Two particle correlations in jets and triggered distributions in hot and cold matter

Abstract

The modification of the correlation between high p T particles produced in association with trigger particles from jets emanating from a heavy-ion collision is shown to be a valuable probe of the matter produced in such collisions. While the minimal modification on the same side as the trigger is consistent with the picture and parameters of partonic energy loss, the possible observation of Cherenkov like correlations on the away side leads to the possibility of the existence of composite structures in the excited matter.