In our Galaxy, light antinuclei composed of antiprotons and antineutrons can be produced through high-energy cosmic-ray collisions with the interstellar medium or could also originate from the annihilation of dark-matter particles that have not yet been discovered. On Earth, the only way to produce and study antinuclei with high precision is to create them at high-energy particle accelerators. Although the properties of elementary antiparticles have been studied in detail, the knowledge of the interaction of light antinuclei with matter is limited. We determine the disappearance probability of $^{3}\overline{\rm He}$ when it encounters matter particles and annihilates or disintegrates within the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. We extract the inelastic interaction cross section, which is then used as input to calculations of the transparency of our Galaxy to the propagation of $^{3}\overline{\rm He}$ stemming from dark-matter annihilation and cosmic-ray interactions within the interstellar medium. For a specific dark-matter profile, we estimate a transparency of about 50%, whereas it varies with increasing $^{3}\overline{\rm He}$ momentum from 25% to 90% for cosmic-ray sources. The results indicate that $^{3}\overline{\rm He}$ nuclei can travel long distances in the Galaxy, and can be used to study cosmic-ray interactions and dark-matter annihilation.
Raw primary antihelium3-to-helium3 ratio as a function of the momentum p_primary.
Raw primary antihelium3-to-helium3 ratio from Geant4-based MC simulations as a function of the momentum p_primary with default sigma_inel(3Hebar).
Raw primary antihelium3-to-helium3 ratio from Geant4-based MC simulations as a function of the momentum p_primary with sigma_inel(3Hebar)x0.5.
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 of J/$\psi$ is measured as a function of charged-particle multiplicity at forward rapidity in proton$-$proton (pp) collisions at center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s} =$ 5.02 and 13 TeV. The J/$\psi$ mesons are reconstructed via their decay into dimuons in the rapidity interval (2.5 $< y <$ 4.0), whereas the charged-particle multiplicity density (${\rm d}N_{\rm{ch}}/{\rm d}\eta$) is measured at midrapidity $(|\eta| < 1)$. The production rate as a function of multiplicity is reported as the ratio of the yield in a given multiplicity interval to the multiplicity-integrated one. This observable shows a linear increase with charged-particle multiplicity normalized to the corresponding average value for inelastic events (${{\rm d}N_{\rm ch}/{\rm d}\eta}/{\langle {\rm d}N_{\rm ch}/{\rm d}\eta \rangle}$), at both the colliding energies. Measurements are compared with available ALICE results at midrapidity and theoretical model calculations. First measurement of the mean transverse momentum ($\langle p_{\mathrm{T}}\rangle$) of J/$\psi$ in pp collisions exhibits an increasing trend as a function of ${{\rm d}N_{\rm ch}/{\rm d}\eta}/{\langle {\rm d}N_{\rm ch}/{\rm d}\eta \rangle}$ showing a saturation towards high charged-particle multiplicities.
The production of prompt $\rm \Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$ baryons at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) was measured in central (0-10%) and mid-central (30-50%) Pb-Pb collisions at the center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector. The results are more precise, more differential in centrality, and reach much lower transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}=1$ GeV/$c$) with respect to previous measurements performed by the ALICE, STAR, and CMS Collaborations in nucleus-nucleus collisions, allowing for an extrapolation down to $p_{\rm T}=0$. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential $\rm \Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$/D$^0$ production ratio is enhanced with respect to the pp measurement for $4<p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV/$c$ by 3.7 standard deviations ($\sigma$), while the $p_{\rm T}$-integrated ratios are compatible within 1$\sigma$. The observed trend is similar to that observed in the strange sector for the $\Lambda/$K$^0_{\rm S}$ ratio. Model calculations including coalescence or statistical hadronization for charm-hadron formation are compared with the data.
Transverse-momentum-differential production yields of prompt $\mathrm{\Lambda_c^+}$ in central (0--10\%) and mid-central (30--50\%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV.
Transverse-momentum-differential production yields of prompt $\mathrm{\Lambda_c^+}$ in central (0--10\%) and mid-central (30--50\%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV.
The $\mathrm{\Lambda_c^+ / D^0}$ production yield ratio in central (0--10\%) and mid-central (30--50\%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV.
The study of the production of nuclei and antinuclei in pp collisions has proven to be a powerful tool to investigate the formation mechanism of loosely bound states in high-energy hadronic collisions. In this paper, the production of protons, deuterons and $^3$He and their charge conjugates at midrapidity is studied as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity in inelastic pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=5.02$ TeV using the ALICE detector. Within the uncertainties, the yields of nuclei in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=5.02$ TeV are compatible with those in pp collisions at different energies and to those in p-Pb collisions when compared at similar multiplicities. The measurements are compared with the expectations of coalescence and Statistical Hadronisation Models. The results suggest a common formation mechanism behind the production of light nuclei in hadronic interactions and confirm that they do not depend on the collision energy but on the number of produced particles.
