Abstract

We report the direct virtual photon invariant yields in the transverse momentum ranges 1 P-T 3 GeV/c and 5 p(T) 10 GeV/c at mid-rapidity derived from the dielectron invariant mass continuum region 0.10 M-ee 0.28 GeV/c(2) for 0-80% minimum-bias Au+Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. A clear excess in the invariant yield compared to the nuclear overlap function T-AA scaled p + p reference is observed in the p(T) range 1 P-T 3 GeV/c. For P-T > 6 GeV/c the production follows T-AA scaling. Model calculations with contributions from thermal radiation and initial hard parton scattering are consistent within uncertainties with the direct virtual photon invariant yield. (C) 2017 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V.