Measurements of the production of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = $5.02$ and $2.76$ TeV using the ALICE detector at the LHC are reported. The nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV is measured at forward rapidity ($2.5 < y <4$) as a function of transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$ in central, semi-central, and peripheral collisions over a wide $p_{\rm T}$ interval, $3 < p_{\rm T} < 20$ GeV/$c$, in which muons from beauty-hadron decays are expected to take over from charm as the dominant source at high $p_{\rm T}$ ($p_{\rm T} > 7$ GeV/$c$). The $R_{\rm AA}$ shows an increase of the suppression of the yields of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays with increasing centrality. A suppression by a factor of about three is observed in the $10\%$ most central collisions. The $R_{\rm AA}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 is similar to that at 2.76 TeV. The precise $R_{\rm AA}$ measurements have the potential to distinguish between model predictions implementing different mechanisms of parton energy loss in the high-density medium formed in heavy-ion collisions. They place important constraints for the understanding of the heavy-quark interaction with the hot and dense QCD medium.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential yield of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity ($2.5 < y < 4$) for central (0--10%) and semi-central (20--40%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential yield of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity ($2.5 < y < 4$) for peripheral (60--80%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential yield of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity ($2.5 < y < 4$) for central (0--10%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ TeV.
Transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) spectra of charged particles at mid-pseudorapidity in Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV measured with the ALICE apparatus at the Large Hadron Collider are reported. The kinematic range $0.15 < p_{\rm T} < 50$ GeV/$c$ and $|\eta| < 0.8$ is covered. Results are presented in nine classes of collision centrality in the 0-80% range. For comparison, a pp reference at the collision energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.44 TeV is obtained by interpolating between existing \pp measurements at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 and 7 TeV. The nuclear modification factors in central Xe-Xe collisions and Pb-Pb collisions at a similar center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, and in addition at 2.76 TeV, at analogous ranges of charged particle multiplicity density $\left\langle\rm{d}N_{\rm ch}/\rm{d}\eta\right\rangle$ show a remarkable similarity at $p_{\rm T}> 10$ GeV/$c$. The comparison of the measured $R_{\rm AA}$ values in the two colliding systems could provide insight on the path length dependence of medium-induced parton energy loss. The centrality dependence of the ratio of the average transverse momentum $\left\langle p_{\rm{T}}\right\rangle$ in Xe-Xe collisions over Pb-Pb collision at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV is compared to hydrodynamical model calculations.
Transverse momentum spectra of charged particles in XeXe collisions in nine centrality classes.
Interpolated pp reference spectrum and invariant cross section.
Nuclear modification factor for XeXe. Additional systematic error: 0-5 pct data: +6.1 pct -6.1 pct 5-10 pct data: +6.6 pct -6.6 pct 10-20 pct data: +7.4 pct -7.4 pct 20-30 pct data: +9.8 pct -9.8 pct 30-40 pct data: +11.5 pct -11.5 pct 40-50 pct data: +12.9 pct -12.9 pct 50-60 pct data: +13.8 pct -13.8 pct 60-70 pct data: +14.0 pct -14.0 pct 70-80 pct data: +12.9 pct -12.9 pct
Neutral pion and $\eta$ meson production in the transverse momentum range 1 < $p_{T}$ < 20 GeV/$c$ have been measured at mid-rapidity by the ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in central and semi-central Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV. These results were obtained using the photon conversion method as well as the PHOS and EMCal detectors. The results extend the upper $p_{T}$ reach of the previous ALICE $\pi^{0}$ measurements from 12 GeV/$c$ to 20 GeV/$c$ and present the first measurement of $\eta$ meson production in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. The $\eta/\pi^{0}$ ratio is similar for the two centralities and reaches at high $p_{T}$ a plateau value of 0.457 $\pm$ 0.013$^{stat}$ $\pm$ 0.018$^{syst}$. A suppression of similar magnitude for $\pi^{0}$ and $\eta$ meson production is observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to their production in pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. We discuss the results in terms of NLO pQCD predictions and hydrodynamic models. The measurements show a stronger suppression with respect to what was observed at lower center-of-mass energies in the $p_{T}$ range 6 < $p_{T}$ < 10 GeV/$c$. At $p_{T}$ < 3 GeV/$c$, hadronization models describe the $\pi^{0}$ results while for the $\eta$ some tension is observed.
