We present measurements of two-particle correlations with neutral pion trigger particles of transverse momenta $8 < p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm trig} < 16~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ and associated charged particles of $0.5 < p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm assoc} < 10~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ versus the azimuthal angle difference $\Delta\varphi$ at midrapidity in pp and central Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV with ALICE. The new measurements exploit associated charged hadrons down to $0.5~\mathrm{GeV}/c$, which significantly extends our previous measurement that only used charged hadrons above $3~\mathrm{GeV}/c$. After subtracting the contributions of the flow background, $v_2$ to $v_5$, the per-trigger yields are extracted for $|\Delta\varphi|<0.7$ on the near and for $|\Delta\varphi-\pi| < 1.1$ on the away side. The ratio of per-trigger yields in Pb--Pb to those in pp collisions, $I_{\mathrm{AA}}$, is measured on the near and away side for the $0$--$10$\% most central Pb--Pb collisions. On the away side, the per-trigger yields in Pb--Pb are strongly suppressed to the level of $I_{\mathrm{AA}} \approx 0.6$ for $p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm assoc} > 3~\mathrm{GeV}/c$, while with decreasing momenta an enhancement develops reaching about $5$ at low $p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm assoc}$. On the near side, an enhancement of $I_{\mathrm{AA}}$ between $1.2$ at the highest to $1.8$ at the lowest $p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm assoc}$ is observed. The data are compared to parton-energy-loss predictions of the JEWEL and AMPT event generators, as well as to a perturbative QCD calculation with medium-modified fragmentation functions. All calculations qualitatively describe the away-side suppression at high $p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm assoc}$. Only AMPT captures the enhancement at low $p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm assoc}$, both on the near and away side. However, it also underpredicts $I_{\mathrm{AA}}$ above $5$ GeV/$c$, in particular on the near-side.
Charged-particle associated yields relative to $\pi^{0}$ trigger particles versus $\Delta\varphi$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=2.76 TeV. The $\pi^{0}$ trigger momentum range is $8< p_{T}^{trig} < 16~GeV/c$, and associated charged particle ranges are $0.5 < p_{T}^{assoc} < 1$, $1 < p_{T}^{assoc} < 2$, $2 < p_{T}^{assoc} < 4$ and $4 < p_{T}^{assoc} < 6~GeV/c$.
Charged-particle associated yields relative to $\pi^{0}$ trigger particles versus $\Delta\varphi$ in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=2.76 TeV. The $\pi^{0}$ trigger momentum range is $8< p_{T}^{trig} < 16~GeV/c$, and associated charged particle ranges are $0.5 < p_{T}^{assoc} < 1$, $1 < p_{T}^{assoc} < 2$, $2 < p_{T}^{assoc} < 4$ and $4 < p_{T}^{assoc} < 6~GeV/c$.
Per-trigger yield modification, $I_{\rm AA}$, on the near side with trigger $\pi^{0}$ particle at $8 < p_{T}^{trig} < 16~GeV/c$ for $0$-$10$$\%$ Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 2.76 TeV.
The production of beauty hadrons was measured via semi-leptonic decays at mid-rapidity with the ALICE detector at the LHC in the transverse momentum interval $1<p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV/$c$ in minimum-bias p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV and in $1.3<p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV/$c$ in the 20% most central Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ TeV. The pp reference spectra at $\sqrt{s}=5.02$ TeV and $\sqrt{s}=2.76$ TeV, needed for the calculation of the nuclear modification factors $R_{\rm pPb}$ and $R_{\rm PbPb}$, were obtained by a pQCD-driven scaling of the cross section of electrons from beauty-hadron decays measured at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV. In the $p_{\rm T}$ interval $3<p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV/$c$ a suppression of the yield of electrons from beauty-hadron decays is observed in Pb-Pb compared to pp collisions. Towards lower $p_{\rm T}$, the $R_{\rm PbPb}$ values increase with large systematic uncertainties. The $R_{\rm pPb}$ is consistent with unity within systematic uncertainties and is well described by theoretical calculations that include cold nuclear matter effects in p-Pb collisions. The measured $R_{\rm pPb}$ and these calculations indicate that cold nuclear matter effects are small at high transverse momentum also in Pb-Pb collisions. Therefore, the observed reduction of $R_{\rm PbPb}$ below unity at high $p_{\rm T}$ may be ascribed to an effect of the hot and dense medium formed in Pb-Pb collisions.
