PHENIX experiment: study of the jet quenching effect in the ultrarelativistic U + U collisions

Extensive study of heavy ion collisions at RHIC has resulted in discovery of a new state of matter – strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma (sQGP). Measurements of high-pT particles contribute to systematic study of sQGP properties. Yields of leading particle such as π0 can be measured with high precision at high transverse momenta. Study of π0 in different collision systems allows investigation of the path length dependence of energy loss in the medium. U+U presents an opportunity to research non-spherical heavy ion collision system with highest energy density in central collisions. This paper presents the most recent PHENIX results on π0 production in U+U collision system. Results are presented as functions of pT and centrality.