Invariant yields of the $\pi^{0}$ meson in the centrality class 0-10% in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 2.76 TeV at mid-rapidity.
Invariant yields of the $\pi^{0}$ meson in the centrality class 20-50% in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 2.76 TeV at mid-rapidity.
Invariant yields of the $\eta$ meson in the centrality class 0-10% in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 2.76 TeV at mid-rapidity.
We report the measured transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) spectra of primary charged particles from pp, p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV in the kinematic range of $0.15<p_{\rm T}<50$ GeV/$c$ and $|\eta|< 0.8$. A significant improvement of systematic uncertainties motivated the reanalysis of data in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV, as well as in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV, which is also presented. Spectra from Pb-Pb collisions are presented in nine centrality intervals and are compared to a reference spectrum from pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. For central collisions, the $p_{\rm T}$ spectra are suppressed by more than a factor of 7 around 6-7 GeV/$c$ with a significant reduction in suppression towards higher momenta up to 30 GeV/$c$. The nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm pPb}$, constructed from the pp and p-Pb spectra measured at the same collision energy, is consistent with unity above 8 GeV/$c$. While the spectra in both pp and Pb-Pb collisions are substantially harder at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV compared to 2.76 TeV, the nuclear modification factors show no significant collision energy dependence. The obtained results should provide further constraints on the parton energy loss calculations to determine the transport properties of the hot and dense QCD matter.
Transverse momentum spectra of charged particles in PbPb collisions in nine centrality classes.
Transverse momentum spectra of charged particles in PbPb collisions in nine centrality classes.
Transverse momentum spectra of charged particles in pPb collisions.
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%.
We report on the first measurement of an excess in the yield of J/$\psi$ at very low transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}< 0.3$ GeV/$c$) in peripheral hadronic Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV, performed by ALICE at the CERN LHC. Remarkably, the measured nuclear modification factor of J/$\psi$ in the rapidity range $2.5<y<4$ reaches about 7 (2) in the $p_{\rm T}$ range 0-0.3 GeV/$c$ in the 70-90% (50-70%) centrality class. The J/$\psi$ production cross section associated with the observed excess is obtained under the hypothesis that coherent photoproduction of J/$\psi$ is the underlying physics mechanism. If confirmed, the observation of J/$\psi$ coherent photoproduction in Pb-Pb collisions at impact parameters smaller than twice the nuclear radius opens new theoretical and experimental challenges and opportunities. In particular, coherent photoproduction accompanying hadronic collisions may provide insight into the dynamics of photoproduction and nuclear reactions, as well as become a novel probe of the Quark-Gluon Plasma.
J/$\psi$ nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ as a function of the mean number of participant nucleons $\langle N_{\rm{part}}\rangle$, the first error is statistical, the second error is systematic uncorrelated in $p_{\rm T}$ and centrality, the third error is systematic correlated in $p_{\rm T}$ but not in centrality, the fourth error is systematic correlated in centrality but not in $p_{\rm T}$ and the fifth error is systematic correlated in $p_{\rm T}$ and centrality.
J/$\psi$ nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ as a function of the mean number of participant nucleons $\langle N_{\rm{part}}\rangle$, the first error is statistical, the second error is systematic uncorrelated in $p_{\rm T}$ and centrality, the third error is systematic correlated in $p_{\rm T}$ but not in centrality, the fourth error is systematic correlated in centrality but not in $p_{\rm T}$ and the fifth error is systematic correlated in $p_{\rm T}$ and centrality.