Invariant cross section of electrons from beauty-hadron decays as a function of transverse momentum in minimum-bias p--Pb collisions in the rapidity interval $-1.06 < y_{\rm cms} < 0.14$. The systematic uncertainties do not include an additional p--Pb normalisation uncertainty of 3.7%.
Invariant yield of electrons from beauty-hadron decays as a function of transverse momentum in 20% most central Pb--Pb collisions.
Nuclear modification factor $R_{\text{pA}}$ of electrons from beauty-hadron decays as a function of transverse momentum for minimum-bias p--Pb collisions in the rapidity interval $-1.06 < y_{\rm cms} < 0.14$. The systematic uncertainties do not include a global normalisation uncertainty of 5.1%.
In two-particle angular correlation measurements, jets give rise to a near-side peak, formed by particles associated to a higher $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ trigger particle. Measurements of these correlations as a function of pseudorapidity ($\Delta\eta$) and azimuthal ($\Delta\varphi$) differences are used to extract the centrality and $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ dependence of the shape of the near-side peak in the $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ range $1 < p_{\mathrm{T}} <$ 8 GeV/c in Pb-Pb and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV. A combined fit of the near-side peak and long-range correlations is applied to the data and the peak shape is quantified by the variance of the distributions. While the width of the peak in the $\Delta\varphi$ direction is almost independent of centrality, a significant broadening in the $\Delta\eta$ direction is found from peripheral to central collisions. This feature is prominent for the low $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ region and vanishes above 4 GeV/c. The widths measured in peripheral collisions are equal to those in pp in the $\Delta\varphi$ direction and above 3 GeV/c in the $\Delta\eta$ direction. Furthermore, for the 10\% most central collisions and $1 < p_{\mathrm{T, assoc}} <$ 2 GeV/c, $1 < p_{\mathrm{T, trig}} <$ 3 GeV/c a departure from a Gaussian shape is found: a depletion develops around the centre of the peak. The results are compared to AMPT model simulations as well as other theoretical calculations indicating that the broadening and the development of the depletion is connected to the strength of radial and longitudinal flow.
Variance of the near-side jet peak from a generalized Gaussian fit.
Variance of the near-side jet peak from a generalized Gaussian fit.
Variance of near-side peak in the 0-10% centrality bin divided by the variance of the near-side peak in the 50-80% centrality bin.
The measurement of two-particle angular correlations is a powerful tool to study jet quenching in a $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ region inaccessible by direct jet identification. In these measurements pseudorapidity ($\Delta\eta$) and azimuthal ($\Delta\varphi$) differences are used to extract the shape of the near-side peak formed by particles associated to a higher $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ trigger particle ($1 < p_{\mathrm{T, trig}} <$ 8 GeV/c). A combined fit of the near-side peak and long-range correlations is applied to the data allowing the extraction of the centrality evolution of the peak shape in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV. A significant broadening of the peak in the $\Delta\eta$ direction at low $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ is found from peripheral to central collisions, which vanishes above 4 GeV/c, while in the $\Delta\varphi$ direction the peak is almost independent of centrality. For the 10% most central collisions and $1 < p_{\mathrm{T, assoc}} <$ 2 GeV/c, $1 < p_{\mathrm{T, trig}} <$ 3 GeV/c a novel feature is observed: a depletion develops around the centre of the peak. The results are compared to pp collisions at the same centre of mass energy and to AMPT model simulations. The comparison to the investigated models suggests that the broadening and the development of the depletion is connected to the strength of radial and longitudinal flow.
Variance of the near-side jet peak from a generalized Gaussian fit.
Variance of the near-side jet peak from a generalized Gaussian fit.
Variance of near-side peak in the 0-10% centrality bin divided by the variance of the near-side peak in the 50-80% centrality bin.
Electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays (charm and beauty) were measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass of energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ TeV. The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) differential production yields at mid-rapidity were used to calculate the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ in the interval $3<p_{\rm T}< 18$ GeV/$c$. The $R_{\rm AA}$ shows a strong suppression compared to binary scaling of pp collisions at the same energy (up to a factor of 4) in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions. There is a centrality trend of suppression, and a weaker suppression (down to a factor of 2) in semi-peripheral (50-80%) collisions is observed. The suppression of electrons in this broad $p_{\rm T}$ interval indicates that both charm and beauty quarks lose energy when they traverse the hot medium formed in Pb-Pb collisions at LHC.
Pb-Pb collision centrality 0-10%.
Pb-Pb collision centrality 10-20%.
Pb-Pb collision centrality 20-30%.
