Nuclear Shadowing and High-$p_T$ Hadron Spectra in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

Abstract

We explore how nuclear modifications to the nucleon parton distributions affect production of high-$p_T$ hadrons in heavy ion collisions. We perform a leading order calculation of the high-$p_T$ charged pion, kaon and proton spectra using standard fragmentation functions and shadowing parameterizations. We also consider alternate models of shadowing. Near midrapidity, shadowing is a small effect and cannot explain the large observed suppression of high-$p_T$ hadrons. We also consider the isospin difference between protons and nuclei and find that it is also a small effect on high-$p_T$ hadron production.

12 pages with 3 figures