Statistical hadronization of charm quarks in ultra-relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions

TL;DR

This paper explores how charm quarks form hadrons in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions using the statistical hadronization model, highlighting the significance of medium effects and energy dependence.

Contribution

It applies the statistical hadronization model to charm production across a range of energies, emphasizing the role of medium modifications and low-energy phenomena.

Findings

Lambda_c production increases at lower energies.

Medium modifications do not significantly alter D-meson production cross sections.

Charmonium yields are sensitive to medium effects across energies.

Abstract

We discuss the production of charmonium and open charm in nuclear collisions at SPS/FAIR energies within the framework of the statistical hadronization model. The increasing importance at lower energies of Lambda_c production is discussed and provides a challenge for future experiments. We also show that possible modifications of charmed hadrons in the hot hadronic medium do not lead to measurable changes in the cross sections for D-meson production. A possible influence of medium effects can be seen, however, in yields of charmonium. These effects are visible at all energies and results will be presented for the energy range between charm threshold and RHIC energy.