Abstract
We report the direct virtual photon invariant yields in the transverse momentum ranges 1<pT<3 GeV/c and 5<pT<10 GeV/c at mid-rapidity derived from the dielectron invariant mass continuum region 0.10<Mee<0.28 GeV/c2 for 0–80% minimum-bias Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV. A clear excess in the invariant yield compared to the nuclear overlap function TAA scaled p+p reference is observed in the pT range 1<pT<3 GeV/c. For pT>6 GeV/c the production follows TAA scaling. Model calculations with contributions from thermal radiation and initial hard parton scattering are consistent within uncertainties with the direct virtual photon invariant yield.