Centrality Dependence of Two-Particle Correlations in Heavy Ion Collisions
arXiv:0907.4805 · doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2009.10.005
Abstract
Data from the PHOBOS detector have been used to study two-particle correlations over a broad range of pseudorapidity. A simple cluster model parameterization has been applied to inclusive two-particle correlations over a range of centrality for both Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200GeV. Analysis of the data for Au+Au has recently been extended to more peripheral collisions showing that the previously-observed rise in cluster size with decreasing system size eventually reaches a maximum value. Model studies have been used to quantify the significant effect of limited detector acceptance on the extracted cluster parameters. In the case of Au+Au, correlations between a trigger particle with pT>2.5GeV and inclusive associated particles have also been studied. These reveal the presence of a `ridge' at small relative azimuthal angle which extends with roughly constant amplitude out to the largest relative pseudorapidity studied. The large phase-space coverage of the PHOBOS detector has enabled a quantitative understanding of the so-called `ZYAM' parameter used in the subtraction of the contribution of elliptic flow to these triggered correlations.
4 pages, 4 figures - To appear in the conference proceedings for Quark Matter 2009, March 30 - April 4, Knoxville, Tennessee (version 2: No changes from version 1 other than removing line numbers, version 3: Added full author list and reformatted slightly to keep same number of pages)