Results from (anti-)(hyper-)nuclei production and searches for exotic bound states with ALICE at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper reports on ALICE detector measurements of light nuclei, anti-nuclei, hypernuclei, and searches for exotic bound states in various collision systems, comparing results with theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on nuclei and hypernuclei production and sets upper limits on exotic states, enhancing understanding of particle production mechanisms at the LHC.

Findings

Production rates of nuclei and anti-nuclei in different collisions

Upper limits on exotic bound state production

Comparison with thermal and coalescence model predictions

Abstract

The excellent particle identification capabilities of the ALICE detector, using the time projection chamber and the time-of-flight detector, allow the detection of light nuclei and anti-nuclei. Furthermore, the high tracking resolution provided by the inner tracking system enables the separation of primary nuclei from those coming from the decay of heavier systems. This allows for the reconstruction of decays such as the hypertriton mesonic weak decay ($^3_{\Lambda}$H$\rightarrow ^3$He + $\pi^-$), the decay of a hypothetical bound state of a $\Lambda$n into a deuteron and pion or the H-dibaryon decaying into a $\Lambda$, a proton and a $\pi^{-}$. An overview of the production of stable nuclei and anti-nuclei in proton-proton, proton-lead and, in particular, lead-lead collisions is presented. Hypernuclei production rates in Pb--Pb are also shown, together with the upper limits estimated on the production of hypothetical exotica candidates. The results are compared with predictions for the production in thermal (statistical) and coalescence models.