Hadron suppression and nuclear kT enhancement studied with neutral pions from p+C, p+Pb, and Pb+Pb Collisions at √(sNN)=17.2 GeV

A comprehensive understanding of jet-quenching in heavy-ion collisions requires the study of its energy dependence. Jet-quenching models are able to describe the high-pT hadron suppression at RHIC energies whereas the amount of jet-quenching at CERN SPS energies remains an open question. The WA98 collaboration has published neutral-pion spectra for Pb+Pb collisions at √(sNN) = 17.2 GeV. However, in addition to the Pb+Pb measurement the study of a possible pion suppression at the CERN SPS requires a reference spectrum measured at the same energy and a good understanding of the nuclear kT effect (Cronin enhancement). Therefore, neutral-pion spectra in p+C and p+Pb collisions at √(sNN) = 17.2 GeV will be presented in this talk. The neutral-pion spectrum in p+C provides a useful reference for the Pb data measured in the same experiment. The nuclear kT enhancement can be studied by comparing neutral-pion production in p+C and p+Pb. (orig.)