A study of strange hadron production associated with hard scattering processes and with the underlying event is conducted to investigate the origin of the enhanced production of strange hadrons in small collision systems characterised by large charged-particle multiplicities. For this purpose, the production of the single-strange meson ${\rm K^0_S}$ and the double-strange baryon $\Xi^{\pm}$ is measured, in each event, in the azimuthal direction of the highest-$p_{\rm T}$ particle (``trigger" particle), related to hard scattering processes, and in the direction transverse to it in azimuth, associated with the underlying event, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=5.02$ TeV and $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV using the ALICE detector at the LHC. The per-trigger yields of ${\rm K^0_S}$ and $\Xi^{\pm}$ are dominated by the transverse-to-leading production (i.e., in the direction transverse to the trigger particle), whose contribution relative to the toward-leading production is observed to increase with the event charged-particle multiplicity. The transverse-to-leading and the toward-leading $\Xi^{\pm}$/${\rm K^0_S}$ yield ratios increase with the multiplicity of charged particles, suggesting that strangeness enhancement with multiplicity is associated with both hard scattering processes and the underlying event. The relative production of $\Xi^{\pm}$ with respect to ${\rm K^0_S}$ is higher in transverse-to-leading processes over the whole multiplicity interval covered by the measurement. The ${\rm K}^{0}_{\rm{S}}$ and $\Xi^{\pm}$ per-trigger yields and yield ratios are compared with predictions of three different phenomenological models, namely PYTHIA 8.2 with the Monash tune, PYTHIA 8.2 with ropes and EPOS LHC. The comparison shows that none of them can quantitatively describe either the transverse-to-leading or the toward-leading yields of ${\rm K}^{0}_{\rm{S}}$ and $\Xi^{\pm}$.
Yields of $\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ per trigger particle per unit $\Delta\eta\Delta\varphi$ area in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, as a function of the $\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ $p_\rm{T}$. Trigger particles are charged particles with $p_\rm{T}>3$ GeV/c. The trigger-particle-$\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ correlation is integrated in the ranges $-1.2<\Delta\eta<1.2$ and $-\pi/2<\Delta\varphi<3/2\pi$.
Transverse-to-leading yields of $\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ per trigger particle per unit $\Delta\eta\Delta\varphi$ area in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, as a function of the $\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ $p_\rm{T}$. Trigger particles are charged particles with $p_\rm{T}>3$ GeV/c. The trigger-particle-$\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ correlation is integrated in the ranges $0.86<|\Delta\eta|<1.2$ and $0.96<\Delta\varphi<1.8$.
Toward-leading yields of $\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ per trigger particle per unit $\Delta\eta\Delta\varphi$ area in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, as a function of the $\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ $p_\rm{T}$. Trigger particles are charged particles with $p_\rm{T}>3$ GeV/c. The trigger-particle-$\rm K^{0}_\rm{S}$ correlation is integrated in the ranges $|\Delta\eta|<0.86$ and $|\Delta\varphi|<1.1$.
The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) differential production cross section of the promptly produced charm-strange baryon $\Xi_{\rm c}^{0}$ (and its charge conjugate $\overline{\Xi_{\rm c}^{0}}$) is measured at midrapidity via its hadronic decay into ${\rm \pi^{+}}\Xi^{-}$ in p$-$Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon$-$nucleon collision $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The $\Xi_{\rm c}^{0}$ nuclear modification factor ($R_{\rm pPb}$), calculated from the cross sections in pp and p$-$Pb collisions, is presented and compared with the $R_{\rm pPb}$ of $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$ baryons. The ratios between the $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross section of $\Xi_{\rm c}^{0}$ baryons and those of $\mathrm {D^0}$ mesons and $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$ baryons are also reported and compared with results at forward and backward rapidity from the LHCb Collaboration. The measurements of the production cross section of prompt $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$ baryons are compared with a model based on perturbative QCD calculations of charm-quark production cross sections, which includes only cold nuclear matter effects in p$-$Pb collisions, and underestimates the measurement by a factor of about 50. This discrepancy is reduced when the data is compared with a model that includes string formation beyond leading-colour approximation or in which hadronisation is implemented via quark coalescence. The $p_{\rm T}$-integrated cross section of prompt $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$-baryon production at midrapidity extrapolated down to $p_{\rm T}$ = 0 is also reported. These measurements offer insights and constraints for theoretical calculations of the hadronisation process. Additionally, they provide inputs for the calculation of the charm production cross section in p$-$Pb collisions at midrapidity.
