J/psi production as a function of charged-particle pseudorapidity density in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

We report measurements of the inclusive J/psi yield and average transverse momentum as a function of charged-particle pseudorapidity density dNch/d.in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)= 5.02 TeVwith ALICE at the LHC. The observables are normalised to their corresponding averages in non-single diffractive events. An increase of the normalised J/psi yield with normalised dN(ch)/d(eta), measured at mid-rapidity, is observed at mid-rapidity and backward rapidity. At forward rapidity, a saturation of the relative yield is observed for high charged-particle multiplicities. The normalised average transverse momentum at forward and backward rapidities increases with multiplicity at low multiplicities and saturates beyond moderate multiplicities. In addition, the forward-to-backward nuclear modification factor ratio is also reported, showing an increasing suppression of J/psi production at forward rapidity with respect to backward rapidity for increasing charged-particle multiplicity. (C) 2017 The Author. Published by Elsevier B. V.