Transverse momentum dependence of anomalous J/ψ suppression in Pb-Pb collisions

The recently published data for <p(t)(2)> for J/psi production in Pb-Pb collisions at 158 A GeV are analyzed. For low values of transverse energy E-t, where normal suppression dominates, <p(t)(2)> (E-t) scales with the path length of the gluons which fuse to make the J/psi. In the E-t domain of anomalous suppression <p(t)(2)> (E-t) is found to rise linearly with the relative amount of anomalous suppression. This empirical law is reproduced within an analytically solvable transport model which allows high p(t) J/psi 's to escape anomalous suppression. Interpreted in this way, the data for <p(t)(2)> (E-t) lead to an estimate of t(A) similar to 4 fm/c for t the duration of anomalous suppression. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.