Transverse-momentum spectra and nuclear modification factor using Boltzmann Transport Equation with flow in Pb+Pb collisions at √(s_NN) = 2.76 TeV

In the continuation of our previous work, the transverse-momentum (p_T) spectra and nuclear modification factor (R_AA) are derived using the relaxation time approximation of Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE). The initial p_T-distribution used to describe p + p collisions has been studied with the perturbative-Quantum Chromodynamics (pQCD) inspired power-law distribution, Hagedorn's empirical formula and with the Tsallis non-extensive statistical distribution. The non-extensive Tsallis distribution is observed to describe the complete range of the transverse-momentum spectra. The Boltzmann-Gibbs Blast Wave (BGBW) distribution is used as the equilibrium distribution in the present formalism, to describe the p_T-distribution and nuclear modification factor in nucleus-nucleus collisions. The experimental data for Pb+Pb collisions at √(s_NN) = 2.76 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN have been analyzed for pions, kaons, protons, K^*0 and φ. It is observed that the present formalism while explaining the transverse-momentum spectra up to 5 GeV/c, explains the nuclear modification factor very well up to 8 GeV/c in p_T for all these particles except for protons. R_AA is found to be independent of the degree of non-extensivity, q_pp after p_T ∝ 8 GeV/c. (orig.)