Heavy flavour decay muon production at forward rapidity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of muons from heavy flavour decays at forward rapidity in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV, providing data to test perturbative QCD predictions.

Contribution

First measurement of heavy flavour decay muon production cross sections at forward rapidity in 7 TeV proton-proton collisions with detailed differential analysis.

Findings

Measured muon production cross sections in specified kinematic range.

Results agree with perturbative QCD predictions within uncertainties.

Provides baseline data for heavy flavour studies at LHC.

Abstract

The production of muons from heavy flavour decays is measured at forward rapidity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV collected with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The analysis is carried out on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity $L_{\rm int} = 16.5$ nb$^{-1}$. The transverse momentum and rapidity differential production cross sections of muons from heavy flavour decays are measured in the rapidity range 2.5 < y < 4, over the transverse momentum range 2 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 12 GeV/$c$. The results are compared to predictions based on perturbative QCD calculations.