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.
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.
Muon pairs produced in Pb–Pb interactions at 158 GeV/ c per nucleon are used to study the transverse momentum distributions of the J/ ψ , ψ ′ and dimuons in the mass continuum. In particular, the dependence of these distributions on the centrality of the Pb–Pb collision is investigated in detail.
Mean values of PT and PT**2 calculated from the IMR distributions.
Mean values of PT and PT**2 calculated from the J/PSI distributions.
Mean values of PT and PT**2 calculated from the PSI(3685) distributions.
We present a new measurement of J/psi production in Pb-Pb collisions at 158 GeV/nucleon, from the data sample collected in year 2000 by the NA50 Collaboration, under improved experimental conditions with respect to previous years. With the target system placed in vacuum, the setup was better adapted to study, in particular, the most peripheral nuclear collisions with unprecedented accuracy. The analysis of this data sample shows that the (J/psi)/Drell-Yan cross-sections ratio measured in the most peripheral Pb-Pb interactions is in good agreement with the nuclear absorption pattern extrapolated from the studies of proton-nucleus collisions. Furthermore, this new measurement confirms our previous observation that the (J/psi)/Drell-Yan cross-sections ratio departs from the normal nuclear absorption pattern for semi-central Pb-Pb collisions and that this ratio persistently decreases up to the most central collisions.
Centrality classes based on the transverse energy measurement Errors are rms values obtained with fit.
Cross sections ratio J/PSI/Drell-Yan as a function of ET IN GEV obtained withthe ET Centrality estimator.
Cross sections ratio J/PSI/Drell-Yan as a function of NPART obtained withthe ET Centrality estimator.
We report a new measurement of J/psi, psi' and Drell-Yan cross-sections, in the kinematical domain $-0.425<y_{\rm cm}<0.575$ and $-0.5<\cos\theta_{\rm CS}<0.5$, performed at the CERN-SPS using 400 GeV/c incident protons on Be, Al, Cu, Ag, W and Pb targets. The dependence of the charmonia production cross-sections on the size of the target nucleus allows to quantify the so-called normal nuclear absorption. In the framework of the Glauber model, this new measurement is combined with results previously obtained with the same apparatus, under different experimental conditions, and leads to a precise determination of the J/psi and psi' absorption cross-sections in the surrounding nuclear matter.
Production cross sections, per taregt nucleon for J/PSI and PSI(3685) and for Drell-Yann dimuon in the mass range of 2.9-4.5 GeV/c**, integrated in the phase space windows of the measurement.
Ratios of J/PSI, PSI(3685) and Drel Yann production cross sections, and for Drell-Yann dimuon in the mass range of 2.9-4.5 GeV/c**, integrated in the phase space windows of the measurement.
Absorption cross-section obtained with Glauber fits results only from this analysis.
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.
Cross sections for J ψ,ψ′ and Drell-Yan production in Pb+Pb collisions at 158×A GeV/c are presented and compared with results obtained by the NA38 and NA51 collaborations. The Pb+Pb data have been collected by the NA50 collaboration using the NA38 dimuon spectrometer. The Drell-Yan mechanism is found to scale as (A projectile · B target ) in p+B target and A projectile + B target collisions including Pb+Pb collisions. Regarding J ψ , an anomalous suppression is observed in Pb+Pb collisions with respect to the suppression observed in p+B target , O+B target and S+U collisions. The cross section ratios ψ′ ( J ψ ) are similar in Pb+Pb and S+U collisions.
No description provided.
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