Abstract

We calculate the away-side hadron-triggered modification factor $I_{AA}$ in $AA$ collisions at RHIC and LHC energies for scenarios with and without quark-gluon plasma formation in $pp$ collision. We find that for both scenarios theoretical results for $I_{AA}$ agree well with the available data for 2.76 TeV Pb+Pb and 0.2 TeV Au+Au collisions. We make predictions for $I_{AA}$ in 7 TeV O+O collisions that are planned at the LHC. Our results show that measuring $I_{OO}$ in the whole centrality interval and at small centrality ($\lesssim 5$%) may give information on the presence of jet quenching in $pp$ collisions.