Vector meson photoproduction on the nucleus and the extraction of the nuclear suppression factor using asymmetric beams

Abstract The cross-section for photoproduction of a vector meson on a nucleus is usually determined in nucleus-nucleus collisions, which introduces a twofold ambiguity as to which nucleus emitted the photon. This can be resolved in asymmetric collisions of protons and nuclei, where the ratio of photoproduction cross-sections on the proton and nucleus directly measures the nuclear suppression factor with minimal model dependence. The feasibilty of using existing and future proton-lead collisions at the LHC is evaluated.