The production of non-prompt ${\rm D}^{0}$ mesons from beauty-hadron decays was measured at midrapidity ($\left| y \right| < 0.5$) in Pb-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02~\mathrm{TeV}$ with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. Their nuclear modification factor ($R_{\rm AA}$), measured for the first time down to $p_{\rm T}=1~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in the $0-10$% and $30-50$% centrality classes, indicates a significant suppression, up to a factor of about three, for $p_{\rm T} > 5~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in the $0-10$% central Pb-Pb collisions. The data are described by models that include both collisional and radiative processes in the calculation of beauty-quark energy loss in the quark-gluon plasma, and quark recombination in addition to fragmentation as a hadronisation mechanism. The ratio of the non-prompt to prompt ${\rm D}^{0}$-meson $R_{\rm AA}$ is larger than unity for $p_{\rm T} > 4~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in the $0-10$% central Pb-Pb collisions, as predicted by models in which beauty quarks lose less energy than charm quarks in the quark-gluon plasma because of their larger mass.
Transverse-momentum-differential production yields of non-prompt $\rm D^0$ in central (0-10%) and mid-central (30-50%) Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV.
The nuclear modification factor of non-prompt $\rm D^0$ as a function of transverse momentum in central (0-10%) and mid-central (30-50%) Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV.
The non-prompt to prompt $\rm D^0$-meson nuclear modification factor ratio as a function of transverse momentum in central (0-10%) Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV.
The production yield and angular anisotropy of prompt ${D_s^+}$ mesons were measured as a function of transverse momentum ($p_{ T}$) in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{ NN}} = 5.02$ TeV collected with the ALICE detector at the LHC. ${D_s^+}$ mesons and their charge conjugates were reconstructed at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) from their hadronic decay channel ${D_s^+ \to \phi \pi^+}$, with ${\phi \to K^-K^+}$, in the $p_{ T}$ intervals $2<p_{ T}<50$ GeV/$c$ and $2<p_{ T}<36$ GeV/$c$ for the 0-10% and 30-50% centrality intervals. For $p_{ T}>10$ GeV/$c$, the measured ${D_s^+}$-meson nuclear modification factor $R_{ AA}$ is consistent with the one of non-strange D mesons within uncertainties, while at lower $p_{ T}$ a hint for a ${D_s^+}$-meson $R_{ AA}$ larger than that of non-strange D mesons is seen. The enhanced production of ${D_s^+}$ relative to non-strange D mesons is also studied by comparing the $p_{ T}$-dependent ${D_s^+/D^0}$ production yield ratios in Pb-Pb and in pp collisions. The ratio measured in Pb-Pb collisions is found to be on average higher than that in pp collisions in the interval $2<p_{ T} <8$ GeV/$c$ with a significance of 2.3$\sigma$ and 2.4$\sigma$ for the 0-10% and 30-50% centrality intervals. The azimuthal anisotropy coefficient $v_2$ of prompt ${D_s^+}$ mesons was measured in Pb-Pb collisions in the 30-50% centrality interval and is found to be compatible with that of non-strange D mesons. The main features of the measured $R_{ AA}$, ${D_s^+/D^0}$ ratio, and $v_2$ as a function of $p_{ T}$ are described by theoretical calculations of charm-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding quark-gluon plasma including hadronisation via charm-quark recombination with light quarks from the medium. The $p_{ T}$-integrated production yield of ${D_s^+}$ mesons is compatible with the prediction of the statistical hadronisation model.
$p_\mathrm{T}$-differential production yield of prompt $\mathrm{D_s^+}$ mesons in the 0-10% centrality class in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $|y|<0.5$. Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D_s^+\to \phi\pi^+\to K^-K^+\pi^+}$: 0.0224
$p_\mathrm{T}$-differential production yield of prompt $\mathrm{D_s^+}$ mesons in the 0-10% centrality class in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $|y|<0.5$. Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D_s^+\to \phi\pi^+\to K^-K^+\pi^+}$: 0.0224
$p_\mathrm{T}$-differential production yield of prompt $\mathrm{D_s^+}$ mesons in the 30-50% centrality class in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $|y|<0.5$. Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D_s^+\to \phi\pi^+\to K^-K^+\pi^+}$: 0.0224
The first measurement of the production of pions, kaons, (anti-)protons and $\phi$ mesons at midrapidity in Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.44$ TeV is presented. Transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) spectra and $p_{\rm T}$-integrated yields are extracted in several centrality intervals bridging from p-Pb to mid-central Pb-Pb collisions in terms of final-state multiplicity. The study of Xe-Xe and Pb-Pb collisions allows systems at similar charged-particle multiplicities but with different initial geometrical eccentricities to be investigated. A detailed comparison of the spectral shapes in the two systems reveals an opposite behaviour for radial and elliptic flow. In particular, this study shows that the radial flow does not depend on the colliding system when compared at similar charged-particle multiplicity. In terms of hadron chemistry, the previously observed smooth evolution of particle ratios with multiplicity from small to large collision systems is also found to hold in Xe-Xe. In addition, our results confirm that two remarkable features of particle production at LHC energies are also valid in the collision of medium-sized nuclei: the lower proton-to-pion ratio with respect to the thermal model expectations and the increase of the $\phi$-to-pion ratio with increasing final-state multiplicity.
$p_{T}$-distributions of pions ($\pi^{+}+\pi^{-}$) measured in Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV. Centrality class 0-5%.
$p_{T}$-distributions of kaons ($K^{+}+K^{-}$) measured in Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV. Centrality class 0-5%.
$p_{T}$-distributions of protons ($p+pbar$) measured in Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV. Centrality class 0-5%.
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