Indirect observation of an in-medium η' mass reduction in √s NN =200 GeV Au+Au collisions

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Oct 29;105(18):182301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.182301. Epub 2010 Oct 25.

Abstract

PHENIX Collaboration and STAR Collaboration data on the intercept parameter of the two-pion Bose-Einstein correlation functions in √ s{NN}=200 GeV Au+Au collisions are analyzed in terms of different models of hadronic multiplicities. To describe this combined PHENIX and STAR data set, an in-medium η' mass reduction of at least 200 MeV is needed, at the 99.9% confidence level in the considered model class. Such a significant η' mass modification may indicate the restoration of the U{A}(1) symmetry in a hot and dense hadronic matter and the return of the 9th "prodigal" Goldstone boson.