The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons $D^0$, $D^+$, $D^{*+}$ and $D_{\rm s}^{+}$ and their charge conjugate in the rapidity interval $-0.96 < y_{\rm cms} < 0.04$ were measured in p-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm pPb}$, quantifying the D-meson yield in p-Pb collisions relative to the yield in pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, is compatible within the 15-20% uncertainties with unity in the transverse momentum interval $1 < p_{\rm T} < 24$ GeV/$c$. No significant difference among the $R_{\rm pPb}$ of the four D-meson species is observed. The results are described within uncertainties by theoretical calculations that include initial-state effects. The measurement adds experimental evidence that the modification of the momentum spectrum of D mesons observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to pp collisions is due to strong final-state effects induced by hot partonic matter.
The ALICE collaboration at the LHC reports measurement of the inclusive production cross section of electrons from semi-leptonic decays of beauty hadrons with rapidity $|y|<0.8$ and transverse momentum $1<p_{\mathrm{T}}<10$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $ 2.76 TeV. Electrons not originating from semi-electronic decay of beauty hadrons are suppressed using the impact parameter of the corresponding tracks. The production cross section of beauty decay electrons is compared to the result obtained with an alternative method which uses the distribution of the azimuthal angle between heavy-flavour decay electrons and charged hadrons. Perturbative QCD calculations agree with the measured cross section within the experimental and theoretical uncertainties. The integrated visible cross section, $\sigma_{\mathrm{b} \rightarrow \mathrm{e}} = 3.47\pm0.40(\mathrm{stat})^{+1.12}_{-1.33}(\mathrm{sys})\pm0.07(\mathrm{norm}) \mu$b, was extrapolated to full phase space using Fixed Order plus Next-to-Leading Log (FONLL) predictions to obtain the total b$\bar{\mathrm{b}}$ production cross section, $\sigma_{\mathrm{b\bar{b}}} = 130\pm15.1(\mathrm{stat})^{+42.1}_{-49.8}(\mathrm{sys})^{+3.4}_{-3.1}(\mathrm{extr})\pm2.5(\mathrm{norm})\pm4.4(\mathrm{BR}) \mu$b.
We present a measurement of inclusive J/$\psi$ production in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV as a function of the centrality of the collision, as estimated from the energy deposited in the Zero Degree Calorimeters. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector down to zero transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, in the backward ($-4.46 < y_{\rm cms} < -2.96$) and forward ($2.03 < y_{\rm cms} < 3.53$) rapidity intervals in the dimuon decay channel and in the mid-rapidity region ($-1.37 < y_{\rm cms} < 0.43$) in the dielectron decay channel. The backward and forward rapidity intervals correspond to the Pb-going and p-going direction, respectively. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential J/$\psi$ production cross section at backward and forward rapidity is measured for several centrality classes, together with the corresponding average $p_{\rm T}$ and $p^2_{\rm T}$ values. The nuclear modification factor, $Q_{\rm pPb}$, is presented as a function of centrality for the three rapidity intervals, and, additionally, at backward and forward rapidity, as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ for several centrality classes. At mid- and forward rapidity, the J/$\psi$ yield is suppressed up to 40% compared to that in pp interactions scaled by the number of binary collisions. The degree of suppression increases towards central p-Pb collisions at forward rapidity, and with decreasing $p_{\rm T}$ of the J/$\psi$. At backward rapidity, the $Q_{\rm pPb}$ is compatible with unity within the total uncertainties, with an increasing trend from peripheral to central p-Pb collisions.
The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections of the prompt (B feed-down subtracted) charmed mesons D$^0$, D$^+$, and D$^{*+}$ in the rapidity range $|y|<0.5$, and for transverse momentum $1< p_{\rm T} <12$ GeV/$c$, were measured in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis exploited the hadronic decays D$^0 \rightarrow $K$\pi$, D$^+ \rightarrow $K$\pi\pi$, D$^{*+} \rightarrow $D$^0\pi$, and their charge conjugates, and was performed on a $L_{\rm int} = 1.1$ nb$^{-1}$ event sample collected in 2011 with a minimum-bias trigger. The total charm production cross section at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV and at 7 TeV was evaluated by extrapolating to the full phase space the $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV and our previous measurements at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV. The results were compared to existing measurements and to perturbative-QCD calculations. The fraction of cdbar D mesons produced in a vector state was also determined.
