D mesons suppression in PbPb collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.76 TeV measured by ALICE

TL;DR

This paper reports on the measurement of D meson suppression in lead-lead collisions at the LHC, revealing significant suppression at high transverse momentum in central collisions, and compares results with other particle suppression and theoretical models.

Contribution

First measurement of prompt D meson suppression in PbPb collisions at 2.76 TeV using ALICE, providing new insights into charm quark energy loss in quark-gluon plasma.

Findings

D mesons are suppressed by a factor of 3-4 at pT > 5 GeV/c in central collisions.

Suppression decreases in more peripheral collisions.

Results align with theoretical models of parton energy loss.

Abstract

The measurement of the prompt charm mesons D0, D+, D*+, and their antiparticles, in PbPb collisions at the LHC, at a centre-of-mass energy sqrt{s_{NN}}=2.76 TeV, with the ALICE detector, using 2010 data, is presented. The RAA of the three meson species show a suppression of a factor 3-4, for transverse momenta larger than 5 GeV/c, in the 20% most central collisions. The suppression is reduced for peripheral collisions. The results are compared with those of charged particles, charged pions, and non-prompt Jpsi, and also with theoretical calculations.