Showing papers by "Peter Christiansen published in 2021"

Charm-quark fragmentation fractions and production cross section at 4 midrapidity in pp collisions at the LHC

Abstract: Recent $p_{\rm T}$-integrated cross section measurements of the ground-state charm mesons and baryons, D$^{\rm 0}$, D$^+$, D$_{\rm s}^{+}$, $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$, and $\Xi_{\rm c}^0$, are used to evaluate the charm fragmentation fractions and production cross section per unit of rapidity at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$), in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV at the LHC. The latter is ${\rm d} \sigma^{\rm c \overline{c}}/{\rm d} y|_{|y| < 0.5}$ =1165 $\pm 44(\rm{stat})^{+134}_{-101}(\rm{syst})$$\mu b$. These measurements were obtained for the first time in hadronic collisions at the LHC including the charm baryon states, recently measured by ALICE at midrapidity. The charm fragmentation fractions differ significantly from the values measured in e$^+$e$^-$ and ep collisions, providing evidence of the dependence of the parton-to-hadron fragmentation fractions on the collision system, indicating that the assumption of their universality is not supported by the measured cross sections. An increase of a factor of about 3.3 for the fragmentation fraction for the $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$ with a significance of $5\,\sigma$ between the values obtained in pp collisions and those obtained in e$^+$e$^-$ (ep) collisions is reported. The fragmentation fraction for the $\Xi_{\rm c}^0$ was obtained for the first time in any collision system. The measured fragmentation fractions were used to update the $\rm c \overline{c}$ cross sections per unit of rapidity at $|y|<0.5$ at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ and 7 TeV, which are about 40% higher than the previously published results. The data were compared with perturbative-QCD calculations and lie at the upper edge of the theoretical bands.

Measurement of the cross sections of $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$ and $\Xi^+_{\rm c}$ baryons and branching-fraction ratio BR($\Xi^0_{\rm c} \rightarrow \Xi^-{\rm e}^+\nu_{\rm e}$)/BR($\Xi^0_{\rm c} \rightarrow \Xi^-\pi^+$) in pp collisions at 13 TeV

Abstract: The $p_{\rm T}$-differential cross sections of prompt charm-strange baryons $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$ and $\Xi^+_{\rm c}$ were measured at midrapidity ($|y| < 0.5$) in proton$-$proton (pp) collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$ baryon was reconstructed via both the semileptonic decay ($\Xi^{-}{\rm e^{+}} u_{\rm e}$) and the hadronic decay ($\Xi^{-}{\rm \pi^{+}}$) channels. The $\Xi^+_{\rm c}$ baryon was reconstructed via the hadronic decay ($\Xi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+}$) channel. The branching-fraction ratio $\rm {\rm BR}(\Xi_c^0\rightarrow \Xi^-e^+ u_e)/\rm {\rm BR}(\Xi_c^0\rightarrow \Xi^{-}\pi^+)=$ 1.38 $\pm$ 0.14 (stat) $\pm$ 0.22 (syst) was measured with a total uncertainty reduced by a factor of about 3 with respect to the current world average reported by the Particle Data Group. The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) dependence of the $\Xi^0_{\rm c}$- and $\Xi^+_{\rm c}$-baryon production relative to the ${\rm D^0}$-meson and to the $\Sigma^{0,+,++}_{\rm c}$- and $\Lambda^+_{\rm c}$-baryon production are reported. The baryon-to-meson ratio increases towards low $p_{\rm T}$ up to a value of approximately 0.3. The measurements are compared with various models that take different hadronisation mechanisms into consideration. The results provide stringent constraints to these theoretical calculations and additional evidence that different processes are involved in charm hadronisation in electron$-$positron ($\rm e^+e^-$) and hadronic collisions.

Investigating the role of strangeness in baryon$-$antibaryon annihilation at the LHC

