Away-side azimuthal distribution in a Markovian parton scattering model

Abstract

An event generator is constructed on the basis of a model of multiple scattering of partons so that the trajectory of a parton traversing a dense and expanding medium can be tracked. The parameters in the code are adjusted to fit the Δϕazimuthal distribution on the far side when the trigger momentum is in the non-perturbative region, p_T(trigger)<4 GeV/c. The dip-bump structure for 1<p_T(assoc)<2.5 GeV/c is reproduced by averaging over the exit tracks of deflected jets. An essential characteristic of the model, called Markovian Parton Scattering (MPS) model, is that the scattering angle is randomly selected in the forward cone at every step of a trajectory that is divided into many discrete steps in a semi-classical approximation of the non-perturbative scattering process. Energy loss to the medium is converted to thermal partons which hadronize by recombination to give rise to the pedestal under the bumps. When extended to high trigger momentum with \pt(trigger) >8 GeV/c, the model reproduces the single-peak structure observed by STAR without invoking any new dynamical mechanism.