Comments on J/ψ suppression and quantum mechanics

In order to interpret the observed J/ψ suppression in central collisions of relativistic heavy ions as being due to formation of a quark-gluon plasma, one must demonstrate unambiguously a correlation of the kinematic dependence of the effect with calculations based on realistic models of the plasma. Up to now, all of these model calculations employ classical concepts of quark trajectories and well-defined positions. It is pointed out here that the conditions of formation of quark-antiquark pairs which become constituents of a J/ψ are such that the quantum mechanical nature of the problem is an essential element. A simple one-dimensional model is employed to illustrate differences between a classical and quantum mechanical calculation of the effect. These results reveal a crucial dependence on parameters given by initial conditions and time evolution of the plasma. One must conclude that a similar procedure must be carried through for a three dimensional case using realistic production and interaction parameters before one can make any claims of support for the plasma formation hypothesis