φ-meson production at forward/backward rapidity in high-energy nuclear collisions from a multiphase transport model

Within the framework of a multiphase transport model (AMPT), the phi-meson production is studied in d + Au collisions at root s(NN)= 200 GeV in the forward (d-going, 1.2 < y < 2.2) and backward (Au-going, -2.2 < y < -1.2) directions. The AMPT model with string melting version (parton cascade turning on) describes the experimental data well, while the pure hadronic transport scenario of the AMPT model underestimates the phi-meson production rate in comparison with the data. Detailed investigations including the rapidity, transverse momentum, and collision system size dependencies of phi-meson nuclear modification factor indicate that a combination of the initial-state effect and a follow-up parton cascade is required in the AMPT model to describe the data. Similar calculations are also present in p + Pb collisions at root s(NN)= 5.02 TeV and p + p collisions at root s(NN)= 2.76 TeV. The findings from a comparison of AMPT model study with the data are consistent with that at RHIC energy.