Proton enhancement at large p_T at LHC without structure in associated-particle distribution

Abstract

The production of pions and protons in the $p_T$ range between 10 and 20 GeV/c for Pb+Pb collisions at LHC is studied in the recombination model. It is shown that the dominant mechanism for hadronization is the recombination of shower partons from neighboring jets when the jet density is high. Protons are more copiously produced than pions in that $p_T$ range because the coalescing partons can have lower momentum fractions, but no thermal partons are involved. The proton-to-pion ratio can rise beyond 20. When such a high $p_T$ hadron is used as a trigger particle, there will not be any associated particles that are not in the background.