Title: High Transverse Momentum Identified Particle Spectra in 200 GeV Collisions from STAR
Abstract: Significant baryon over meson enhancement was measured at RHIC in the intermediate transverse momentum range of p T =2−4 GeV/c (“baryon-meson puzzle”). With STAR detector we were able to extend particle identification towards higher transverse momentum offering further insights into the particle production mechanisms at intermediate to high p T . In this paper we present results on charged pion, proton and anti-proton spectra and ratios at intermediate to high p T exploiting the relativistic rise of the specific ionization energy loss measured in the STAR Time Projection Chamber. These measurements provide valuable information about the production mechanisms of particles at intermediate p T in relativistic heavy ion collisions, e.g. coalescence/recombination versus jet fragmentation.