Measurement of $\mathrm{D}$-meson production as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with ALICE at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper measures how D-meson production varies with charged-particle multiplicity in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV, revealing a stronger-than-linear increase and comparing results with models and previous energies.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of D-meson yields as a function of multiplicity at 13 TeV, highlighting the multiplicity dependence of heavy-flavor production.

Findings

D-meson yields increase more than linearly with multiplicity

Results agree with certain theoretical models

Comparison with 7 TeV data shows energy dependence

Abstract

Heavy quarks (charm and beauty) are produced in hard-scattering processes and the study of their production in proton--proton (pp) collisions is an important test for calculations based on perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (pQCD). Heavy-flavor production as a function of charged-particle multiplicity provides insight into the processes occurring at the partonic level and the interplay between the hard and soft particle production mechanisms in pp collisions. In this contribution, measurements of open heavy-flavor production as a function of multiplicity, via the study of the $\mathrm{D}$-meson self-normalized yields in pp collisions at the center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV is presented. The $\mathrm{D}$-meson self-normalized yield is found to increase stronger than linearly with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. The measurements are compared to theoretical model calculations, and with the results at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV.