Observation of abnormal suppression of f0(980) production in p–Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV

The dependence of f0(980) production on the final-state charged-particle multiplicity in p–Pb collisions at √𝑠NN = 5.02 TeV is reported. The production of f0(980) is measured with the ALICE detector via the f0(980) → 𝜋+𝜋− decay channel in a midrapidity region of −0.5 < 𝑦 < 0. Particle yield ratios of f0(980) to 𝜋 and K∗(892)0 are found to be decreasing with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. The magnitude of the suppression of the f0(980)/𝜋 and f0(980)/K∗(892)0 yield ratios is found to be dependent on the transverse momentum 𝑝T, suggesting different mechanisms responsible for the measured effects. Furthermore, the nuclear modification factor 𝑄pPb of f0(980) is measured in various multiplicity ranges. The 𝑄pPb shows a strong suppression of the f0(980) production in the 𝑝T region up to about 4 GeV/𝑐. The results on the particle yield ratios and 𝑄pPb for f0(980) may help to understand the late hadronic phase in p–Pb collisions and the nature of the internal structure of f0(980) particle.