The observation of light nuclei at ALICE and the X(3872) conundrum

TL;DR

This paper analyzes ALICE data on light nuclei production in heavy-ion collisions and compares it to X(3872) production in proton-proton collisions, questioning the molecular interpretation of X(3872).

Contribution

It provides an order-of-magnitude estimate of light nuclei production cross sections and compares them to X(3872), offering insights into its production mechanism.

Findings

Light nuclei production cross sections are estimated at high transverse momenta.

X(3872) production differs significantly from light nuclei, suggesting different origins.

The molecular interpretation of X(3872) is questionable based on production mechanisms.

Abstract

The new data reported by ALICE on the production of light nuclei with pT < 10 GeV in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 2.76 TeV are used to compute an order-of-magnitude estimate of the expected production cross sections of light nuclei in proton-proton collisions at high transverse momenta. We compare the hypertriton, helium-3 and deuteron production cross sections to that of X(3872), measured in prompt pp collisions by CMS. The results we find suggest a different production mechanism for the X(3872), making questionable any loosely bound molecule interpretation.