High $p_{T}$ non-photonic electron production in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV

TL;DR

This paper measures high-$p_T$ non-photonic electron production in proton-proton collisions at 200 GeV, comparing results with theoretical models and previous data to understand heavy flavor production mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides new measurements of non-photonic electron cross-sections at high $p_T$ in $p$+$p$ collisions and separates contributions from bottom and charm meson decays.

Findings

Measured cross-sections are consistent across different runs despite background differences.

Quantified the integrated cross sections for electrons from bottom and charm decays.

Results agree with pQCD calculations and previous RHIC data.

Abstract

We present the measurement of non-photonic electron production at high transverse momentum ($p_T > $ 2.5 GeV/$c$) in $p$ + $p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV using data recorded during 2005 and 2008 by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The measured cross-sections from the two runs are consistent with each other despite a large difference in photonic background levels due to different detector configurations. We compare the measured non-photonic electron cross-sections with previously published RHIC data and pQCD calculations. Using the relative contributions of B and D mesons to non-photonic electrons, we determine the integrated cross sections of electrons ($\frac{e^++e^-}{2}$) at 3 GeV/$c < p_T <~$10 GeV/$c$ from bottom and charm meson decays to be ${d\sigma_{(B\to e)+(B\to D \to e)} \over dy_e}|_{y_e=0}$ = 4.0$\pm0.5$({\rm stat.})$\pm1.1$({\rm syst.}) nb and ${d\sigma_{D\to e} \over dy_e}|_{y_e=0}$ = 6.2$\pm0.7$({\rm stat.})$\pm1.5$({\rm syst.}) nb, respectively.