Production measurements at LHCb with the first data

TL;DR

This paper discusses the initial measurements of particle production, including mesons and charmonia, at LHCb using early data, focusing on cross-sections and polarization in high-energy proton-proton collisions.

Contribution

It presents the first perspective measurements of inclusive particle production at LHCb, including methods for analyzing prompt and non-prompt J/psi production with small data samples.

Findings

Feasibility of measuring J/psi production with minimal data

Potential to study polarization and exotic states

First estimates of production cross-sections in the forward region

Abstract

We report on the perspective measurements of inclusive particle production in high-energy p-p collisions with data to be collected by the LHCb experiment at CERN's LHC. These include V0 and D meson production studies, which can be based on a minimum bias sample, as well as charmonia production studies, which need a muon-triggered samples. Using reconstructed $J/\psi \to \mu^+ \mu^-$ decays, both the prompt $J/\psi$ and $b\to J/\psi$ production cross-sections will be determined, in the forward pseudo-rapidity range of 2-5 covered by LHCb. Due to the large production rate, such analyses will be possible with very small integrated luminosities of the order of a few $\mathrm{pb}^{-1}$. Other charmonia related measurements will also be discussed, such as that of the $J/\psi$ polarization at production or of the production of some of the new X, Y and Z states.