Centrality and transverse momentum dependence of inclusive J/ψ production at midrapidity in Pb–Pb collisions at TeV

The inclusive J/ψmeson production in Pb–Pbcollisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon collision of √sNN=5.02TeV at midrapidity (|y| <0.9) is reported by the ALICE Collaboration. The measurements are performed in the dielectron decay channel, as a function of event centrality and J/ψ transverse momentum pT, down to pT=0. The J/ψmean transverse momentum pTand rAAratio, defined as p2 TPbPb/p2 Tpp, are evaluated. Both observables show a centrality dependence decreasing towards central (head-on) collisions. The J/ψnuclear modification factor RAAexhibits a strong pT dependence with a large suppression at high pTand an increase to unity for decreasing pT. When integrating over the measured momentum range pT<10GeV/c, the J/ψRAAshows a weak centrality dependence. Each measurement is compared with results at lower center-of-mass energies and with ALICE measurements at forward rapidity, as well as to theory calculations. All reported features of the J/ψproduction at low pTare consistent with a dominant contribution to the J/ψyield originating from charm quark (re)combination.