The W and Z boson production was measured via the muonic decay channel in proton-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider with the ALICE detector. The measurement covers backward ($-4.46 < y_{\rm cms} < -2.96$) and forward ($2.03 < y_{\rm cms} < 3.53$) rapidity regions, corresponding to Pb-going and p-going directions, respectively. The Z-boson production cross section, with dimuon invariant mass of $60<m_{\mu\mu}<120$ GeV/$c^2$ and muon transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}^\mu$) larger than 20 GeV/$c$, is measured. The production cross section and charge asymmetry of muons from W-boson decays with $p_{\rm T}^\mu>10$ GeV/$c$ are determined. The results are compared to theoretical calculations both with and without including the nuclear modification of the parton distribution functions. The W-boson production is also studied as a function of the collision centrality: the cross section of muons from W-boson decays is found to scale with the average number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions within uncertainties.
Z-boson production cross section in the dimuon decay channel at backward and forward rapidities measured in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic.
Cross section of $\mu^{+}$ from W$^{+}$ boson decay at backward and forward rapidities measured in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic.
Cross section of $\mu^{-}$ from W$^{-}$ boson decay at backward and forward rapidities measured in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic.
Two-particle angular correlations were measured in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV for pions, kaons, protons, and lambdas, for all particle/anti-particle combinations in the pair. Data for mesons exhibit an expected peak dominated by effects associated with mini-jets and are well reproduced by general purpose Monte Carlo generators. However, for baryon-baryon and anti-baryon--anti-baryon pairs, where both particles have the same baryon number, a near-side anti-correlation structure is observed instead of a peak. This effect is interpreted in the context of baryon production mechanisms in the fragmentation process. It currently presents a challenge to Monte Carlo models and its origin remains an open question.
$\Delta\eta$ integrated projections of correlation functions for combined pairs of $\rm pp+\overline{p}\overline{p}$, $\rm p\Lambda+\overline{p}\overline{\Lambda}$, and $\Lambda\Lambda+\overline{\Lambda}\overline{\Lambda}$.
$\Delta\eta$ integrated projections of correlation functions for combined pairs of $\rm p\overline{p}$, $\rm p\overline{\Lambda}+\overline{p}\Lambda$, and $\Lambda\overline{\Lambda}$.
$\Delta\eta$ integrated projections of correlation functions for combined pairs of $\rm pp+\overline{p}\overline{p}$ for two transverse momentum intervals (a) $0.5 < p_{\rm T} < 1.25$ GeV/$c$ and (b) $1.25 < p_{\rm T} < 2.5$ GeV/$c$.
We present the charged-particle pseudorapidity density in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02\,\mathrm{Te\kern-.25exV}$ in centrality classes measured by ALICE. The measurement covers a wide pseudorapidity range from $-3.5$ to $5$, which is sufficient for reliable estimates of the total number of charged particles produced in the collisions. For the most central (0-5%) collisions we find $21\,400\pm 1\,300$ while for the most peripheral (80-90%) we find $230\pm 38$. This corresponds to an increase of $(27\pm4)\%$ over the results at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=2.76\,\mathrm{Te\kern-.25exV}$ previously reported by ALICE. The energy dependence of the total number of charged particles produced in heavy-ion collisions is found to obey a modified power-law like behaviour. The charged-particle pseudorapidity density of the most central collisions is compared to model calculations --- none of which fully describes the measured distribution. We also present an estimate of the rapidity density of charged particles. The width of that distribution is found to exhibit a remarkable proportionality to the beam rapidity, independent of the collision energy from the top SPS to LHC energies.
Charged-particle pseudorapidity density for ten centrality classes over a broad $\eta$ range in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}}=5.02\,\mathrm{TeV}$. Boxes around the points reflect the total uncorrelated systematic uncertainties, while the filled squares on the right reflect the correlated systematic uncertainty (evaluated at $\eta=0$). Statistical errors are generally insignificant and smaller than the markers. Also shown is the reflection of the $3.5<\eta<5$ values around $\eta=0$ (open circles). The line corresponds to fits of the difference between two Gaussians centred at $\eta=0$ ($f_{\text{GG}}$) [PLB754.373] to the data.
Charged-particle pseudorapidity density at midrapidity in most perihperhal (80-90%) Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\scriptscriptstyle\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02\,\mathrm{TeV}$.
