Jet-like correlations with direct-photon and neutral-pion triggers at sNN=200 GeV

Azimuthal correlations of charged hadrons with direct-photon (γdirγdir) and neutral-pion (π0π0) trigger particles are analyzed in central Au+Au and minimum-bias p+pp+p collisions at sNN=200 GeV in the STAR experiment. The charged-hadron per-trigger yields at mid-rapidity from central Au+Au collisions are compared with p+pp+p collisions to quantify the suppression in Au+Au collisions. The suppression of the away-side associated-particle yields per γdirγdir trigger is independent of the transverse momentum of the trigger particle (pTtrig), whereas the suppression is smaller at low transverse momentum of the associated charged hadrons (pTassoc). Within uncertainty, similar levels of suppression are observed for γdirγdir and π0π0 triggers as a function of zTzT (≡pTassoc/pTtrig). The results are compared with energy-loss-inspired theoretical model predictions. Our studies support previous conclusions that the lost energy reappears predominantly at low transverse momentum, regardless of the trigger energy.