Measurements of dihadron correlations relative to the event plane in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV

Dihadron azimuthal correlations containing a high transverse momentum (p_T) trigger particle are sensitive to the properties of the nuclear medium created at RHIC through the strong interactions occurring between the traversing parton and the medium, i.e. jet-quenching. Previous measurements revealed a strong modification to dihadron azimuthal correlations in Au+Au collisions with respect to p+p and d+Au collisions. The modification increases with the collision centrality, suggesting a path-length or energy density dependence to the jet-quenching effect. This paper reports STAR measurements of dihadron azimuthal correlations in mid-central (20-60 √(s__ NN)=200 GeV as a function of the trigger particle's azimuthal angle relative to the event plane, ϕ_s=|ϕ_t-ψ_ EP|. The azimuthal correlation is studied as a function of both the trigger and associated particle p_T. The subtractions of the combinatorial background and anisotropic flow, assuming Zero Yield At Minimum (ZYAM), are described. The correlation results are first discussed with subtraction of the even harmonic (elliptic and quadrangular) flow backgrounds. The away-side correlation is strongly modified, and the modification varies with ϕ_s, with a double-peak structure for out-of-plane trigger particles. The near-side ridge (long range pseudo-rapidity Δη correlation) appears to drop with increasing ϕ_s while the jet-like component remains approximately constant. The correlation functions are further studied with subtraction of odd harmonic triangular flow background arising from fluctuations. It is found that the triangular flow, while responsible for the majority of the amplitudes, is not sufficient to explain the ϕ_s-dependence of the ridge or the away-side double-peak structure. ...