Production of muons from heavy flavour decays at forward rapidity in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of muons from heavy flavour decays at forward rapidity in proton-proton and lead-lead collisions at 2.76 TeV, revealing significant suppression in central heavy-ion collisions consistent with quark-gluon plasma effects.

Contribution

First measurement of heavy flavour decay muons at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV, including nuclear modification factor analysis.

Findings

Weak suppression in peripheral collisions

Factor of 3-4 suppression in central collisions

Suppression independent of transverse momentum

Abstract

The ALICE Collaboration has measured the inclusive production of muons from heavy flavour decays at forward rapidity, 2.5 < y < 4, in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential inclusive cross section of muons from heavy flavour decays in pp collisions is compared to perturbative QCD calculations. The nuclear modification factor is studied as a function of pt and collision centrality. A weak suppression is measured in peripheral collisions. In the most central collisions, a suppression of a factor of about 3-4 is observed in 6 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 10 GeV/$c$. The suppression shows no significant $p_{\rm T}$ dependence.