Azimuthal Anisotropy of pi(0) Production in Au plus Au Collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV: Path-Length Dependence of Jet Quenching and the Role of Initial Geometry

Abstract

The azimuthal anisotropy of π0 production for 1<pT<18 GeV/c for Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV. has been measured. The observed anisotropy shows a gradual decrease for 3≲pT≲7–10 GeV/c, but remains positive beyond 10 GeV/c.

Calculations that implement a path-length dependence steeper than what is implied by current PQCD energy-loss models show reasonable agreement with the data.

Keywords

• Quark-gluon plasma
• Theoretical challenges
• QCD