Abstract: Annihilation dynamics plays a fundamental role in the baryon$-$antibaryon interaction (B$-\rm{\overline{B}}$) at low-energy and its strength and range are crucial in the assessment of possible baryon bound states. Experimental data on annihilation cross sections are available for the p$-\rm{\overline{p}}$ system but not in the low relative momentum region. Data regarding the B$\rm{\overline{B}}$ interaction with strange degrees of freedom are extremely scarce or absent, hence the modeling of the annihilation contributions is mainly based on nucleon$-$antinucleon (N$-\rm{\overline{N}}$) results, when available. In this letter we present a measurement of the p$-\rm{\overline{p}}$, p$-\overline{\Lambda}\oplus\rm{\overline{p}}-\Lambda$ and $\Lambda-\overline{\Lambda}$ interaction using correlation functions in the relative momentum space in high-multiplicity triggered pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. In the p$-\rm{\overline{p}}$ system the couplings to the mesonic channels in different partial waves are extracted by adopting a coupled-channel approach with recent $\chi\rm{EFT}$ potentials. The inclusion of these inelastic channels provides good agreement with the data, showing a significant presence of the annihilation term down to zero momentum. Predictions obtained using the Lednický$-$Lyuboshits formula and scattering parameters obtained from heavy-ion collisions, hence mainly sensitive to elastic processes, are compared with the experimental p$-\overline{\Lambda}\oplus\rm{\overline{p}}-\Lambda$ and $\Lambda-\overline{\Lambda}$ correlations. The model describes the $\Lambda-\overline{\Lambda}$ data and underestimates the p$-\overline{\Lambda}\oplus\rm{\overline{p}}-\Lambda$ data in the region of momenta below 200 MeV/$c$. The observed deviation indicates a different contribution of annihilation channels to the two systems containing strange hadrons.

Λk femtoscopy in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN =2.76 TeV

Abstract: Author(s): Acharya, S; Adamova, D; Adler, A; Adolfsson, J; Aggarwal, MM; Aglieri Rinella, G; Agnello, M; Agrawal, N; Ahammed, Z; Ahmad, S; Ahn, SU; Akbar, Z; Akindinov, A; Al-Turany, M; Alam, SN; Albuquerque, DSD; Aleksandrov, D; Alessandro, B; Alfanda, HM; Alfaro Molina, R; Ali, B; Ali, Y; Alici, A; Alkin, A; Alme, J; Alt, T; Altenkamper, L; Altsybeev, I; Anaam, MN; Andrei, C; Andreou, D; Andronic, A; Angeletti, M; Anguelov, V; Anson, C; Anticic, T; Antinori, F; Antonioli, P; Apadula, N; Aphecetche, L; Appelshauser, H; Arcelli, S; Arnaldi, R; Arratia, M; Arsene, IC; Arslandok, M; Augustinus, A; Averbeck, R; Aziz, S; Azmi, MD; Badala, A; Baek, YW; Bagnasco, S; Bai, X; Bailhache, R; Bala, R; Balbino, A; Baldisseri, A; Ball, M; Balouza, S; Banerjee, D; Barbera, R; Barioglio, L; Barnafoldi, GG; Barnby, LS; Barret, V; Bartalini, P; Bartels, C; Barth, K; Bartsch, E; Baruffaldi, F; Bastid, N; Basu, S; Batigne, G; Batyunya, B; Bauri, D; Bazo Alba, JL; Bearden, IG; Beattie, C; Bedda, C; Behera, NK; Belikov, I; Bell Hechavarria, ADC; Bellini, F; Bellwied, R | Abstract: The first measurements of the scattering parameters of ΛK pairs in all three charge combinations (ΛK+, ΛK-, and ΛKS0) are presented. The results are achieved through a femtoscopic analysis of ΛK correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV recorded by ALICE at the Large Hadron Collider. The femtoscopic correlations result from strong final-state interactions and are fit with a parametrization allowing for both the characterization of the pair emission source and the measurement of the scattering parameters for the particle pairs. Extensive studies with the THERMINATOR 2 event generator provide a good description of the nonfemtoscopic background, which results mainly from collective effects, with unprecedented precision. Furthermore, together with HIJING simulations, this model is used to account for contributions from residual correlations induced by feed-down from particle decays. The extracted scattering parameters indicate that the strong force is repulsive in the ΛK+ interaction and attractive in the ΛK- interaction. The data hint that the ΛKS0 interaction is attractive; however, the uncertainty of the result does not permit such a decisive conclusion. The results suggest an effect arising either from different quark-antiquark interactions between the pairs (ss¯ in ΛK+ and uū in ΛK-) or from different net strangeness for each system (S=0 for ΛK+, and S=-2 for ΛK-). Finally, the ΛK systems exhibit source radii larger than expected from extrapolation from identical particle femtoscopic studies. This effect is interpreted as resulting from the separation in space-time of the single-particle Λ and K source distributions.

