$\phi$ meson production at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=2.76$ TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports on $\, ext{phi}$ meson production at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV, providing insights into strangeness production and medium effects in high-energy heavy-ion collisions.

Contribution

It presents the first measurement of $\, ext{phi}$ meson production via muon pairs at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV, comparing it with midrapidity results from kaon decays.

Findings

Nuclear modification factors are consistent across rapidity regions.

$\, ext{phi}$ yield depends on transverse momentum and collision centrality.

Results support the understanding of strangeness enhancement in hot medium.

Abstract

$\phi$ meson measurements provide insight into strangeness production, which is one of the key observables for the hot medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. ALICE measured $\phi$ production through its decay in muon pairs in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV in the intermediate transverse momentum range $2 < p_{\rm T} < 5$ GeV/$c$ and in the rapidity interval $2.5<y<4$. The $\phi$ yield was measured as a function of the transverse momentum and collision centrality. The nuclear modification factor was obtained as a function of the average number of participating nucleons. Results were compared with the ones obtained via the kaon decay channel in the same $p_{\rm T}$ range at midrapidity. The values of the nuclear modification factor in the two rapidity regions are in agreement within uncertainties.