J/$\psi$ nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ as a function of the mean number of participant nucleons $\langle N_{\rm{part}}\rangle$, the first error is statistical, the second error is systematic uncorrelated in $p_{\rm T}$ and centrality, the third error is systematic correlated in $p_{\rm T}$ but not in centrality, the fourth error is systematic correlated in centrality but not in $p_{\rm T}$ and the fifth error is systematic correlated in $p_{\rm T}$ and centrality.
The production of prompt D$_s^+$ mesons was measured for the first time in collisions of heavy nuclei with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The analysis was performed on a data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair, $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$, of 2.76 TeV in two different centrality classes, namely 0-10% and 20-50%. D$_s^+$ mesons and their antiparticles were reconstructed at mid-rapidity from their hadronic decay channel D$_s^+\rightarrow\phi\pi^+$, with $\phi\rightarrow$K$^-$K$^+$, in the transverse momentum intervals $4< p_{\rm T}<12$ GeV/$c$ and $6< p_{\rm T}<12$ GeV/$c$ for the 0-10% and 20-50% centrality classes, respectively. The nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ was computed by comparing the $p_{\rm T}$-differential production yields in Pb-Pb collisions to those in proton-proton (pp) collisions at the same energy. This pp reference was obtained using the cross section measured at $\sqrt{s}= 7$ TeV and scaled to $\sqrt{s}= 2.76$ TeV. The $R_{\rm AA}$ of D$_s^+$ mesons was compared to that of non-strange D mesons in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions. At high $p_{\rm T}$ ($8< p_{\rm T}<12$ GeV/$c$) a suppression of the D$_s^+$-meson yield by a factor of about three, compatible within uncertainties with that of non-strange D mesons, is observed. At lower $p_{\rm T}$ ($4< p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV/$c$) the values of the D$_s^+$-meson $R_{\rm AA}$ are larger than those of non-strange D mesons, although compatible within uncertainties. The production ratios D$_s^+$/D$^0$ and D$_s^+$\D$^+$ were also measured in Pb-Pb collisions and compared to their values in proton-proton collisions.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential yield of prompt D$_s^+$ mesons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$=2.76 TeV in the centrality class 0-10% in the rapidity interval |y|<0.5. Branching ratio of D$_s^+$->$\phi\pi^+$->$K^+K^-\pi^+$ : 0.0224. The second (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the B feed-down contribution. The first (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the other sources.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential yield of prompt D$_s^+$ mesons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$=2.76 TeV in the centrality class 20-50% in the rapidity interval |y|<0.5. Branching ratio of D$_s^+$->$\phi\pi^+$->$K^+K^-\pi^+$ : 0.0224. The second (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the B feed-down contribution. The first (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the other sources.
Nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ of D$_s^+$ mesons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$=2.76 TeV in the centrality class 0-10% in |y| < 0.5 as a function of $p_{\rm T}$.
The production of prompt charmed mesons D$^0$, D$^+$ and D$^{*+}$, and their antiparticles, was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair, $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$, of 2.76 TeV. The production yields for rapidity $|y|<0.5$ are presented as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, in the interval 1-36 GeV/$c$ for the centrality class 0-10% and in the interval 1-16 GeV/$c$ for the centrality class 30-50%. The nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ was computed using a proton-proton reference at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV, based on measurements at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV and on theoretical calculations. A maximum suppression by a factor of 5-6 with respect to binary-scaled pp yields is observed for the most central collisions at $p_{\rm T}$ of about 10 GeV/$c$. A suppression by a factor of about 2-3 persists at the highest $p_{\rm T}$ covered by the measurements. At low $p_{\rm T}$ (1-3 GeV/$c$), the $R_{\rm AA}$ has large uncertainties that span the range 0.35 (factor of about 3 suppression) to 1 (no suppression). In all $p_{\rm T}$ intervals, the $R_{\rm AA}$ is larger in the 30-50% centrality class compared to central collisions. The D-meson $R_{\rm AA}$ is also compared with that of charged pions and, at large $p_{\rm T}$, charged hadrons, and with model calculations.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential yield of prompt ${\rm D}^{0}$ mesons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76~{\rm TeV}$ in the centrality class 0-10% in the rapidity interval |y|<0.5. Branching ratio of ${\rm D}^{0}$->${\rm K}^{0}\pi^{+}$ : 0.0388. The second (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the B feed-down contribution. The first (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the other sources.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential yield of prompt ${\rm D}^{+}$ mesons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76~{\rm TeV}$ in the centrality class 0-10% in the rapidity interval |y|<0.5. Branching ratio of ${\rm D}^{+}$->${\rm K}^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+}$ : 0.0913. The second (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the B feed-down contribution. The first (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the other sources.