Measurements of the groomed and ungroomed jet angularities in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV

Abstract: The jet angularities are a class of jet substructure observables which characterize the angular and momentum distribution of particles within jets. These observables are sensitive to momentum scales ranging from perturbative hard scatterings to nonperturbative fragmentation into final-state hadrons. We report measurements of several infrared- and collinear-safe jet angularities in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector. Jets are reconstructed using charged particle tracks at midrapidity. The anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm is used with jet resolution parameters $R = 0.2$ and $R = 0.4$ for several transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}^{\text{ch jet}}$ intervals in the 20$-$100 GeV/$c$ range. Using the jet grooming algorithm Soft Drop, the sensitivity to softer, wide-angle processes, as well as the underlying event, can be reduced in a way which is well-controlled in theoretical calculations. We report the ungroomed jet angularities, $\lambda_{\alpha}$, and groomed jet angularities, $\lambda_{\alpha\text{ , g}}$, to investigate the interplay between perturbative and nonperturbative effects at low jet momenta. Various angular exponent parameters $\alpha = 1$, 1.5, 2, and 3 are used to systematically vary the sensitivity of the observable to collinear and soft radiation. Results are compared to analytical predictions at next-to-leading-logarithmic accuracy, which provide a generally good description of the data in the perturbative regime but exhibit discrepancies in the nonperturbative regime. Moreover, these measurements serve as a baseline for future ones in heavy-ion collisions by providing new insight into the interplay between perturbative and nonperturbative effects in the angular and momentum substructure of jets. They supply crucial guidance on the selection of jet resolution parameter, jet transverse momentum and angular scaling variable for jet quenching studies.

Direct observation of the dead-cone effect in QCD

Abstract: At particle collider experiments, elementary particle interactions with large momentum transfer produce quarks and gluons (known as partons) whose evolution is governed by the strong force, as described by the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). The vacuum is not transparent to the partons and induces gluon radiation and quark pair production in a process that can be described as a parton shower. Studying the pattern of the parton shower is one of the key experimental tools in understanding the properties of QCD. This pattern is expected to depend on the mass of the initiating parton, through a phenomenon known as the dead-cone effect, which predicts a suppression of the gluon spectrum emitted by a heavy quark of mass $m$ and energy $E$, within a cone of angular size $m$/$E$ around the emitter. A direct observation of the dead-cone effect in QCD has not been possible until now, due to the challenge of reconstructing the cascading quarks and gluons from the experimentally accessible bound hadronic states. We report the first direct observation of the QCD dead-cone by using new iterative declustering techniques to reconstruct the parton shower of charm quarks. This result confirms a fundamental feature of QCD, which is derived more generally from its origin as a gauge quantum field theory. Furthermore, the measurement of a dead-cone angle constitutes a direct experimental observation of the non-zero mass of the charm quark, which is a fundamental constant in the standard model of particle physics.

Nuclear modification factor of light neutral-meson spectra up to high transverse momentum in p-Pb collisions at $\mathbf{\sqrt{s_{NN}}}$ = 8.16 TeV

Abstract: Neutral pion and $\eta$ meson production cross sections were measured up to unprecedentedly high transverse momenta ($p_{\rm T}$) in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV. The mesons were reconstructed via their two-photon decay channel in the rapidity interval $-1.3 10$ GeV/$c$. The new data provide constraints for nuclear parton distribution and fragmentation functions over a broad kinematic range and are compared to model predictions as well as previous results at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.

Measurement of the groomed jet radius and momentum splitting fraction in pp and Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV

Abstract: This article presents groomed jet substructure measurements in pp and Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector. The Soft Drop grooming algorithm provides access to the hard parton splittings inside a jet by removing soft wide-angle radiation. We report the groomed jet momentum splitting fraction, $z_{\rm g}$, and the (scaled) groomed jet radius, $\theta_{\rm g}$. Charged-particle jets are reconstructed at midrapidity using the anti-kT algorithm with resolution parameters $R = 0.2$ and $R = 0.4$. In heavy-ion collisions, the large underlying event poses a challenge for the reconstruction of groomed jet observables, since fluctuations in the background can cause groomed parton splittings to be misidentified. By using strong grooming conditions to reduce this background, we report these observables fully corrected for detector effects and background fluctuations for the first time. A narrowing of the $\theta_{\rm g}$ distribution in Pb$-$Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is seen, which provides direct evidence of the modification of the angular structure of jets in the quark$-$gluon plasma. No significant modification of the $z_{\rm g}$ distribution in Pb$-$Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is observed. These results are compared with a variety of theoretical models of jet quenching, and provide constraints on jet energy-loss mechanisms and coherence effects in the quark$-$gluon plasma.

