Transverse momentum dependence of inclusive primary charged-particle production in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

TL;DR

This study measures the transverse momentum distribution of primary charged particles in p-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV, comparing results to pp and Pb-Pb collisions to understand nuclear effects and particle production mechanisms.

Contribution

First measurement of primary charged-particle $p_T$ spectra in p-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV with detailed comparison to models and other collision systems.

Findings

Nuclear modification factor close to unity for $p_T > 2$ GeV/c

Weak Cronin-like enhancement around 4 GeV/c

Spectra consistent with binary collision scaling at high $p_T$

Abstract

The transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm T}$) distribution of primary charged particles is measured at midrapidity in minimum-bias p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC in the range $0.15<p_{\mathrm T}<50$ GeV/$c$. The spectra are compared to the expectation based on binary collision scaling of particle production in pp collisions, leading to a nuclear modification factor consistent with unity for $p_{\mathrm T}$ larger than 2 GeV/$c$, with a weak indication of a Cronin-like enhancement for $p_{\rm T}$ around 4 GeV/$c$. The measurement is compared to theoretical calculations and to data in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV.