Dielectron Mass Spectra from Au plus Au Collisions at root s(NN)=200 Ge V

We report the STAR measurements of dielectron (e+e-) production at midrapidity (|yee|<1) in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200  GeV. The measurements are evaluated in different invariant mass regions with a focus on 0.30–0.76 (ρ-like), 0.76–0.80 (ω-like), and 0.98–1.05 (ϕ-like)   GeV/c2. The spectrum in the ω-like and ϕ-like regions can be well described by the hadronic cocktail simulation. In the ρ-like region, however, the vacuum ρ spectral function cannot describe the shape of the dielectron excess. In this range, an enhancement of 1.77±0.11(stat)±0.24(syst)±0.33(cocktail) is determined with respect to the hadronic cocktail simulation that excludes the ρ meson. The excess yield in the ρ-like region increases with the number of collision participants faster than the ω and ϕ yields. Theoretical models with broadened ρ contributions through interactions with constituents in the hot QCD medium provide a consistent description of the dilepton mass spectra for the measurement presented here and the earlier data at the Super Proton Synchrotron energies.