Calculation of centrality bias factors in $p$+A collisions based on a positive correlation of hard process yields with underlying event activity
Hard scattering yields in centrality-selected proton-- and deuteron--nucleus ($p$+A) collisions are generally compared to nucleon--nucleon ($NN$) cross-sections scaled to the appropriate partonic luminosity using geometric models derived from an analysis of minimum bias $p$+A interactions. In general, these models assume that hard process rates and the magnitude of the soft event activity in the underlying $NN$ collisions is uncorrelated. When included, these correlations influence the measured yield in a nominal centrality interval, an effect typically referred to as a "centrality bias". In this work, the impact of a positive correlation between the hard scattering yield and the underlying event activity in individual $NN$ collisions is investigated. This correlation is incorporated into the centrality calculations used by ATLAS and PHENIX, both based on a similar Monte Carlo Glauber approach but with different models of the per-collision or per-participant event activity. It is found that the presence of this correlation tends to increase the yield measured in more central events and decrease it in peripheral events. Numerical factors to correct measured yields for the centrality bias effect are calculated for $p$+A collisions at RHIC and the LHC. Reasonable agreement with a previous calculation of these factors by PHENIX is found, despite differences in the implementation of the underlying bias.