Heavy Quark Measurements by Single Electrons in the PHENIX Experiment

Abstract

Transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) distribution of electrons for $0.3<p_\mathrm{T}<9.0$ GeV/$c$ have been measured in midrapidity ($|\eta|<0.35$) in Au + Au collisions and $p$ + $p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV by the RHIC-PHENIX experiment. Two methods for background subtraction were applied to determine the electron yield from open charm and bottom decays. The nuclear modification factor was calculated, and significant suppression at high-$p_\mathrm{T}$ was observed in Au + Au collisions, indicating substantial energy loss of heavy quarks in the dense medium.