Measurement of prompt $\psi$(2S) production cross sections in proton-lead and proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_\mathrm{NN}}} =$ 5.02 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of prompt $\psi$(2S) production cross sections in proton-lead and proton-proton collisions at 5.02 TeV, revealing different nuclear effects for excited charmonium states compared to ground states.

Contribution

First measurement of prompt $\psi$(2S) production cross sections and nuclear modification factors in pPb and pp collisions at 5.02 TeV, highlighting differences in nuclear effects between charmonium states.

Findings

Different nuclear effects observed for $\psi$(2S) compared to J/$ ho$ in certain kinematic regions.

Prompt $\psi$(2S) $R_{pPb}$ varies with transverse momentum and rapidity.

Evidence of state-dependent nuclear modifications in charmonium production.

Abstract

Measurements of prompt $\psi$(2S) meson production cross sections in proton-lead (pPb) and proton-proton (pp) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{_\mathrm{NN}}} =$ 5.02 TeV are reported. The results are based on pPb and pp data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 34.6 nb$^{-1}$ and 28.0 pb$^{-1}$, respectively. The nuclear modification factor $R_\mathrm{pPb}$ is measured for prompt $\psi$(2S) in the transverse momentum range 4 $<$ p$_\mathrm{T}$ $<$ 30 GeV$/c$ and the center-of-mass rapidity range $-$2.4 $< y_\mathrm{cm} <$ 1.93. The results on $\psi$(2S) $R_\mathrm{pPb}$ are compared to the corresponding modification factor for prompt J$/\psi$ mesons. The results point to different nuclear effects at play in the production of the excited charmonium state compared to the ground state, in the region of backward rapidity and for p$_\mathrm{T}$ $<$ 10 GeV$/c$.