Inclusive J/$\psi$ production at forward and backward rapidity in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV

TL;DR

This study measures inclusive J/ψ production in proton-lead collisions at 8.16 TeV, revealing rapidity-dependent suppression patterns and comparing results with previous data and theoretical models.

Contribution

First measurement of inclusive J/ψ production at 8.16 TeV in p-Pb collisions across different rapidities and transverse momenta, providing new insights into nuclear effects.

Findings

Forward rapidity shows J/ψ suppression at low p_T.

Backward rapidity shows no significant suppression.

Results agree with some theoretical models and previous measurements.

Abstract

Inclusive J/$\psi$ production is studied in p-Pb interactions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=8.16$ TeV, using the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC. The J/$\psi$ meson is reconstructed, via its decay to a muon pair, in the centre-of-mass rapidity intervals $2.03<y_{\rm {cms}}<3.53$ and $-4.46<y_{\rm {cms}}<-2.96$, where positive and negative $y_{\rm {cms}}$ refer to the p-going and Pb-going direction, respectively. The transverse momentum coverage is $p_{\rm T}<20$ GeV/$c$. In this paper, $y_{\rm cms}$- and $p_{\rm T}$-differential cross sections for inclusive J/$\psi$ production are presented, and the corresponding nuclear modification factors $R_{\rm pPb}$ are shown. Forward results show a suppression of the J/$\psi$ yield with respect to pp collisions, concentrated in the region $p_{\rm T}\lesssim 5$ GeV/$c$. At backward rapidity no significant suppression is observed. The results are compared to previous measurements by ALICE in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV and to theoretical calculations. Finally, the ratios $R_{\rm FB}$ between forward- and backward-$y_{\rm {cms}}$ $R_{\rm pPb}$ values are shown and discussed.