Observations on dA scattering at forward rapidities

We point out that the suppression in the ratio R-dAu recently observed by the BRAHMS Collaboration in forward scattering is stronger than usually appreciated. This is related to the fact that at forward rapidities BRAHMS measures negatively charged hadrons and that R-dAu is defined from the ratio of dA and pp scattering cross sections. We also investigate the influence of standard shadowing on R-dAu and the typical values of partonic momentum fractions relevant in forward scattering. We find that x(Au) greater than or equal to 0.02 dominate in the cross section. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.