Prompt photons at RHIC

We calculate the inclusive cross section for prompt photon production in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC energies ( √ s = 130 GeV and √ s = 200 GeV) in the central rapidity region including next-to-leading order, O ( α em α 2 s ), radiative corrections, ini-tial state nuclear shadowing and parton energy loss effects. We show that there is a significant suppression of the nuclear cross section, up to ∼ 30% at √ s = 200 GeV, due to shadowing and medium induced parton energy loss effects. We find that the next-to-leading order contributions are large and have a strong p t dependence.