First measurement of coherent $\rho^{0}$ photoproduction in ultra-peripheral Xe-Xe collisions at $\mathbf{\sqrt{s_{\rm {\scriptscriptstyle \mathbf{NN}}}} = 5.44}$ TeV

Abstract: The first measurement of the coherent photoproduction of $\rho^{0}$ vector mesons in ultra-peripheral Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{\rm NN}}}= 5.44$ TeV is presented. This result, together with previous $\gamma$p and $\gamma$-Pb measurements, describes the atomic number ($A$) dependence of this process, which is particularly sensitive to nuclear shadowing effects and to the approach to the black-disc limit of QCD at a semi-hard scale. The cross section of the ${\rm Xe}+{\rm Xe} \to \rho^{0} + {\rm Xe}+{\rm Xe}$ process, measured at midrapidity through the decay channel $\rho^{0}\to\pi^+\pi^-$, is found to be ${\rm d}\sigma/{\rm d}y=131.5\pm 5.6 {\rm (stat.)} ^{+17.5}_{-16.9} {\rm (syst.)}$ mb. The ratio of the continuum to resonant contributions for the production of pion pairs is also measured. In addition, the fraction of events accompanied by electromagnetic dissociation of either one or both colliding nuclei is reported. The dependence on $A$ of cross section for the coherent $\rho^{0}$ photoproduction at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon of the $\gamma A$ system of $W_{\gamma A,n}= 65$ GeV is found to be consistent with a power-law behaviour $\sigma (\gamma A\rightarrow \rho^{0} A) \propto A^{\alpha}$ with a slope $\alpha = 0.96 \pm 0.02 {\rm (syst.)}$. This slope signals important shadowing effects, but it is still far from the behaviour expected in the black-disc limit.

Measurement of prompt D$^{0}$, $\Lambda_{c}^{+}$, and $\Sigma_{c}^{0,++}$(2455) production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV

Abstract: The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections of prompt D$^{0}$, $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$, and $\Sigma_{\rm c}^{0,++}(2455)$ charmed hadrons are measured at midrapidity ($|y| < 0.5$) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV. This is the first measurement of $\Sigma_{\rm c}^{0,++}$ production in hadronic collisions. Assuming the same production yield for the three $\Sigma_{\rm c}^{0,+,++}$ isospin states, the baryon-to-meson cross-section ratios $\Sigma_{\rm c}^{0,+,++}/{\rm D}^{0}$ and $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}/{\rm D}^{0}$ are calculated in the transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) intervals $2 < p_{\rm T} < 12$ GeV/$c$ and $1 < p_{\rm T} < 24$ GeV/$c$. Values significantly larger than in e$^{+}$e$^{-}$ collisions are observed, indicating for the first time that baryon enhancement in hadronic collisions also extends to the $\Sigma_{\rm c}$. The feed-down contribution to $\Lambda_{\rm c}^{+}$ production from $\Sigma_{\rm c}^{0,+,++}$ is also reported and is found to be larger than in e$^{+}$e$^{-}$ collisions. The data are compared with predictions from event generators and other phenomenological models, providing a sensitive test of the different charm-hadronisation mechanisms implemented in the models.

Inclusive quarkonium production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV

Abstract: This article reports on the inclusive production cross section of several quarkonium states, $\mathrm{J}/\psi$, $\psi {\rm (2S)}$, $\Upsilon\rm(1S)$, $\Upsilon\rm(2S)$, and $\Upsilon\rm(3S)$, measured with the ALICE detector at the LHC, in \pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV. The analysis is performed in the dimuon decay channel at forward rapidity ($2.5 < y < 4$). The measured cross sections, assuming unpolarized quarkonia, are: $\sigma_{\mathrm{J}/\psi} = 5.88 \pm 0.03 \pm 0.34\ \mu$b, $\sigma_{\psi {\rm (2S)}} = 0.87 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.10\ \mu$b, $\sigma_{\Upsilon\rm(1S)} = 45.5 \pm 3.9 \pm 3.5$ nb, $\sigma_{\Upsilon\rm(2S)} = 22.4 \pm 3.2 \pm 2.7$ nb, and $\sigma_{\Upsilon\rm(3S)} = 4.9 \pm 2.2 \pm 1.0$ nb, where the first (second) uncertainty is the statistical (systematic) one. The transverse-momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) and rapidity ($y$) differential cross sections for $\mathrm{J}/\psi$, $\psi {\rm (2S)}$, $\Upsilon\rm(1S)$, and the $\psi {\rm (2S)}$-to-$\mathrm{J}/\psi$ cross section ratios are presented. For the first time, the cross sections of the three $\Upsilon$ states, as well as the $\psi {\rm (2S)}$ one as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ and $y$, are measured at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV at forward rapidity. These measurements also significantly extend the $\mathrm{J}/\psi$$p_{\rm T}$ reach with respect to previously published results. A comparison with ALICE measurements in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$, 7, 8, and 13 TeV is presented and the energy dependence of quarkonium production cross sections is discussed. Finally, the results are compared with the predictions from several production models.

