Nuclear absorption of Charmoniums in pA and AA collisions

A. K. Chaudhuri

Published 2003-02-18, updated 2003-05-19Version 2

We have analysed the latest NA50 data on $J/\psi$ production in pA and AA collisions. The $J/\psi$ production is assumed to be a two step process, (i) formation of $c\bar{c}$ pairs, perturbatively calculable, and (ii) formation of $J/\psi$ from the pair, a non-perturbative process, which is conviniently parametrized. In a nuclear medium, as the $c\bar{c}$ pair passes through the nuclear medium, it gain relative square momentum and some of the pairs can gain enough square momentum to cross the threshold for open charm meson, leading to suppression in nuclear medium. Few parameters of the model were fixed from the latest high statistics NA50 pA and NA38 SU total $J/\psi$ cross sectional data. The model then reproduces the centrality dependence of $J/\psi$ over Drell-Yan ration in 200 GeV/c S+U and 158 GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions. We also discuss the centrality dependence of $J/\psi$ suppression at RHIC energy.