  The transverse momentum distribution of the direct photons measured by the
PHENIX collaboration in $Au + Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV/A has been
analyzed. It has been shown that the data can be reproduced reasonably well
assuming a deconfined state of thermalized quarks and gluons with initial
temperature more than the transition temperature for deconfinement inferred
from lattice QCD. The value of the initial temperature depends on the equation
of state of the evolving matter. The sensitivities of the results on various
input parameters have been studied. The effects of the modifications of
hadronic properties at non-zero temperature have been discussed.
