Measurement of $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8$ and $13$ TeV

TL;DR

This paper measures the production rates of the exotic meson $ ext{\chi}_{c1}(3872)$ relative to $ ext{\psi}(2S)$ in proton-proton collisions at 8 and 13 TeV, revealing how these ratios depend on transverse momentum and energy.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of the $ ext{\chi}_{c1}(3872)$ production cross-section ratios at two different energies, including their dependence on kinematic variables.

Findings

Prompt ratio increases with $p_T$

Double-differential ratio is consistent between 8 and 13 TeV

Prompt ratio is independent of rapidity

Abstract

The production cross-section of the $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ state relative to the $\psi(2S)$ meson is measured using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of $\sqrt{s}=8$ and 13 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 2.0 and 5.4 fb$^{-1}$, respectively. The two mesons are reconstructed in the $J/\psi\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ final state. The ratios of the prompt and nonprompt $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ to $\psi(2S)$ production cross-sections are measured as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, and rapidity, $y$, in the kinematic range $4 < p_{\rm T} < 20$ GeV/$c$ and $2.0 < y < 4.5$. The prompt ratio is found to increase with $p_{\rm T}$ independently of $y$. The double-differential cross-section ratio of $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ relative to $\psi(2S)$ mesons between 13 and 8 TeV is also measured for the prompt component and observed to be consistent with unity, independent of $p_{\rm T}$ and centre-of-mass energy.