Modification of jet-like correlations in Pb-Au at the SPS
A high statistics study of high-$p_t$ two-particle azimuthal correlations in Pb-Au at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=17.2$ GeV, performed by the CERES experiment at the CERN-SPS, is presented. A broad away-side correlation with significant dip at $Δϕ\approxπ$ is observed. The shape and magnitude of the correlation is similar to measurements at RHIC. In comparison to PYTHIA calculations, we observe a significant excess of soft particles at the away-side. A study of charge correlations between trigger and associated particles disfavors vacuum fragmentation of the away-side jet and suggests significant energy transfer of the hard-scattered parton to the medium.
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