Studies of J/ψ production at forward rapidity in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV

Abstract

The inclusive J/ψ production in Pb–Pb collisions at the center-of-mass energy pernucleonpair√sNN =5.02TeV,measuredwiththeALICEdetectorattheCERNLHC, is reported. The J/ψ meson is reconstructed via the dimuon decay channel at forward ra- pidity (2.5 < y < 4) down to zero transverse momentum. The suppression of the J/ψ yield in Pb–Pb collisions with respect to binary-scaled pp collisions is quantified by the nuclear modification factor (RAA). The RAA at √sNN = 5.02 TeV is presented and compared with previousmeasurementsat√sNN =2.76TeVasafunctionofthecentralityofthecollision, and of the J/ψ transverse momentum and rapidity. The inclusive J/ψ RAA shows a sup- pression increasing toward higher transverse momentum, with a steeper dependence for central collisions. The modification of the J/ψ average transverse momentum and average squared transverse momentum is also studied. Comparisons with the results of models based on a transport equation and on statistical hadronization are carried out.