Description
Horowitz and Kovchegov have derived a $k_T$-factorization formula for
particle production at small $x$ which includes running coupling
corrections. We perform a first numerical analysis to confront the
theory with data on the energy and centrality dependence of particle
multiplicities at midrapidity in high-energy p+A and A+A
collisions. Moreover, we point out a strikingly different dependence
of the multiplicity per participant on $N_\text{part}$ in p+Pb
vs. Pb+Pb collisions at LHC energies, and argue that the observed
behavior follows rather naturally from the convolution of
the gluon distributions of an asymmetric vs. symmetric projectile and target.
Primary authors
Adrian Dumitru
(Baruch College (City University of New York))
André Giannini
Prof.
Matthew Luzum
Yasushi Nara
(Akita International University)
