Measurements of J/$\psi$ yields at forward and mid-rapidity in d+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV by PHENIX at RHIC

Abstract

The J/$\psi$ yields in heavy ion collisions are expected to be a promising probe of deconfined matter, since theoretical models predict that the J/$\psi$ production could be strongly suppressed due to color screening effect in a Quark Gluon Plasma. In addition, one of the interesting predictions that has emerged recently is the J/$\psi$ enhancement at RHIC energy via competing mechanisms such as recombination. The PHENIX collaboration has measured J/$\psi$ production via its decay into lepton pairs in Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The nuclear modification factor $R_{\mathrm{AA}}$ for the $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ is obtained by comparing Au+Au or Cu+Cu collisions to p+p collisions. The $R_{\mathrm{AA}}$ dependences on centrality, transverse momentum and rapidity are presented both at forward rapidity ($1.2<|y|<2.2$) using $\mathrm{J}/\psi \to {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$ and at mid rapidity ($|y|<0.35$) using $\mathrm{J}/\psi \to e^{+}{e}^{-}$. These preliminary results are compared to cold nuclear matter expectations derived from PHENIX d+Au measurements, to results obtained by NA50 experiment and to various theoretical models.

arXiv comment4 pages, 6 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the 41st Rencontres de Moriond session devoted to QCD and Hadronic Interactions, La Thuile, Italy, March 18-25, 2006