The ALICE Collaboration has studied the inclusive production of the charmonium state $\psi(2S)$ in proton-lead (p-Pb) collisions at the nucleon-nucleon centre of mass energy $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV at the CERN LHC. The measurement was performed at forward ($2.03<y_{cms}<3.53$) and backward ($-4.46<y_{cms}<-2.96$) centre of mass rapidities, studying the decays into muon pairs. In this paper, we present the inclusive production cross sections $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}$, both integrated and as a function of the transverse momentum $p_{T}$, for the two $y_{cms}$ domains. The results are compared to those obtained for the 1S vector state (J/$\psi$), by showing the ratios between the production cross sections, as well as the double ratios $[\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}]_{pPb}/[\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}]_{pp}$ between p-Pb and proton-proton collisions. Finally, the nuclear modification factor for inclusive $\psi(2S)$ is evaluated and compared to the measurement of the same quantity for J/$\psi$ and to theoretical models including parton shadowing and coherent energy loss mechanisms. The results show a significantly larger suppression of the $\psi(2S)$ compared to that measured for J/$\psi$ and to models. These observations represent a clear indication for sizeable final state effects on $\psi(2S)$ production.
The production of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays was measured as a function of transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) in minimum-bias p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The measurement covers the $p_{\rm T}$ interval $0.5<p_{\rm T}<12$ GeV/$c$ and the rapidity range $-1.06 < y_{\rm cms} < 0.14$ in the centre-of-mass reference frame. The contribution of electrons from background sources was subtracted using an invariant mass approach. The nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm pPb}$ was calculated by comparing the $p_{\rm T}$-differential invariant cross section in p-Pb collisions to a pp reference at the same centre-of-mass energy, which was obtained by interpolating measurements at $\sqrt{s}= 2.76$ TeV and $\sqrt{s} =7$ TeV. The $R_{\rm pPb}$ is consistent with unity within uncertainties of about 25%, which become larger for $p_{\rm T}$ below 1 GeV/$c$. The measurement shows that heavy-flavour production is consistent with binary scaling, so that a suppression in the high-$p_{\rm T}$ yield in Pb-Pb collisions has to be attributed to effects induced by the hot medium produced in the final state. The data in p-Pb collisions are described by recent model calculations that include cold nuclear matter effects.
The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross section of electrons from semileptonic decays of heavy-flavor hadrons has been measured at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV in the transverse momentum range 0.5 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 12 GeV/$c$ with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The analysis was performed using minimum bias events and events triggered by the electromagnetic calorimeter. Predictions from perturbative QCD calculations agree with the data within the theoretical and experimental uncertainties.
We have measured the differential cross section for the inclusive production of psi(2S) mesons decaying to mu^{+} mu^{-1} that were produced in prompt or B-decay processes from ppbar collisions at 1.96 TeV. These measurements have been made using a data set from an integrated luminosity of 1.1 fb^{-1} collected by the CDF II detector at Fermilab. For events with transverse momentum p_{T} (psi(2S)) > 2 GeV/c and rapidity |y(psi(2S))| < 0.6 we measure the integrated inclusive cross section sigma(ppbar -> psi(2S)X) Br(psi(2S) -> mu^{+} mu^{-}) to be 3.29 +- 0.04(stat.) +- 0.32(syst.) nb.
Charged jet production cross sections in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the LHC are presented. Using the anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm, jets have been reconstructed in the central rapidity region from charged particles with resolution parameters $R = 0.2$ and $R = 0.4$. The reconstructed jets have been corrected for detector effects and the underlying event background. To calculate the nuclear modification factor, $R_{\rm pPb}$, of charged jets in p-Pb collisions, a pp reference was constructed by scaling previously measured charged jet spectra at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV. In the transverse momentum range $20 \le p_{\rm T,ch\ jet} \le 120$ GeV/$c$, $R_{\rm pPb}$ is found to be consistent with unity, indicating the absence of strong nuclear matter effects on jet production. Major modifications to the radial jet structure are probed via the ratio of jet production cross sections reconstructed with the two different resolution parameters. This ratio is found to be similar to the measurement in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV and to the expectations from PYTHIA pp simulations and NLO pQCD calculations at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
The transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm T}$) distribution of primary charged particles is measured at midrapidity in minimum-bias p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC in the range $0.15<p_{\mathrm T}<50$ GeV/$c$. The spectra are compared to the expectation based on binary collision scaling of particle production in pp collisions, leading to a nuclear modification factor consistent with unity for $p_{\mathrm T}$ larger than 2 GeV/$c$, with a weak indication of a Cronin-like enhancement for $p_{\rm T}$ around 4 GeV/$c$. The measurement is compared to theoretical calculations and to data in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV.