High transverse momentum hadron spectra at {radical}(s{sub NN})=17.3 GeV in Pb+Pb and p+p collisions

Transverse momentum spectra up to 4.5 GeV/c around midrapidity of {pi}{sup {+-}},p,p, and K{sup {+-}} in Pb+Pb reactions were measured at {radical}(s{sub NN})=17.3 GeV by the CERN-NA49 experiment. The nuclear modification factors R{sub AA} for {pi}{sup {+-}} and R{sub CP} for {pi}{sup {+-}},p,p,K{sup {+-}} were extracted and compared with results obtained at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at {radical}(s{sub NN})=200 GeV. The modification factor R{sub AA} shows a rapid increase with transverse momentum in the covered region. This indicates that the Cronin effect is the dominating effect in our energy range. The modification factor R{sub CP}, in which the contribution of the Cronin effect is reduced, shows a saturation well below unity in the {pi}{sup {+-}} channel. The extracted R{sub CP} values follow the 200 GeV RHIC results closely in the available transverse momentum range, except for {pi}{sup {+-}} above 2.5 GeV/c transverse momentum. There the measured suppression is smaller than that observed at RHIC.