Anomalous suppression of $\pi^0$ production at large transverse momentum in Au + Au and d + Au collisions at $\sqrt{{\bf s}_{\bf NN}} =$ 200 GeV

Abstract

We propose a model of suppression of large $p_T$-pions in heavy ion collisions based on the interaction of the large $p_T$ pion with the dense medium created in the collision. The model is practically the same as the one previously introduced to describe $J/\psi$ suppression. Both the $p_T$ and the centrality dependence of the data are reproduced. In deuteron-gold collisions, the effect of the final state interaction with the dense medium turns out to be negligibly small. Here the main features of the data are also reproduced both at mid and at forward rapidities.