D meson sensitivity to a system size scan at LHC

TL;DR

This paper predicts how D meson suppression and elliptic flow vary across different collision system sizes at the LHC, revealing that suppression diminishes with smaller systems while flow remains consistent in central collisions.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic study of system size effects on D meson observables at the LHC using advanced modeling tools, providing new insights into collision dynamics.

Findings

$R_{AA}$ approaches unity in smaller systems

$v_2$ in central collisions is system-independent

Path length and eccentricity influence results

Abstract

Experimental measurements in pA collisions indicate no D meson suppression ($R_{\rm pPb} \sim 1$) but a surprisingly large $v_2$. To better understand these results we propose a system size scan at the LHC involving $^{16}$OO, $^{40}$ArAr, $^{129}$XeXe and $^{208}$PbPb collisions. Using Trento+ v-USPhydro+DAB-MOD to make predictions, we find that the $R_{\rm AA}$ tends towards unity when the system size is decreased, but nonetheless, in the most central collisions $v_2\{2\}$ is almost independent of the colliding system. These results are analyzed in light of path length and initial eccentricity variations.