Different Nuclear Dependence of $J/\psi$ and $\psi^{\prime}$ Production in p-A and A-p Collisions

Abstract

While presently available p-A data observe that the nuclear dependence of $J/\psi$ and $\psi^{\prime}$ production is the same within errors, we show that different nuclear dependence of $J/\psi$ and $\psi^{\prime}$ production in the kinematic region uncovered by the present p-A data can be predicted based on two different nuclear absorption scenarios. It is found that the predicted production ratio $\sigma (\psi^{\prime})/\sigma (J/\psi)$ at positive $x_F$ in A-p collisions is mainly determined by nuclear absorption, and hence allows direct experimental test of nuclear absorption scenarios.