Event-by-event multi-harmonic correlations of different flow amplitudes in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}=2.76$ TeV

Abstract: The genuine event-by-event correlations between three flow amplitudes are measured for the first time in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm {NN}}} = 2.76$ TeV by the ALICE Collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider. The results are obtained with recently developed observables, the higher order Symmetric Cumulants (SC), in the midrapidity region $|\eta| < 0.8$ and the transverse momentum range $0.2 < p_{\mathrm T} < 5.0$ GeV/$c$. These higher order observables show the same robustness against systematic biases arising from nonflow effects as the two-harmonic SC. The new results cannot be interpreted in terms of lower order flow measurements, since they are dominated by different patterns of event-by-event flow fluctuations. The results are compared with expectations from initial state models such as T$_{\rm{R}}$ENTo and next-to-leading order perturbative-QCD+saturation model of initial conditions, followed by iEBE-VISHNU and EKRT viscous hydrodynamic calculations. Model comparisons provide an indication of the development of genuine correlations between the elliptic $v_2$, the triangular $v_3$ and the quadrangular $v_4$ flow amplitudes during the collective evolution of the medium. The comparison with the predictions for the correlations between $v_2$, $v_3$ and the pentagonal flow magnitude $v_5$ illustrate the need for further tuning of model parameterizations. Therefore, these results can provide new and independent constraints for the initial conditions and system properties of nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions, complementary to previous flow measurements.

Prompt D$^0$, D$^+$, and D$^{*+}$ production in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

Abstract: 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.

First measurement of the ${\mathbf{|\textit t|}}$-dependence of coherent $\mathbf{\rm{J/\psi}}$ photonuclear production

Abstract: The first measurement of the dependence on $|t|$, the square of the momentum transferred between the incoming and outgoing target nucleus, of coherent J/$\psi$ photoproduction is presented The data were measured with the ALICE detector in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 502$ TeV with the J/$\psi$ produced in the central rapidity region $|y|<08$, which corresponds to the small Bjorken-$x$ range $(03-14)\times10^{-3}$ The measured $|t|$-dependence is not described by computations based only on the Pb nuclear form factor, while the photonuclear cross section is better reproduced by models including shadowing according to the leading-twist approximation, or gluon-saturation effects from the impact-parameter dependent Balitsky-Kovchegov equation This new observable is therefore a valid tool to constrain the relevant model parameters and to investigate the transverse gluonic structure at very low Bjorken-$x$

Measurement of very forward energy and particle production at midrapidity in pp and p-Pb collisions at the LHC

Abstract: The very forward energy is a powerful tool for characterising the proton fragmentation in pp and p-Pb collisions and, studied in correlation with particle production at midrapidity, provides direct insightsinto the initial stages and the subsequent evolution of the collision. Furthermore, the correlation between the forward energy and the production of particles with large transverse momenta at midrapidity provides information complementary to the measurements of the underlying event, which are usually interpreted in the framework of models implementing centrality-dependent multiple parton interaction. Results about the very forward energy, measured by the ALICE zero degree calorimeters (ZDC), and its dependence on the activity measured at midrapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV and in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 8.16$ TeV are presented and discussed. The measurements performed in pp collisions are compared with the expectations of three hadronic interaction event generators: PYTHIA 6 (Perugia 2011 tune), PYTHIA 8 (Monash tune), and EPOS LHC. These results provide new constraints on the validity of models in describing the beam remnants at very forward rapidities, where perturbative QCD cannot be used.