Prompt $\Xi_\mathrm{c}^0$ productions cross-section as a function of $p_\mathrm{T}$ in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
$\Xi_\mathrm{c}^0~R_\mathrm{pPb}$ as a function of $p_\mathrm{T}$ in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
$\Xi_\mathrm{c}^0/\mathrm{D}^0$ ratio as a function of $p_\mathrm{T}$ in p–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
The inclusive production of the charm-strange baryon $\Omega^{0}_{\rm c}$ is measured for the first time via its semileptonic decay into $\Omega^{-}\rm e^{+}\nu_{e}$ at midrapidity ($|y|<0.8$) in proton$-$proton (pp) collisions at the centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) differential cross section multiplied by the branching ratio is presented in the interval $2
The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections of inclusive $\Omega^0_{\rm c}$ baryons multiplied by the branching ratios (BR) into $\Omega^{-}{\rm e}^{+}\nu_{\rm e}$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV for $|y| < 0.8$.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential branching-fraction ratio ${\rm BR}(\Omega^0_{\rm c}\rightarrow\Omega^{-}{\rm e}^{+}\nu_{\rm e})/{\rm BR}(\Omega^0_{\rm c}\rightarrow\Omega^{-}{\pi}^{+})$.
Comparison of $p_{\rm T}$-independent branching-fraction ratio ${\rm BR}(\Omega^0_{\rm c}\rightarrow\Omega^{-}{\rm e}^{+}\nu_{\rm e})/{\rm BR}(\Omega^0_{\rm c}\rightarrow\Omega^{-}{\pi}^{+})$ between experiments and theoretical calculations.
Measurements of the $p_{\rm T}$-dependent flow vector fluctuations in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}} = 5.02~\mathrm{TeV}$ using azimuthal correlations with the ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider are presented. A four-particle correlation approach [1] is used to quantify the effects of flow angle and magnitude fluctuations separately. This paper extends previous studies to additional centrality intervals and provides measurements of the $p_{\rm T}$-dependent flow vector fluctuations at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}} = 5.02~\mathrm{TeV}$ with two-particle correlations. Significant $p_{\rm T}$-dependent fluctuations of the $\vec{V}_{2}$ flow vector in Pb-Pb collisions are found across different centrality ranges, with the largest fluctuations of up to $\sim$15% being present in the 5% most central collisions. In parallel, no evidence of significant $p_{\rm T}$-dependent fluctuations of $\vec{V}_{3}$ or $\vec{V}_{4}$ is found. Additionally, evidence of flow angle and magnitude fluctuations is observed with more than $5\sigma$ significance in central collisions. These observations in Pb-Pb collisions indicate where the classical picture of hydrodynamic modeling with a common symmetry plane breaks down. This has implications for hard probes at high $p_{\rm T}$, which might be biased by $p_{\rm T}$-dependent flow angle fluctuations of at least 23% in central collisions. Given the presented results, existing theoretical models should be re-examined to improve our understanding of initial conditions, quark--gluon plasma properties, and the dynamic evolution of the created system.
The ratio $v_{2}{2}/v_2[2]$ as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ in different centrality intervals
The ratio $v_{3}{2}/v_3[2]$ as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ in different centrality intervals
The ratio $v_{4}{2}/v_4[2]$ as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ in different centrality intervals
The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections of non-prompt ${\rm D^0}$, ${\rm D^+}$, and ${\rm D_s^+}$ mesons originating from beauty-hadron decays are measured in proton$-$proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. The measurements are performed at midrapidity, $|y| < 0.5$, with the data sample collected by ALICE from 2016 to 2018. The results are in agreement with predictions from several perturbative QCD calculations. The fragmentation fraction of beauty quarks to strange mesons divided by the one to non-strange mesons, $f_{\rm{s}}/(f_{\rm{u}} + f_{\rm{d}})$, is found to be $0.114 \pm 0.016~{\rm (stat.)} \pm 0.006~{\rm (syst.)} \pm 0.003~{\rm (BR)} \pm 0.003~{\rm (extrap.)}$. This value is compatible with previous measurements at lower centre-of-mass energies and in different collision systems in agreement with the assumption of universality of fragmentation functions. In addition, the dependence of the non-prompt D meson production on the centre-of-mass energy is investigated by comparing the results obtained at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ and 13 TeV, showing a hardening of the non-prompt D-meson $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross section at higher $\sqrt{s}$. Finally, the ${\rm b\overline{b}}$ production cross section per unit of rapidity at midrapidity is calculated from the non-prompt ${\rm D^0}$, ${\rm D^+}$, ${\rm D_s^+}$, and $\Lambda_{\rm c}^+$ hadron measurements, obtaining ${\rm d}\sigma/{\rm d}y = 75.2\pm 3.2~(\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 5.2~(\mathrm{syst.})^{+12.3}_{-3.2} ~(\mathrm{extrap.})\text{ } \rm \mu b \;.$