Total number of charged particles as a function of the mean number of participating nucleons [PRC88.044909]. The total charged-particle multiplicity is given as the integral over $\mathrm{d}N_{\mathrm{ch}}/\mathrm{d}\eta$ over the measured region ($-3.5<\eta<5$) and extrapolations from fitted functions in the unmeasured regions. The contribution from unmeasured $\eta$ regions amounts to $\approx30\%$ of the total number of charged particles. The uncertainty on the extrapolation to the unmeasured pseudorapidity region is smaller than the size of the markers. The contribution to the systematic uncertainties from the centrality determination and electromagnetic processes are vanishing compared to the contribution from the largest differences between the fitted functions. A function inspired by factorisation [PRC83.024913] is fitted to the data, and the best fit yields $a=51.5\pm7.3$, $b=0.16\pm0.05$.
The transverse momentum distributions of the strange and double-strange hyperon resonances ($\Sigma(1385)^{\pm}$, $\Xi(1530)^{0}$) produced in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV were measured in the rapidity range $-0.5< y_{\rm{CMS}}<0$ for event classes corresponding to different charged-particle multiplicity densities, $\langle{\rm d}N_{\rm{ch}}/{\rm d}\eta_{\rm{lab}}\rangle$. The mean transverse momentum values are presented as a function of $\langle{\rm d}N_{\rm{ch}}/{\rm d}\eta_{\rm{lab}}\rangle$, as well as a function of the particle masses and compared with previous results on hyperon production. The integrated yield ratios of excited to ground-state hyperons are constant as a function of $\langle{\rm d}N_{\rm{ch}}/{\rm d}\eta_{\rm{lab}}\rangle$. The equivalent ratios to pions exhibit an increase with $\langle{\rm d}N_{\rm{ch}}/{\rm d}\eta_{\rm{lab}}\rangle$, depending on their strangeness content.
Average charged particle pseudo-rapidity density, $\langle\rm{d}N_{\rm{ch}}/\rm{d}\eta_{\rm{lab}}\rangle$, measured at mid-rapidity in visible cross section event classes. Multiplicity classes are defined using the V0A estimator; values for $\langle\rm{d}N_{\rm{ch}}/\rm{d}\eta_{\rm{lab}}\rangle$ are corrected for vertexing and trigger efficiency. Since statistical uncertainties are negligible, only total systematic uncertainties are reported.
Average charged particle pseudo-rapidity density, $\langle\rm{d}N_{\rm{ch}}/\rm{d}\eta_{\rm{lab}}\rangle$, measured at mid-rapidity in visible cross section event classes. Multiplicity classes are defined using the V0A estimator; values for $\langle\rm{d}N_{\rm{ch}}/\rm{d}\eta_{\rm{lab}}\rangle$ are corrected for vertexing and trigger efficiency. Since statistical uncertainties are negligible, only total systematic uncertainties are reported.
$p_{\rm{T}}$-differential yield of $\Sigma^{*+}$ in p-Pb collisions with centre-of-mass energy/nucleon=5.02 TeV (NSD).
The production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons ${\rm D^0}$, ${\rm D^+}$, ${\rm D^{*+}}$ and ${\rm D_s^+}$ were measured at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). D mesons were reconstructed from their decays ${\rm D}^0 \to {\rm K}^-\pi^+$, ${\rm D}^+\to {\rm K}^-\pi^+\pi^+$, ${\rm D}^{*+} \to {\rm D}^0 \pi^+$, ${\rm D_s^{+}\to \phi\pi^+\to K^-K^+\pi^+}$, and their charge conjugates. With respect to previous measurements in the same rapidity region, the coverage in transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) is extended and the uncertainties are reduced by a factor of about two. The accuracy on the estimated total $\rm c\overline c$ production cross section is likewise improved. The measured $p_{\rm T}$-differential cross sections are compared with the results of three perturbative QCD calculations.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential cross section of prompt $\rm{D}^{0}$ mesons in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$=7 TeV in the rapidity interval $|y|$<0.5. Branching ratio of $\rm{D}^{0}\rightarrow K\pi$ : 0.0393.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential cross section of prompt $\rm{D^{+}}$ mesons in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$=7 TeV in the rapidity interval $|y|$<0.5. Branching ratio of $\rm D^{+-}\rightarrow K{\rm{\pi}}{\rm{\pi}}$ : 0.0946.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential cross section of prompt $\rm D^{*}$ mesons in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$=7 TeV in the rapidity interval $|y|$<0.5. Branching ratio of $\rm{D}^{*+}\rightarrow \rm{D}^{0}\pi\rightarrow K\pi\pi$ : 0.0266.