Transverse-Momentum Spectra inAu+Auandd+AuCollisions atsNN=200 GeVand the Pseudorapidity Dependence of High-pTSuppression
We present spectra of charged hadrons from $\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}+\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}$ and $d+\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}$ collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=200\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$ measured with the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC. The spectra for different collision centralities are compared to spectra from $p+\overline{p}$ collisions at the same energy scaled by the number of binary collisions. The resulting ratios (nuclear modification factors) for central $\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}+\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}$ collisions at $\ensuremath{\eta}=0$ and $\ensuremath{\eta}=2.2$ evidence a strong suppression in the high ${p}_{T}$ region ($>2\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/c$). In contrast, the $d+\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}$ nuclear modification factor (at $\ensuremath{\eta}=0$) exhibits an enhancement of the high ${p}_{T}$ yields. These measurements indicate a high energy loss of the high ${p}_{T}$ particles in the medium created in the central $\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}+\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}$ collisions. The lack of suppression in $d+\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}$ collisions makes it unlikely that initial state effects can explain the suppression in the central $\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}+\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}$ collisions.