Antihelium-3 fluxes near Earth using data-driven estimates for annihilation cross section

Abstract: Antinuclei found in cosmic rays could provide a smoking gun signal for dark matter as this signal is virtually background free. The study of 3He cosmic rays requires the knowledge of their production, propagation in the galaxy and annihilation cross-section. While the former two have been already estimated with data-driven methods, there were no experimental data available for the 3He inelastic cross section. We measured for the first time the inelastic cross section of 3He using the ALICE detector itself as a target. To study the effect of 3He annihilation in the galaxy and estimate the transparency of the galaxy, the 3He source functions and annihilation cross sections were implemented in GALPROP. 8

Exploring the N$\Lambda$-N$\Sigma$ coupled system with high precision correlation techniques at the LHC

Abstract: The interaction of $\Lambda$ and $\Sigma$ hyperons (Y) with nucleons (N) is strongly influenced by the coupled-channel dynamics. Due to the small mass difference of the $\rm N \Lambda$ and $\rm N \Sigma$ systems, the coupling strength of the $\rm N \Sigma\leftrightarrow N \Lambda$ processes is non-negligible and constitutes a crucial element in the determination of the N$\Lambda$ interaction. In this letter we present the most precise measurements on the interaction of p$\Lambda$ pairs, from zero relative momentum up to the opening of the $\rm N \Sigma$ channel. The correlation function in the relative momentum space for $\mathrm{p}\Lambda\oplus\overline{\mathrm{p}}\overline{\Lambda}$ pairs measured in high-multiplicity triggered pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~13$ TeV at the LHC is reported. The opening of the inelastic N$\Sigma$ channels is visible in the extracted correlation function as a cusp-like structure occurring at relative momentum $k^{*}$ = 289 MeV/$c$. This represents the first direct experimental observation of the $\rm N \Sigma\rightarrow N \Lambda$ coupled channel in the p$\Lambda$ system. The correlation function is compared with recent chiral effective field theory calculations, based on different strengths of the $\rm N \Sigma\leftrightarrow N \Lambda$ transition potential. A weaker coupling, as possibly supported by the present measurement, would require a more repulsive three-body NN$\Lambda$ interaction for a proper description of the $\Lambda$ in-medium properties, which has implications on the nuclear equation of state and for the presence of hyperons inside neutron stars.

Production of $\Lambda$ and ${\rm K}^{0}_{\rm S}$ in jets in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5$ TeV and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV

Abstract: The production of $\Lambda$ baryons and ${\rm K}^{0}_{\rm S}$ mesons (${\rm V}^{0}$ particles) was measured in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5$ TeV and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The production of these strange particles is studied separately for particles associated with hard scatterings and the underlying event to shed light on the baryon-to-meson ratio enhancement observed at intermediate transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) in high multiplicity pp and p-Pb collisions. Hard scatterings are selected on an event-by-event basis with jets reconstructed with the anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm using charged particles. The production of strange particles associated with jets $p_{\rm T,\;jet}^{\rm ch}>10$ GeV/$c$ is reported as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ in both systems; and its dependence on $p_{\rm T}$ with jets $p_{\rm T,\;jet}^{\rm ch}>20$ GeV/$c$ and on angular distance from the jet axis, $R({\rm V}^{0},\;{\rm jet})$, for jets with $p_{\rm T,\;jet}^{\rm ch} > 10$ GeV/$c$ are reported in p-Pb collisions. The results are compared with the strange particle production in the underlying event. The $\Lambda/{\rm K}^{0}_{\rm S}$ ratio associated with jets in p-Pb collisions for $R({\rm V}^{0},\;{\rm jet})<0.4$ is consistent with the ratio measured in pp collisions and with the expectation of jets fragmenting in vacuum given by the PYTHIA event generator.

Production of K$^{*}(892)^{0}$ and $\phi(1020)$ in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV

Abstract: The production of K$^{*}(892)^{0}$ and $\phi(1020)$ mesons in proton-proton (pp) and lead-lead (Pb-Pb) collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV has been measured using the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{T}}$) distributions of K$^{*}(892)^{0}$ and $\phi(1020)$ mesons have been measured at midrapidity $(|y| 8$ GeV$/c$, the $R_{\rm AA}$ values of K$^{*}(892)^{0}$ and $\phi(1020)$ are below unity and observed to be similar to those of pions, kaons, and (anti)protons. The $R_{\rm AA}$ values at high $p_{\mathrm T}$ for K$^{*}(892)^{0}$ and $\phi(1020)$ mesons are in agreement within uncertainties for $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 5.02$ and 2.76 TeV.

