The analysis of the data collected by the NA50 experiment in 1998, reported in this paper, extends and clarifies the pattern of the previously observed J/ ψ anomalous suppression. This new measurement, besides providing a deeper understanding of the previous observations, reveals a steady significative decrease in the J/ ψ production rate up to the most central Pb-Pb collisions. It clearly rules out the presently available conventional (hadronic) models of J/ ψ suppression, which unanimously predict a saturation of the J/ ψ rate for central Pb-Pb collisions. On the contrary and together with the sharp onset of the anomalous suppression previously reported, the new observation leads to a global production rate pattern which finds its natural explanation in the framework of the formation of a deconfined state of quarks and gluons.
SIG(J/PSI)/SIG(DY) as a function of ET with the standard analyses of 1996. DATA 1996, standard analyses.
SIG(J/PSI)/SIG(DY) as a function of ET with the minium bias analyses of 1996. DATA 1996, MB Analyses.
SIG(J/PSI)/SIG(DY) as a function of E(NAME=TRANSVERSE) with the minium bias analyses of 1998. DATA 1998, MB Analyses.
The NA50 collaboration has measured J/ψ , ψ′ and Drell Yan pair production in Pb Pb interactions at 158 GeV/ c per nucleon at the CERN SPS. Final results from the 1995 run and preliminary ones from the higher statistics 1996 run are presented. A anomalous J/ψ suppression (relative to the Drell-Yan process) has been observed with respect to the suppression pattern established in experiments NA38 and NA51 with proton, oxygen and sulfur beams. The 1996 data allow a detailed study of the suppression pattern in the Pb Pb sample itself, showing a discontinuity around an E T value (the neutral transverse electromagnetic energy) of 50 GeV. The ψ′ is also suppressed relative to Drell-Yan, with a pattern very similar to the one observed in S U collisions. Finally, the p T distributions of dimuons are presented. The average p T 2 of the J/ψ in Pb Pb collisions does not increase any more with E T above 100 GeV.
ET - neutral transverse energy in the electromagnetic calorimeter, etarap=1.1-2.3.
The Drell-Yan and J ψ cross-sections measured in PbPb collisions are compared with the values extrapolated from the results obtained in proton and light ion induced reactions. While the Drell-Yan production exhibits the normal expected behaviour, the yield of J ψ in PbPb interactions is abnormally low, as it lies 9 standard deviations below the expected value. Moreover, the departure from the expected behaviour increases significantly from peripheral to central collisions.
The results from other experiments are also presented.
Different data are rescaled at 200 GeV.
First results are reported on J ψ and Drell-Yan cross-sections in PbPb reactions at 158 GeV/ c per nucleon. The ratio of cross-sections σ J/ψ /σ DY is studied as a function of the impact parameter of the collision estimated from the measured transverse energy.
No description provided.
No description provided.
The Drell-Yan cross sections are taken in the mass interval 2.9 to 4.5 GeV. SIG/SIG ratio are free from most systematic errors.
The fragmentation of the hadronic system into Λ, Σ(1385), K ) and K ∗ (892) in deep-inelastic charged-current interactions of high energy neutrinos and antineutrinos with proton and neutron is analyzed. The results obtained for the production of these particles from the various initial states are compared with each other and with the predictions of the Lund fragmentation model. This comparison shows that a spectator diquark does not fragment as a whole in a fraction of the interactions. The role of the sea quarks in the baryon formation process is underlined. Strange vector and pseudoscalar mesons are likely to be produced at similar rates.
No description provided.
SIG(C=LAMBDA) denotes the inclusive LAMBDA production in the same reaction.
SIG(C=KS) denotes the inclusive KS production in the same reaction.
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