(Anti)proton spectrum in V0M multiplicity class I
(Anti)proton spectrum in V0M multiplicity class II
(Anti)proton spectrum in V0M multiplicity class III
Correlations between mean transverse momentum $[p_{\rm T}]$ and anisotropic flow coefficients $v_{\rm 2}$ or $v_{\rm 3}$ are measured as a function of centrality in Pb$-$Pb and Xe$-$Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV and 5.44 TeV, respectively, with ALICE. In addition, the recently proposed higher-order correlation between $[p_{\rm T}]$, $v_{\rm 2}$, and $v_{\rm 3}$ is measured for the first time, which shows an anticorrelation for the presented centrality ranges. These measurements are compared with hydrodynamic calculations using IP-Glasma and $\rm T_{R}ENTo$ initial-state shapes, the former based on the Color Glass Condensate effective theory with gluon saturation, and the latter a parameterized model with nucleons as the relevant degrees of freedom. The data are better described by the IP-Glasma rather than the $\rm T_{R}ENTo$ based calculations. In particular, Trajectum and JETSCAPE predictions, both based on the $\rm T_{R}ENTo$ initial state model but with different parameter settings, fail to describe the measurements. As the correlations between $[p_{\rm T}]$ and $v_{\rm n}$ are mainly driven by the correlations of the size and the shape of the system in the initial state, these new studies pave a novel way to characterize the initial state and help pin down the uncertainty of the extracted properties of the quark$-$gluon plasma recreated in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.
Centrality dependence of $\rho\left(v_{2}^{2}, [p_{\rm T}] \right)$ and $\rho\left(v_{3}^{2}, [p_{\rm T}] \right)$ in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV
Centrality dependence of $\rho\left(v_{2}^{2}, [p_{\rm T}] \right)$ in Xe--Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV
Centrality dependence of $\rho\left(v_{3}^{2}, [p_{\rm T}] \right)$ in Xe--Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.44 TeV
The production of $\mathrm{K}^{*}(\mathrm{892})^{0}$ and $\mathrm{\phi(1020)}$ resonances has been measured in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV using the ALICE detector. Resonances are reconstructed via their hadronic decay channels in the rapidity interval $-$0.5 $<$$y$$<$ 0 and the transverse momentum spectra are measured for various multiplicity classes up to $p_{\rm T}$ = 20 GeV/$c$ for $\mathrm{K}^{*}(\mathrm{892})^{0}$ and $p_{\rm T}$ = 16 GeV/$c$ for $\mathrm{\phi(1020)}$. The $p_{\rm T}$ -integrated yields and mean transverse momenta are reported and compared with previous results in pp, p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions. The $x_{\mathrm{T}}$ scaling for $\mathrm{K}^{*}(\mathrm{892})^{0}$ and $\mathrm{\phi(1020)}$ resonance production is newly tested in p-Pb collisions and found to hold in the high-$p_{\rm T}$ region at LHC energies. The nuclear modification factors ($R_{\rm pPb}$) as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ for $\mathrm{K}^{*0}$ and $\mathrm{\phi}$ at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV are presented along with the new $R_{\rm pPb}$ measurements of $\mathrm{K}^{*0}$, $\mathrm{\phi}$ , $\Xi$, and $\Omega$ at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. At intermediate $p_{\rm T}$ (2-8 GeV/$c$), $R_{\rm pPb}$ of $\Xi$, $\Omega$ show a Cronin-like enhancement, while $\mathrm{K}^{*0}$ and $\mathrm{\phi}$ show no or little nuclear modification. At high $p_{\rm T}$ ($>$ 8 GeV/$c$), the $R_{\rm pPb}$ values of all hadrons are consistent with unity within uncertainties. The $R_{\rm pPb}$ of $\mathrm{K}^{*}(\mathrm{892})^{0}$ and $\mathrm{\phi(1020)}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 8.16 and 5.02 TeV show no significant energy dependence.
$p_{\mathrm T}$-differential yield of $\frac{\mathrm{K^{*0}} + \overline{\mathrm{K^{*0}}}}{2}$ in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~$8.16 TeV (NSD).
