Jet quenching in the compact muon solenoid at the LHC

Abstract

In this thesis we perform analyses on simulated data that allow us to demonstrate the sensitivity of the CMS experiment to certain jet quenching observables. In particular, two theoretical scenarios which mimic RHIC data at low PT and which show either no quenching or BDMPS-based quenching at high PT are formulated. The difference between these two scenarios is analyzed for RAA, RCP at different centralities and jet-specific observables such as jet energy spectra, fragmentation functions and jet profiles. We show how these analyses indicate that the large acceptance of the CMS detector, combined with the high granularity in the energy resolution of the calorimeter will be essential tools in studying the phenomenon of jet quenching. Finally, we propose extensions to this work in preparation to analyzing the data from Pb-Pb runs at the LHC. Disclaimer: The work on this thesis does not model the CMS detector geometry with the accuracy required for official analyses, which are fully representative of the CMS detector capabilities. Such analyses require of the full CMS simulation machinery and are left to the CMS Heavy Ion group as a whole.