Centrality dependent particle production at y=0 and y $\sim$ 1 in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

Particle production of identified charged hadrons, $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p$, and $\bar{p}$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt(snn) =$ 200 GeV has been studied as a function of transverse momentum and collision centrality at $y=0$ and $y\sim1$ by the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC. Significant collective transverse flow at kinetic freeze-out has been observed in the collisions. The magnitude of the flow rises with the collision centrality. Proton and kaon yields relative to the pion production increase strongly as the transverse momentum increases and also increase with centrality. Particle yields per participant nucleon show a weak dependence on the centrality for all particle species. Hadron production remains relatively constant within one unit around midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt(snn) =$ 200 GeV.
Comment: 52 authors, 8 pages, 12 Figures, 3 Tables, submitted to PRC