Measurement of D^0, D^+, D_s^+ and D^{*+} Production in Fixed Target 920 GeV Proton-Nucleus Collisions

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of production cross sections for various charmed mesons in 920 GeV proton-nucleus collisions, providing insights into charm production mechanisms and nuclear effects at high energies.

Contribution

It presents the first comprehensive measurement of D meson production cross sections in fixed-target proton-nucleus collisions at 920 GeV, including differential distributions and nuclear dependence.

Findings

Measured inclusive production cross sections for D^0, D^+, D_s^+, D^{*+}

Analyzed nuclear dependence of charm production

Provided differential cross sections up to pT=3.5 GeV/c

Abstract

The inclusive production cross sections of the charmed mesons D^0, D^+, D_s^+ and D^{*+} have been measured in interactions of 920 GeV protons on C, Ti, and W targets with the HERA-B detector at the HERA storage ring. Differential cross sections as a function of transverse momentum and Feynman's x variable are given for the central rapidity region and for transverse momenta up to $\pT=3.5$ GeV/$c$. The atomic mass number dependence and the leading to non-leading particle production asymmetries are presented as well.