CGC predictions for p plus A collisions at the LHC and signature of QCD saturation

We present various predictions for the upcoming p + Pb collisions at root S = 5 TeV within the color glass condensate (CGC) formalism, including single inclusive charged hadron production, single inclusive prompt photon production, direct photon production, charged hadron multiplicity distribution and photon-hadron azimuthal correlations. Using the running-coupling Balitsky-Kovchegov evolution equation for calculating various observables, we show that the main source of uncertainties is due to less constrained initial nuclear saturation scale. This gives rise to rather large theoretical uncertainties for nuclear modification factor R-pA at the LHC. Nevertheless, we propose a simple scheme in which one can still test the main dynamics of the CGC/saturation in p + A collisions at the LHC. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.