J / ψ suppression in Au + Au collisions at RHIC: Colour screening scenario in the bag model at variable participant numbers

Abstract

We have modified the colour screening theory of Chu and Matsui by properly incorporating bag model equation of state for quark-gluon plasma (QGP). We have also chosen the pressure parametrization rather than parameterizing energy density in the transverse plane. We assume that the QGP dense medium is expanding in the longitudinal direction obeying Bjorken boost invariant scaling law. Sequential melting of χc, ψ′ and J / ψ is also considered in this scenario. We have applied above formulation to the recent PHENIX experimental data of J / ψ suppression in Au + Au collisions at RHIC. We find that the model gives a good description of data at mid-rapidity in terms of survival probability versus number of participants without any necessity of implementing (3 + 1)-dimensional expansion of the deconfined medium. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.