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 = 193 GeV have been measured as a function of collision centrality. The invariant yields and nuclearmodification 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.