Centrality Dependence of Charged Particle Multiplicity in Au-Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV

Abstract

We present results for the charged-particle multiplicity distribution at mid-rapidity in Au - Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV measured with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. For the 5% most central collisions we find $d{N}_{ch}/d\hat{I}{\cdot }_{|\hat{I}\cdot =0}=622\pm 1(stat)\pm 41(syst)$. The results, analyzed as a function of centrality, show a steady rise of the particle density per participating nucleon with centrality.

307 authors, 43 institutions, 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table Minor changes to figure labels and text to meet PRL requirements. One author added: M. Hibino of Waseda University