Are the $J/ψ$ and $χ_c A$ Dependencies the Same?
It has been empirically observed that the dependence of $J/ψ$ and $ψ'$ production on nuclear mass number $A$ is very similar. This has been postulated to be due to the predominance of color octet pre-resonant states in charmonium production and absorption. Two new experiments, NA60 at CERN and HERA-B at DESY, will measure the $χ_c$ $A$ dependence for the first time. These measurements should shed new light on the charmonium production and absorption mechanisms.