Direct Photons at RHIC

Abstract

The PHENIX experiment has measured direct photons in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV Au+Au collisions and p+p collisions. The fraction of photons due to direct production in Au+Au collisions is shown as a function of $p_T$ and centrality. This measurement is compared with expectation from pQCD calculations. Other possible sources of direct photons are discussed.

7 pages, 5 figures, presented at Hot Quarks 2004, Taos, NM