J/\(psi\) Elliptic Flow in Pb-Pb Collisions at \(\sqrt{s_{NN}}\)=2.76 TeV

Abstract

We report on the first measurement of inclusive J/\(\psi\) elliptic flow, \(v_2\), in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at \(\sqrt{s_{NN}}\) = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range 2.5 < y < 4.0. The dependence of the J/\(\psi v_2\) on the collision centrality and on the J/\(\psi\) transverse momentum is studied in the range 0 \(\le p_T \lt \(10 GeV/c. For semi-central Pb-Pb collisions at \(\sqrt{s_{NN}}\) = 2.76 TeV, an indication of non-zero v2 is observed with a maximum value of v2 = 0.116 \(\pm\) 0.046(stat.) \(\pm\) 0.029(syst.) for J/\(\psi\) in the transverse momentum range 2 \(\le p_T \lt\) 4 GeV/c. The elliptic flow measurement complements the previously reported ALICE results on the inclusive J/\(\psi\) nuclear modification factor and favors the scenario of a significant fraction of J/\(\psi\) production from charm quarks in a deconfined partonic phase.