$p_{\mathrm T}$-differential yield of $\frac{\mathrm{K^{*0}} + \overline{\mathrm{K^{*0}}}}{2}$ in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~$8.16 TeV (Multiplicity class 0-5%).
$p_{\mathrm T}$-differential yield of $\frac{\mathrm{K^{*0}} + \overline{\mathrm{K^{*0}}}}{2}$ in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~$8.16 TeV (Multiplicity class 5-10%).
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 production of prompt D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$ mesons was measured at midrapidity (|y|< 0.5) in Pb-Pb collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The D mesons were reconstructed via their hadronic decay channels and their production yields were measured in central (0-10%) and semicentral (30-50%) collisions. The measurement was performed up to a transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) of 36 or 50 GeV/$c$ depending on the D meson species and the centrality interval. For the first time in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC, the yield of D$^0$ mesons was measured down to $p_{\rm T}$ = 0, which allowed a model-independent determination of the $p_{\rm T}$-integrated yield per unit of rapidity (d$N$/d$y$). A maximum suppression by a factor 5 and 2.5 was observed with the nuclear modification factor ($R_{\rm AA}$) of prompt D mesons at $p_{\rm T}$ = 6-8 GeV/$c$ for the 0-10% and 30-50% centrality classes, respectively. The D-meson $R_{\rm AA}$ is compared with that of charged pions, charged hadrons, and J/$\psi$ mesons as well as with theoretical predictions. The analysis of the agreement between the measured $R_{\rm AA}$, elliptic ($v_2$) and triangular ($v_3$) flow, and the model predictions allowed us to constrain the charm spatial diffusion coefficient $D_s$. Furthermore the comparison of $R_{\rm AA}$ and $v_2$ with different implementations of the same models provides an important insight into the role of radiative energy loss as well as charm quark recombination in the hadronisation mechanisms.
Transverse momentum distributions d$N$/(d$y$d$p_{\mathrm{T}}$) of prompt D$^{0}$ (left) meson in the 0-10% (crosses) centrality classes in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=5.02$ TeV in |y|<0.5. The uncertainties on the BRs are quoted separately and the horizontal bars represent bin widths. Branching ratio of D$^0$ --> K$\pi$ = 0.0395
Transverse momentum distributions d$N$/(d$y$d$p_{\mathrm{T}}$) of prompt D$^{0}$ (left) meson in the 30-50% (diamonds) centrality classes in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=5.02$ TeV in |y|<0.5. The uncertainties on the BRs are quoted separately and the horizontal bars represent bin widths. The points in the figure of the paper are scaled for visibility by a factor 10$^{-1}$. Branching ratio of D$^0$ --> K$\pi$ = 0.0395
Transverse momentum distributions d$N$/(d$y$d$p_{\mathrm{T}}$) of prompt D$^{+}$ (middle) meson in the 0-10% (crosses) centrality classes in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=5.02$ TeV in |y|<0.5. The uncertainties on the BRs are quoted separately and the horizontal bars represent bin widths. Branching ratio of D$^+$ --> K$\pi\pi$ = 0.0938
A measurement of the inclusive b-jet production cross section is presented in pp and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV, using data collected with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The jets were reconstructed in the central rapidity region $|\eta|<0.5$ from charged particles using the anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm with resolution parameter $R=0.4$. Identification of b jets exploits the long lifetime of b hadrons, using the properties of secondary vertices and impact parameter distributions. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential inclusive production cross section of b jets, as well as the corresponding inclusive b-jet fraction, are reported for pp and p-Pb collisions in the jet transverse momentum range $10 \le p_{\text{T, ch jet}} \le 100$ GeV/$c$, together with the nuclear modification factor, $R_{\rm pPb}^{\text{b-jet}}$. The analysis thus extends the lower $p_{\rm T}$ limit of b-jet measurements at the LHC. The nuclear modification factor is found to be consistent with unity, indicating that the production of b jets in p-Pb at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV is not affected by cold nuclear matter effects within the current precision. The measurements are well reproduced by POWHEG NLO pQCD calculations with PYTHIA fragmentation.
Fig. 11 left: The $p_\mathrm{T}$ differential production cross section of charged-particle anti-$k_{T}$ $R=0.4$ b jets in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~5.02$ TeV using the SV method.
Fig. 11 left: The $p_\mathrm{T}$ differential production cross section of charged-particle anti-$k_{T}$ $R=0.4$ b jets in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~5.02$ TeV using the IP method.
Fig. 11 right: The $p_\mathrm{T}$ differential production cross section of charged-particle anti-$k_{T}$ $R=0.4$ b jets in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}~=~5.02$ TeV using the SV method.
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