Forward J/ψ production in U + U collisions at sNN =193 GeV

Abstract

The invariant yields, dN/dy, for J/ψ production at forward rapidity (1.2<|y|<2.2) in U+U collisions at sNN=193GeV have been measured as a function of collision centrality. The invariant yields and nuclear-modification factor RAA are presented and compared with those from Au+Au collisions in the same rapidity range. Additionally, the direct ratio of the invariant yields from U+U and Au+Au collisions within the same centrality class is presented, and used to investigate the role of cc coalescence. Two different parametrizations of the deformed Woods-Saxon distribution were used in Glauber calculations to determine the values of the number of nucleon-nucleon collisions in each centrality class, Ncoll, and these were found to give significantly different Ncoll values. Results using Ncoll values from both deformed Woods-Saxon distributions are presented. The measured ratios show that the J/ψ suppression, relative to binary collision scaling, is similar in U+U and Au+Au for peripheral and midcentral collisions, but that J/ψ show less suppression for the most central U+U collisions. The results are consistent with a picture in which, for central collisions, increase in the J/ψ yield due to cc coalescence becomes more important than the decrease in yield due to increased energy density. For midcentral collisions, the conclusions about the balance between cc coalescence and suppression depend on which deformed Woods-Saxon distribution is used to determine Ncoll. © 2016 American Physical Society.