Transverse momentum dependence of J/ψ polarization at midrapidity in p+p collisions at √s=200 GeV
Abstract
We report the measurement of the transverse momentum dependence of inclusive J/ψ polarization in p+p collisions at √s=200 GeV performed by the PHENIX Experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The J/ψ polarization is studied in the helicity, Gottfried-Jackson, and Collins-Soper frames for pT<5 GeV/c and |y|<0.35. The polarization in the helicity and Gottfried-Jackson frames is consistent with zero for all transverse momenta, with a slight (1.8 sigma) trend towards longitudinal polarization for transverse momenta above 2 GeV/c. No conclusion is allowed due to the limited acceptance in the Collins-Soper frame and the uncertainties of the current data. The results are compared to observations for other collision systems and center of mass energies and to different quarkonia production models.