Measurements of mixed harmonic cumulants in Pb-Pb collisions at $\mathbf{\sqrt{{\textit s}_{\rm NN}}}=5.02$ TeV

Abstract: Correlations between moments of different flow coefficients are measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV recorded with the ALICE detector. These new measurements are based on multiparticle mixed harmonic cumulants calculated using charged particles in the pseudorapidity region $|\eta|<0.8$ with the transverse momentum range $0.2 < p_{\rm T} < 5.0$ GeV/$c$. The centrality dependence of correlations between two flow coefficients as well as the correlations between three flow coefficients, both in terms of their second moments, are shown. In addition, a collection of mixed harmonic cumulants involving higher moments of $v_2$ and $v_3$ is measured for the first time, where the characteristic signature of negative, positive and negative signs of four-, six- and eight-particle cumulants are observed, respectively. The measurements are compared to the hydrodynamic calculations using iEBE-VISHNU with AMPT and TRENTo initial conditions. It is shown that the measurements carried out using the LHC Run 2 data in 2015 have the precision to explore the details of initial-state fluctuations and probe the nonlinear hydrodynamic response of $v_2$ and $v_3$ to their corresponding initial anisotropy coefficients $\varepsilon_2$ and $\varepsilon_3$. These new studies on correlations between three flow coefficients as well as correlations between higher moments of two different flow coefficients will pave the way to tighten constraints on initial-state models and help to extract precise information on the dynamic evolution of the hot and dense matter created in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC.

Inclusive J/$\psi$ production at midrapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~13$ TeV

Abstract: We report on the inclusive J/$\psi$ production cross section measured at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}~=~13$ TeV. The J/$\psi$ mesons are reconstructed in the $\rm e^{+} e^{-}$ decay channel and the measurements are performed at midrapidity ($|y|<0.9$) in the transverse-momentum interval $0< p_{\rm T} <40$ GeV/$c$, using a minimum bias data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity $L_{\text{int}} = 32.2~\text{nb}^{-1}$ and an Electromagnetic Calorimeter triggered data sample with $L_{\text{int}} = 8.3~\mathrm{pb}^{-1}$. The $p_{\rm T}$-integrated J/$\psi$ production cross section at midrapidity, computed using the minimum bias data sample, is $\text{d}\sigma/\text{d}y|_{y=0} = 8.97\pm0.24~(\text{stat})\pm0.48~(\text{syst})\pm0.15~(\text{lumi})~\mu\text{b}$. An approximate logarithmic dependence with the collision energy is suggested by these results and available world data, in agreement with model predictions. The integrated and $p_{\rm T}$-differential measurements are compared with measurements in pp collisions at lower energies and with several recent phenomenological calculations based on the non-relativistic QCD and Color Evaporation models.

Measurement of prompt $\rm{D_{s}^{+}}$-meson production and azimuthal anisotropy in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV

Abstract: 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 ($|y| 10$ 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

Production of light (anti)nuclei in pp collisions at $sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

Abstract: Understanding the production mechanism of light (anti)nuclei is one of the key challenges of nuclear physics and has important consequences for astrophysics, since it provides an input for indirect dark-matter searches in space. In this paper, the latest results about the production of light (anti)nuclei in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV are presented, focusing on the comparison with the predictions of coalescence and thermal models. For the first time, the coalescence parameters $B_2$ for deuterons and $B_3$ for helions are compared with parameter-free theoretical predictions that are directly constrained by the femtoscopic measurement of the source radius in the same event class. A fair description of the data with a Gaussian wave function is observed for both deuteron and helion, supporting the coalescence mechanism for the production of light (anti)nuclei in pp collisions. This method paves the way for future investigations of the internal structure of more complex nuclear clusters, including the hypertriton.

