Scaling patterns of the suppression of π0 yields in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV: Links to the transport properties of the QGP

Suppression measurements for neutral pions (π0) are used to investigate the predicted path length L and transverse momentum pT dependent jet quenching patterns of the hot QCD medium produced in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV. The observed scaling patterns show the predicted trends for jet-medium interactions dominated by radiative energy loss. They also allow simple estimates of the transport coefficient q and the ratio of viscosity to entropy density η/s. These estimates indicate that the short mean free path λ in the QCD medium leading to hydrodynamic-like flow with a small value of η/s is also responsible for the strong suppression observed.