$p_{\rm T}$-differential yield of prompt ${\rm D}^{*+}$ mesons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76~{\rm TeV}$ in the centrality class 0-10% in the rapidity interval |y|<0.5. Branching ratio of ${\rm D}^{*+}$->${\rm D}^{0}\pi^{+}$->${\rm K}^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+}$ : 0.0388*0.677. The second (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the B feed-down contribution. The first (sys) error is the systematic uncertainty from the other sources.
The production of J/$\psi$ and $\psi(2S)$ was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The measurement was performed at forward rapidity ($2.5 < y < 4 $) down to zero transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) in the dimuon decay channel. Inclusive J/$\psi$ yields were extracted in different centrality classes and the centrality dependence of the average $p_{\rm T}$ is presented. The J/$\psi$ suppression, quantified with the nuclear modification factor ($R_{\rm AA}$), was studied as a function of centrality, transverse momentum and rapidity. Comparisons with similar measurements at lower collision energy and theoretical models indicate that the J/$\psi$ production is the result of an interplay between color screening and recombination mechanisms in a deconfined partonic medium, or at its hadronization. Results on the $\psi(2S)$ suppression are provided via the ratio of $\psi(2S)$ over J/$\psi$ measured in pp and Pb-Pb collisions.
Values of $\langle p_{\rm T}\rangle$ and $\langle p^2_{\rm T}\rangle$ of inclusive J/$\psi$ measured in $0<p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV/$c$ and $2.5<y<4$. Statistical and systematic uncertainties are also reported.
Inclusive J/$\psi$ yields in $p_{\rm T}$ intervals for the 0-20%, 20-40% and 40-90% most central Pb-Pb collisions. The rapidity range is $2.5<y<4$. Statistical and systematic uncertainties are also reported. A global systematic uncertainty of 4% affects all the values. A 2%, 1% and 2% systematic uncertainty, independent of $p_{\rm T}$, affects the centrality classes 0-20%, 20-40% and 40-90%, respectively.
Inclusive J/$\psi$ $R_{\rm AA}$ and Pb-Pb yields as a function of centrality, $p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV/$c$ and $2.5<y<4.0$. Statistical and systematic uncertainties are also reported. A global systematic uncertainty of 15% (12%) affects all the $R_{\rm AA}$ (yields) values.
The nuclear modification factor, $R_{\rm AA}$, of the prompt charmed mesons ${\rm D^0}$, ${\rm D^+}$ and ${\rm D^{*+}}$, and their antiparticles, was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV in two transverse momentum intervals, $5<p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV/$c$ and $8<p_{\rm T}<16$ GeV/$c$, and in six collision centrality classes. The $R_{\rm AA}$ shows a maximum suppression of a factor of 5-6 in the 10% most central collisions. The suppression and its centrality dependence are compatible within uncertainties with those of charged pions. A comparison with the $R_{\rm AA}$ of non-prompt ${\rm J}/\psi$ from B meson decays, measured by the CMS Collaboration, hints at a larger suppression of D mesons in the most central collisions.
${\rm D^+}$ meson $R_{\rm AA}$ in $5 < p_{\rm T} < 8$ GeV/c.
${\rm D^+}$ meson $R_{\rm AA}$ in $8 < p_{\rm T} < 16$ GeV/c.
${\rm D^{*+}}$ meson $R_{\rm AA}$ in $5 < p_{\rm T} < 8$ GeV/c.
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