Hard scattering at RHIC: Experimental review
Abstract
The most significant results on hard scattering processes in Au+Au, p+p, and d+Au collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 200 GeV obtained after 3 years of operation at the BNL Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) are summarized. Hadron production at high transverse momentum (pT) in central Au+Au collisions shows very different properties (production yields, flavor composition, azimuthal correlations, ...) in comparison to p+p, d+Au, and peripheral Au+Au collisions, and this fact constitutes arguably the most interesting outcome of the experimental program so far. Four main topics are covered in this report: (i) the depletion of high pT inclusive hadron spectra, (ii) the ``anomalous'' baryon-meson composition at intermediate pT's, (iii) the disappearance of away-side azimuthal (jet) correlations, and (iv) the large value of collective azimuthal (elliptic flow) correlations. Additionally, the observed high pT ``Cronin enhancement'' in d+Au collisions will be discussed. A succinct comparison of experimental data to theoretical models is also provided.
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