Centrality dependence of $\mathbf{\psi}$(2S) suppression in p-Pb collisions at $\mathbf{\sqrt{{\textit s}_{\rm NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV

TL;DR

This study investigates how the production of the $ ext{psi}(2S)$ charmonium state varies with collision centrality in p-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV, revealing rapidity-dependent suppression patterns and comparing them to J/$ ext{psi}$ production.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of $ ext{psi}(2S)$ suppression as a function of centrality in p-Pb collisions at LHC energies, highlighting differences from J/$ ext{psi}$ suppression.

Findings

Large suppression of $ ext{psi}(2S)$ at backward rapidity.

Comparable suppression of $ ext{psi}(2S)$ and J/$ ext{psi}$ at forward rapidity.

Results agree with some theoretical models and differ from lower energy experiments.

Abstract

The inclusive production of the $\psi$(2S) charmonium state was studied as a function of centrality in p-Pb collisions at the nucleon-nucleon center of mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV at the CERN LHC. The measurement was performed with the ALICE detector in the center of mass rapidity ranges $-4.46<y_{\rm cms}<-2.96$ and $2.03<y_{\rm cms}<3.53$, down to zero transverse momentum, by reconstructing the $\psi$(2S) decay to a muon pair. The $\psi$(2S) production cross section $\sigma_{\psi(\rm 2S)}$ is presented as a function of the collision centrality, which is estimated through the energy deposited in forward rapidity calorimeters. The relative strength of nuclear effects on the $\psi$(2S) and on the corresponding 1S charmonium state J/$\psi$ is then studied by means of the double ratio of cross sections $[\sigma_{\psi(\rm 2S)}/\sigma_{\rm J/\psi}]_{\rm pPb}/[\sigma_{\psi(\rm 2S)}/\sigma_{\rm J/\psi}]_{\rm pp}$ between p-Pb and pp collisions, and by the values of the nuclear modification factors for the two charmonium states. The results show a large suppression of $\psi$(2S) production relative to the J/$\psi$ at backward (negative) rapidity, corresponding to the flight direction of the Pb-nucleus, while at forward (positive) rapidity the suppressions of the two states are comparable. Finally, comparisons to results from lower energy experiments and to available theoretical models are presented.