$p_{\mathrm{T}}$-differential non-prompt $\mathrm{D}^{0}$ production cross section at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D}^{0}\rightarrow\mathrm{K}^-\pi^+$: $(3.95 \pm 0.03)\%$. Global relative uncertainty on BR: $0.8\%$ Global relative uncertainty on luminosity: $1.6\%$
$p_{\mathrm{T}}$-differential non-prompt $\mathrm{D}^{+}$ production cross section at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D}^{+}\rightarrow\mathrm{K}^-\pi^+\pi^+$: $(9.38 \pm 0.16)\%$. Global relative uncertainty on BR: $1.7\%$ Global relative uncertainty on luminosity: $1.6\%$
$p_{\mathrm{T}}$-differential $\mathrm{D}^{+}_\mathrm{s}$ production cross section at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D}^{+}_\mathrm{s}\rightarrow\phi\pi^+\rightarrow\mathrm{K}^+\mathrm{K}^-\pi^+$: $(2.22 \pm 0.06)\%$. Global relative uncertainty on BR: $2.7\%$ Global relative uncertainty on luminosity: $1.6\%$
The two-particle momentum correlation functions between charm mesons ($\mathrm{D^{*\pm}}$ and $\mathrm{D}^\pm$) and charged light-flavor mesons ($\pi^{\pm}$ and K$^{\pm}$) in all charge-combinations are measured for the first time by the ALICE Collaboration in high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} =13$ TeV. For $\mathrm{DK}$ and $\mathrm{D^*K}$ pairs, the experimental results are in agreement with theoretical predictions of the residual strong interaction based on quantum chromodynamics calculations on the lattice and chiral effective field theory. In the case of $\mathrm{D}\pi$ and $\mathrm{D^*}\pi$ pairs, tension between the calculations including strong interactions and the measurement is observed. For all particle pairs, the data can be adequately described by Coulomb interaction only, indicating a shallow interaction between charm and light-flavor mesons. Finally, the scattering lengths governing the residual strong interaction of the $\mathrm{D}\pi$ and $\mathrm{D^*}\pi$ systems are determined by fitting the experimental correlation functions with a model that employs a Gaussian potential. The extracted values are small and compatible with zero.
Genuine correlation function for $D^{+}\uppi^{-}$ in high-multiplicity pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV.
Genuine correlation function for $D^{+}\uppi^{+}$ in high-multiplicity pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV.
Genuine correlation function for $D^{+}K^{-}$ in high-multiplicity pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV.
The first measurements of femtoscopic correlations with the particle pair combinations $\pi^\pm$K$^0_{\rm S}$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are reported by the ALICE experiment. Using the femtoscopic approach, it is shown that it is possible to study the elusive K$^*_0(700)$ particle that has been considered a tetraquark candidate for over forty years. Source and final-state interaction parameters are extracted by fitting a model assuming a Gaussian source to the experimentally measured two-particle correlation functions. The final-state interaction in the $\pi^\pm$K$^0_{\rm S}$ system is modeled through a resonant scattering amplitude, defined in terms of a mass and a coupling parameter. The extracted mass and Breit-Wigner width, derived from the coupling parameter, of the final-state interaction are found to be consistent with previous measurements of the K$^*_0(700)$. The small value and increase of the correlation strength with increasing source size support the hypothesis that the K$^*_0(700)$ is a four-quark state, i.e. a tetraquark state of the form $({\rm q_1},\overline{\rm q_2}, {\rm q_3}, \overline{\rm q_3})$ in which ${\rm q_1}$, ${\rm q_2}$, and ${\rm q_3}$ indicate the flavor of the valence quarks of the $\pi$ and K$^0_{\rm S}$. This latter trend is also confirmed via a simple geometric model that assumes a tetraquark structure of the K$^*_0(700)$ resonance.
Experimental $C(k^*)$, 0-100% mult. class, $k_{\rm T}>0$.
PYTHIA $C(k^*)$, 0-100% mult. class, $k_{\rm T}>0$.
Experimental $C(k^*)$, 0-100% mult. class, $k_{\rm T}<0.5$ GeV/$c$.
