The effect of neutron skin on inclusive prompt photon production in Pb~+~Pb collisions at the LHC

Abstract

Recent experiments on lead (\textrm{$Pb_{82}^{208}$}) nuclei have observed the celebrated phenomenon of neutron skin-thickness of low energy nuclear physics. The skin-thickness provides a measure of extension of spatial distribution of neutrons inside the atomic nucleus than protons. We have studied the effect of neutron skin-thickness on inclusive prompt photon production in Pb~+~Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider energies. We have calculated the \textquoteleft central-to-peripheral ratio\textquoteright ($R_\textrm{cp}$) of prompt photon production with and without accounting for neutron skin effect. The neutron skin causes a characteristic enhancement in the ratio, in particular at forward rapidity, which is distinguishable in our calculation. However a very precise direct photon measurement up to large transverse momenta would be necessary to constrain the feature in experiment.