Photon and eta production in p plus Pb and p plus C collisions at root(NN)-N-S=17.4 GeV

Measurements of direct photon production in p + Pb and p + C collisions at root(NN)-N-s = 17.4 GeV are presented. Upper limits on the direct photon yield as a function of p(T) are derived and compared to the results for Pb + Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-s = 17.3 GeV. The production of the eta meson, which is an important input to the direct photon signal extraction, has been determined in the eta -> 2 gamma channel for p + C collisions at root(NN)-N-s = 17.4 GeV. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.