$\Lambda_b^0$-baryon production in pp collisions in the general-mass variable-flavour-number scheme and comparison with CMS and LHCb data

TL;DR

This paper calculates the production cross section of Lambda_b baryons in proton-proton collisions using advanced theoretical methods and compares the results with recent experimental data from CMS and LHCb, finding overall good agreement.

Contribution

The study applies the next-to-leading-order calculation within the general-mass variable-flavor-number scheme to Lambda_b production, incorporating realistic fragmentation functions fitted from B-meson data.

Findings

General agreement with CMS and LHCb data

Indications to modify fragmentation functions at high scales

Provides detailed transverse-momentum and rapidity distributions

Abstract

We calculate the next-to-leading-order cross section for the inclusive production of $\Lambda_b$ baryons in pp collisions in the general-mass variable-flavor-number scheme. We use realistic evolved non-perturbative fragmentation functions obtained from fits to B-meson production in $e^+ e^-$ annihilation and compare our results for transverse-momentum and rapidity distributions with recent experimental data from the CMS and the LHCb collaborations at the CERN LHC. We find satisfactory agreement in general, with some indication for the need to modify the available fragmentation functions at larger values of the scale variable.