Forward Lambda Production and Nuclear Stopping Power in d+Au Collisions at RHIC
arXiv:nucl-ex/0512031 · doi:10.1556/APH.27.2006.2-3.24
Abstract
Using the forward time projection chambers of STAR we measure the centrality dependent Lambda and Anti-Lambda yields in d+Au collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN} = 200 GeV at forward and backward rapidities. The contributions of different processes to particle production and baryon transport are probed exploiting the inherent asymmetry of the d+Au system. While the d side appears to be dominated by multiple independent nucleon-nucleon collisions, nuclear effects contribute significantly on the Au side. Using the constraint of baryon number conservation, the rapidity loss of baryons in the incoming deuteron can be estimated as a function of centrality. This is compared to a model and to similar measurements in Au+Au, which gives insights into the nuclear stopping power at relativistic energies.
5 pages, 5 figures, poster proceedings for the Quark Matter 2005 conference in Budapest, Hungary. To be published in Acta Physica Hungarica A - Heavy Ion Physics