Observation of abnormal suppression of f0(980) production in p–Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 5.02 TeV

The dependence of f 0(980) production on the final-state charged-particle multiplicity in p–Pb collisions at √𝑠NN = 5.02 TeV is reported. The production of f0 (980) is measured with the ALICE detector via the f0 (980) → 𝜋+𝜋− decay channel in a midrapidity region of −0.5 < 𝑦 < 0. Particle yield ratios of f0(980) to 𝜋 and K ∗(892)0 are found to be decreasing with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. The magnitude of the suppression of the f 0(980)/𝜋 and f 0(980)/K ∗(892)0 yield ratios is found to be dependent on the transverse momentum 𝑝T , suggesting different mechanisms responsible for the measured effects. Furthermore, the nuclear modification factor 𝑄pPb of f 0(980) is measured in various multiplicity ranges. The 𝑄pPb shows a strong suppression of the f 0(980) production in the 𝑝T region up to about 4 GeV/𝑐. The results on the particle yield ratios and 𝑄pPb for f 0(980) may help to understand the late hadronic phase in p–Pb collisions and the nature of the internal structure of f 0(980) particle.