Production of (anti-)$^3$He and (anti-)$^3$H in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of (anti-)$^3$He and (anti-)$^3$H production in p-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV, comparing results to models and setting limits on $^4ar{ ext{He}}$ yields.

Contribution

First measurement of (anti-)$^3$He and (anti-)$^3$H yields and coalescence parameters in p-Pb collisions at LHC energies.

Findings

Yields and ratios of (anti-)$^3$He and (anti-)$^3$H are quantified.

Results are consistent with coalescence and statistical hadronization models.

An upper limit on $^4ar{ ext{He}}$ production is established.

Abstract

The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm{T}}$) differential yields of (anti-)$^3$He and (anti-)$^3$H measured in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV with ALICE at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are presented. The ratios of the $p_{\rm{T}}$-integrated yields of (anti-)$^3$He and (anti-)$^3$H to the proton yields are reported, as well as the $p_{\rm{T}}$ dependence of the coalescence parameters $B_3$ for (anti-)$^3$He and (anti-)$^3$H. For (anti-)$^3$He, the results obtained in four classes of the mean charged-particle multiplicity density are also discussed. These results are compared to predictions from a canonical statistical hadronization model and coalescence approaches. An upper limit on the total yield of $^4\bar{\mathrm{He}}$ is determined.