Angular distribution of $J/\psi$ decays in dimuon channel in 800 GeV proton-copper collisions

Abstract

The anuglar distribution of $J/\psi$ decays in the $\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ channel in 800 proton-copper collisions has been measured for $x_F$ > 0.25. The polarization parameter $\lambda$ is extracted in 1 GeV of $p_T$ and 0.1 of $x_F$ bins for two magnet configugrations with different acceptances. The data indicate that the $J/\psi$'s are produced with a slight transverse polarization at small $x_F$, which turns to longitudinal at $x_F$ > 0.6. No $p_T$ dependence of $\lambda$ is observed. Theoretical calculations are needed in order to interpret the measurements.