Modeling J/psi production and absorption in a microscopic nonequilibrium approach - art. no. 054901

Charmonium production and absorption in heavy ion collisions is studied wit h the ultrarelativisitic quantum molecular dynamics model. We compare the s cenario of universal and time-independent color-octet dissociation cross se ctions with one of distinct color-singlet J/psi, psi', and chi(c) states, e volving from small, color transparent configurations to their asymptotic si zes. Both purely hadronic scenarios are compared with the pA and AB data at SPS energies. The predicted rapidity dependence of J/psi suppression can b e used to discriminate between the two scenarios experimentally. The import ance of interactions with secondary hadrons and the applicability of therma l reaction kinetics to J/psi absorption are investigated. We discuss the ef fect of nuclear stopping and the role of leading hadrons. The dependence of the psi'/J/psi ratio on the model assumptions and the possible influence o f refeeding processes are also studied. [S0556-2813(99)02110-X].