Monte-Carlo models predictions for centrality dependence of \(K^{*}(892)^{0}\) mesons in Au–Au and Cu–Cu collisions at RHIC energies

Abstract

In the present paper, we have reported the production of \(K^{*}(892)^{0}\) mesons in different centrality classes within the transverse momentum range of \( 0< p_{ T} < 5 \;\text {GeV}/\text {c}\) for Au–Au and \( 0< p_{ T} < 3.5 \;\text {GeV}/\text {c}\) for Cu–Cu collision. This analysis considers the mid-rapidity region of \(|y| < 0.5\) and the collision energies of 62.4 and \(200 \; \text {GeV}\). We have also calculated the nuclear modification factor \(R_{\text {CP}}\)(central to peripheral) for \(K^{*}(892)^{0}\), \(K^{0}_{s}(310)\) mesons and \(\Lambda \) baryon at different energies. For the production of \(K^{*}(892)^{0}\) mesons, we have used PYTHIA 8.3 Monte-Carlo simulation code including the color reconnection modes, CR mode 1 and CR mode 2 of PYTHIA. We have compared the resulting simulated data with experimental data from Solenoid tracker at RHIC experiment. In comparison with the PYTHIA8 and CR1 mode yields, PYTHIA CR2 mode gives good estimate of STAR data for \(K^{*}(892)^{0}\) mesons production across various centrality classes. There is a good estimate between PYTHIA CR2 and STAR data for high centrality classes while default PYTHIA8 predictions deviate more from STAR data as the centrality increases. The behavior of the nuclear modification factor, \(R_{\text {CP}}\), for the \(K^{*}(892)^{0}\) meson at both \(62.4 \; \text {GeV}\) and \(200 \; \text {GeV}\) is well explained by the CR2 mode. The default PYTHIA8 predictions for \(K^{0}_{s}(310)\) meson for \(R_{\text {CP}}\) are fairly in close agreement to the STAR data. The ratio of strange to non-strange particles (\(K^{*}(892)^{0}\)/\(\pi ^{+}\)) is also predicted by PYTHIA model for Cu–Cu and Au–Au collisions at RHIC energies. Furthermore, an assessment for the relative abundance of considered mesons is also performed across Cu–Cu and Au–Au collisions.