Partonic flow and I-Meson production in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV

Abstract

We present first measurements of the Ï•-meson elliptic flow (v2(pT)) and high-statistics pT distributions for different centralities from sNN=200GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. In minimum bias collisions the v2 of the Ï• meson is consistent with the trend observed for mesons. The ratio of the yields of the Ω to those of the Ï• as a function of transverse momentum is consistent with a model based on the recombination of thermal s quarks up to pT 4GeV/c, but disagrees at higher momenta. The nuclear modification factor (RCP) of Ï• follows the trend observed in the KS0 mesons rather than in baryons, supporting baryon-meson scaling. These data are consistent with Ï• mesons in central Au+Au collisions being created via coalescence of thermalized s quarks and the formation of a hot and dense matter with partonic collectivity at RHIC. © 2007 The American Physical Society.