This Letter presents the measurement of near-side associated per-trigger yields, denoted ridge yields, from the analysis of angular correlations of charged hadrons in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. Long-range ridge yields are extracted for pairs of charged particles with a pseudorapidity difference of $1.4 < |\Delta\eta| < 1.8$ and a transverse momentum of $1 < p_{\rm T} < 2$ GeV/$c$, as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity measured at midrapidity. This study extends the measurements of the ridge yield to the low multiplicity region, where in hadronic collisions it is typically conjectured that a strongly-interacting medium is unlikely to be formed. The precision of the new low multiplicity results allows for the first direct quantitative comparison with the results obtained in $\mathrm {e^{+}e^{-}}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 91 GeV and $\sqrt{s}$ = 183$-$209 GeV, where initial-state effects such as pre-equilibrium dynamics and collision geometry are not expected to play a role. In the multiplicity range $8\lesssim\langle N_\mathrm{ch}\rangle\lesssim 24$ where the $\mathrm {e^{+}e^{-}}$ results have good precision, the measured ridge yields in pp collisions are substantially larger than the limits set in $\mathrm {e^{+}e^{-}}$ annihilations. Consequently, the findings presented in this Letter suggest that the processes involved in $\mathrm {e^{+}e^{-}}$ annihilations do not contribute significantly to the emergence of long-range correlations in pp collisions.
Ridge yield $Y_\mathrm{ridge}$ extracted at $1.4<|\Delta\eta|<1.8$ with $1.0<p_\mathrm{T,trig}<2.0\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$, $1.0<p_\mathrm{T,assoc}<2.0\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$ as a function of charged particle multiplicity counted at midrapidity $|\eta|<1.0$. The first three points at $N_\mathrm{ch}<8$ represent a 95% upper confidence limit where the statistical and systematic uncertainty have been combined.
The femtoscopic study of pairs of identical pions is particularly suited to investigate the effective source function of particle emission, due to the resulting Bose-Einstein correlation signal. In small collision systems at the LHC, pp in particular, the majority of the pions are produced in resonance decays, which significantly affect the profile and size of the source. In this work, we explicitly model this effect in order to extract the primordial source in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV from charged $\pi$-$\pi$ correlations measured by ALICE. We demonstrate that the assumption of a Gaussian primordial source is compatible with the data and that the effective source, resulting from modifications due to resonances, is approximately exponential, as found in previous measurements at the LHC. The universality of hadron emission in pp collisions is further investigated by applying the same methodology to characterize the primordial source of K-p pairs. The size of the primordial source is evaluated as a function of the transverse mass ($m_{\rm T}$) of the pairs, leading to the observation of a common scaling for both $\pi$-$\pi$ and K-p, suggesting a collective effect. Further, the present results are compatible with the $m_{\rm T}$ scaling of the p-p and p$-\Lambda$ primordial source measured by ALICE in high multiplicity pp collisions, providing compelling evidence for the presence of a common emission source for all hadrons in small collision systems at the LHC. This will allow the determination of the source function for any hadron--hadron pairs with high precision, granting access to the properties of the possible final-state interaction among pairs of less abundantly produced hadrons, such as strange or charmed particles.
K$^+$p (K$^+$p $\oplus$ K$^-\overline{\mathrm p}$) correlation function in HM pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm {NN}}}=13 $ TeV (1.2<$m_T$<1.4 GeV/$c^{2}$).
K$^+$p (K$^+$p $\oplus$ K$^-\overline{\mathrm p}$) correlation function in HM pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm {NN}}}=13 $ TeV (1.4<$m_T$<1.5 GeV/$c^{2}$).
K$^+$p (K$^+$p $\oplus$ K$^-\overline{\mathrm p}$) correlation function in HM pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm {NN}}}=13 $ TeV (1.5<$m_T$<1.8 GeV/$c^{2}$).
This Letter presents the most precise measurement to date of the matter-antimatter imbalance at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV. Using the Statistical Hadronization framework, it is possible to obtain the value of the electric charge and baryon chemical potentials, $\mu_Q=-0.18\pm0.90$ MeV and $\mu_B=0.71\pm0.45$ MeV, with unprecedented precision. A centrality-differential study of the antiparticle-to-particle yield ratios of charged pions, protons, $\Omega$-baryons, and light (hyper)nuclei is performed. These results indicate that the system created in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC is on average baryon-free and electrically neutral at midrapidity.
Antiparticle-to-particle yield ratio, 0-5% centrality
Antiparticle-to-particle yield ratio, 5-10% centrality
Antiparticle-to-particle yield ratio, 10-30% centrality
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