K*(892)0 and ϕ(1020) meson production at high transverse momentum in

J. Adam¹,

D. Adamová²,

M. M. Aggarwal³

et al.

Abstract

The production of K * (892) 0 and φ(1020) mesons in proton-proton (pp) and lead-lead (Pb-Pb) collisions at √ s NN = 2.76 TeV has been analyzed using a high luminosity data sample accumulated in 2011 with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Transverse momentum (p T) spectra have been measured for K * (892) 0 and φ(1020) mesons via their hadronic decay channels for p T up to 20 GeV/c. The measurements in pp collisions have been compared to model calculations and used to determine the nuclear modification factor and particle ratios. The K * (892) 0 /K ratio exhibits significant reduction from pp to central Pb-Pb collisions, consistent with the suppression of the K * (892) 0 yield at low p T due to rescattering of its decay products in the hadronic phase. In central Pb-Pb collisions the p T dependent φ(1020)/π and K * (892) 0 /π ratios show an enhancement over pp collisions for p T ≈ 3 GeV/c, consistent with previous observations of strong radial flow. At high p T , particle ratios in Pb-Pb collisions are similar to those measured in pp collisions. In central Pb-Pb collisions, the production of K * (892) 0 and φ(1020) mesons is suppressed for p T > 8 GeV/c. This suppression is similar to that of charged pions, kaons, and protons, indicating that the suppression does not depend on particle mass or flavor in the light quark sector.

Applicability of transverse mass scaling in hadronic collisions at energies available at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

“…For comparison the corresponding particle ratios measured in pp collisions at √ s = 2.76 TeV are displayed as well [29,30,35]. The fitted high p T constant C is reported as well as a blue band in the p T region, where it was obtained.…”

Description of ϕ-meson production in hadronic and nuclear collisions at very high energies

“…As it can be seen in Fig. 6, the results of the QGSM calculations are remarkably higher than the experimental data, which were measured for p T ≥ 0.4 GeV/c, and extrapolated to p T = 0 [37,38].…”

“…We also compare two new experimental points by ALICE Collaboration on the density dn/dy of φ-mesons produced in pp-collisions at 2,76 [37] and 7 TeV [38], with the results of the corresponding QGSM calculations. The dashed curve represents the theoretical results for 2.76 TeV, and the dashed-dotted curve those for 7 TeV.…”

“…In Table 1, the experimental points for the density dn/dy of φ-meson inelastic production by the ALICE Collaboration at √ s = 2.76 [37] and 7 Tev [38], are compared with the results of the corresponding QGSM calculations. It can be seen that the QGSM results are rather higher than the experimental points.…”

“…Experimental data[34,35] on the y-spectra dn/dy of φ-mesons produced in pp collisions at 158 GeV/c, and the results of the corresponding calculation based on the QGSM (solid line). The dashed and dashed-dotted lines represent the results of the QGSM calculations at 2.76 and 7 Tev, and they are compared with corresponding experimental points in the central rapidity region, |y| ≤ 0.5[37,38]. The dotted line is the QGSM prediction for 14 TeV.…”