Inclusive, prompt and non-prompt ${\rm J}/\psi$ production at midrapidity in p$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV

Abstract: A measurement of inclusive, prompt, and non-prompt ${\rm J}/\psi$ production in p$-$Pb collisions at a nucleon--nucleon centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02$ TeV is presented. The ${\rm J}/\psi$ mesons are reconstructed in the dielectron decay channel at midrapidity down to a transverse momentum $p_{\rm T} = 0$. The inclusive ${\rm J}/\psi$ nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm pPb}$ is calculated by comparing the results in p$-$Pb collisions to a measured proton$-$proton reference at the same centre-of-mass energy. Non-prompt ${\rm J}/\psi$ mesons, which originate from the decay of beauty hadrons, are separated from promptly produced ${\rm J}/\psi$ on a statistical basis for $p_{\rm T}$ larger than 1.0 GeV/$c$. These results are based on the data sample collected by the ALICE detector during the 2016 LHC p$-$Pb run, corresponding to an integrated luminosity ${\cal L}_{\rm int} = 292 \pm 11 \; {\rm \mu b}^{-1}$, which is six times larger than the previous publications. The total uncertainty on the $p_{\rm T}$-integrated inclusive ${\rm J}/\psi$ and non-prompt ${\rm J}/\psi$ cross section are reduced by a factor 1.7 and 2.2, respectively. The measured cross sections and $R_{\rm pPb}$ are compared with theoretical models that include various combinations of cold nuclear matter effects. From the non-prompt ${\rm J}/\psi$ production cross section, the ${\rm b\overline{b}}$ production cross section at midrapidity, $\mathrm{d}\sigma_{\rm b\overline{b}}/\mathrm{d}y$, and the total cross section extrapolated over full phase space, $\sigma_{\rm b\overline{b}}$, are derived.

Investigating charm production and fragmentation via azimuthal correlations of prompt D mesons with charged particles in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV

Abstract: Angular correlations of heavy-flavour and charged particles in high-energy proton-proton collisions are sensitive to the production mechanisms of heavy quarks and to their fragmentation as well as hadronisation processes. The measurement of the azimuthal-correlation function of prompt D mesons with charged particles in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ALICE detector is reported, considering D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$ mesons in the transverse-momentum interval $3 0.3$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|\eta| < 0.8$. This measurement has an improved precision and provides an extended transverse-momentum coverage compared to previous ALICE measurements at lower energies. The study is also performed as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, showing no modifications of the correlation function with multiplicity within uncertainties. The properties and the transverse-momentum evolution of the near- and away-side correlation peaks are studied and compared with predictions from various Monte Carlo event generators. The obtained results can provide constraints on the generators. Among those considered, PYTHIA8 and POWHEG+PYTHIA8 provide the best description of the measured observables.

arXiv : Characterizing the initial conditions of heavy-ion collisions at the LHC with mean transverse momentum and anisotropic flow correlations

Abstract: 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 in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.

Measurement of inclusive charged-particle b-jet production in pp and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV

Abstract: 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.

Measurement of K$^{*}$(892)$^{\mathrm{\pm}}$ production in inelastic pp collisions at the LHC

Abstract: The first results on K$^{*}$(892)$^{\mathrm{\pm}}$ resonance production in inelastic pp collisions at LHC energies of $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$, 8, and 13 TeV are presented. The K$^{*}$(892)$^{\mathrm{\pm}}$ has been reconstructed via its hadronic decay channel K$^{*}$(892)$^{\mathrm{\pm}}$$\rightarrow$$\mathrm {K^0_S}$$~+~\pi^{\pm}$ with the ALICE detector. Measurements of transverse momentum distributions, integrated yields, and mean transverse momenta for charged K$^{*}$(892) are found to be consistent with previous ALICE measurements for neutral K$^{*}$(892) within uncertainties. For $p_{\mathrm{T}} > 1$ GeV/$c$ the K$^{*}$(892)$^{\mathrm{\pm}}$ transverse momentum spectra become harder with increasing centre-of-mass energy from 5.02 to 13 TeV, similar to what previously observed for charged kaons and pions. For $p_{\mathrm{T}} < 1$ GeV/$c$ the K$^{*}$(892)$^{\mathrm{\pm}}$ yield does not evolve significantly and the abundance of K$^{*}$(892)$^{\mathrm{\pm}}$ relative to K is rather independent of the collision energy. The transverse momentum spectra, measured for K$^{*}$(892)$^{\mathrm{\pm}}$ at midrapidity in the interval $0 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 15$ GeV/$c$, are not well described by predictions of different versions of PYTHIA 6, PYTHIA 8 and EPOS-LHC event generators. These generators reproduce the measured $p_{\mathrm{T}}$-integrated K$^{*\mathrm{\pm}}$/K ratios and describe well the momentum dependence for $p_{\mathrm{T}} < 2$ GeV/$c$.