The observation of an anomalous J/ ψ suppression in Pb–Pb collisions by the NA50 Collaboration can be considered as the most striking indication for the deconfinement of quarks and gluons at SPS energies. In this Letter, we determine the J/ ψ suppression pattern as a function of the forward hadronic energy E ZDC measured in a Zero Degree Calorimeter (ZDC). The direct connection between E ZDC and the geometry of the collision allows us to calculate, within a Glauber approach, the precise relation between the number of participant nucleons N part and E ZDC . Then, we check if the experimental data can be better explained by a sudden or a smooth onset of the anomalous J/ ψ suppression as a function of the number of participants.
Minimum Bias E(C=ZDC) spectrum. Data extracted from fig with g3data, statistical errors not included and are set to 0, the systematic errors given by g3data due to extraction.
Number of participants as a function of E(C=ZDC) Data exctracted from fig with g3data, the systematic errors given by g3data due to extraction, and those marked (stat) are in this case the r.m.s. of the Npart distribution at fixed E(C=ZDC).;.
SIG(J/PSI)/SIG(DY) as a function of E(C=ZDC) with the standard analyses of the 1996 DATA 1996, standard analyses.
Muon pair production in p-A, S-U and Pb-Pb collisions has been studied by the NA38 and NA50 collaborations at the CERN SPS. In this paper we present an analysis of the dimuon invariant mass region bet
CHARM-CHARMBAR cross section Need to divide by 2 to consider only the XF>0 hemisphere.
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.
We report on a search for a phase transition from ordinary nuclear matter to a state of deconfined quarks and gluons as predicted by lattice QCD calculations. A new measurement of charmonium production in Pb-Pb interactions at 158 GeV/ c per nucleon agrees with our previous results and confirms the anomalous J/ ψ suppression we had already observed on a significantly smaller data sample. New event selection and analysis techniques show that, for peripheral collisions, the J/ ψ cross-section per nucleon-nucleon collision agrees with the precise suppression pattern inferred from a wide range of measurements extending from p-p up to S-U collisions. As the collisions become more central, the Pb-Pb cross-section exhibits a clear departure from this normal behaviour. The onset of the anomalous J/ ψ suppression reported here is the first clear observation of a threshold effect in heavy ion collisions and can be considered as a strong indication of the production of a deconfined quark-gluon phase in central Pb-Pb collisions.
The J/PSI cross section is the cross section for decay to muon pairs.
The J/PSI cross section is the cross section for decay to muon pairs. The ratios in this taBLE Are obtained from the minimum bias sample of events. See text if article for details.
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.
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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 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.