Formula omitted] interactions with hot hadronic matter

Abstract

We consider the possibility that the suppression of the J ψ signal observed in oxygen-uranium collisions at CERN is due to interactions with a hot hadron gas. Assuming a longitudinally expanding meson gas, we obtain an overall suppression compatible with the CERN data. This suppression, however, varies only slowly with the J ψ transverse momentum. We also discuss the possibility of J ψ regeneration from the more abundantly produced χ and η c states, an effect that might become important at RHIC energies.