Charged-hadron production in $pp$, $p$+Pb, Pb+Pb, and Xe+Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_\text{NN}}}=5$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

TL;DR

This study measures charged-hadron spectra in various high-energy collisions at the LHC, revealing nuclear modification effects that depend on collision type, centrality, and transverse momentum, and compares results with theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive comparison of charged-hadron nuclear modification factors across multiple collision systems at the LHC, highlighting centrality and momentum dependencies.

Findings

Moderate enhancement of $R_{p ext{Pb}}$ above unity at $p_T \,\approx\ 3$ GeV

Significant, centrality-dependent suppression in $R_{AA}$ and $R_{XeXe}$

Distinct $p_T$-dependence with maxima and minima at specific transverse momenta

Abstract

This paper presents measurements of charged-hadron spectra obtained in $pp$, $p$+Pb, and Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ or $\sqrt{s_{_\text{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV, and in Xe+Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_\text{NN}}}=5.44$ TeV. The data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC have total integrated luminosities of 25 pb${}^{-1}$, 28 nb${}^{-1}$, 0.50 nb${}^{-1}$, and 3 $\mu$b${}^{-1}$, respectively. The nuclear modification factors $R_{p\text{Pb}}$ and $R_\text{AA}$ are obtained by comparing the spectra in heavy-ion and $pp$ collisions in a wide range of charged-particle transverse momenta and pseudorapidity. The nuclear modification factor $R_{p\text{Pb}}$ shows a moderate enhancement above unity with a maximum at $p_{\mathrm{T}} \approx 3$ GeV; the enhancement is stronger in the Pb-going direction. The nuclear modification factors in both Pb+Pb and Xe+Xe collisions feature a significant, centrality-dependent suppression. They show a similar distinct $p_{\mathrm{T}}$-dependence with a local maximum at $p_{\mathrm{T}} \approx 2$ GeV and a local minimum at $p_{\mathrm{T}} \approx 7$ GeV. This dependence is more distinguishable in more central collisions. No significant $|\eta|$-dependence is found. A comprehensive comparison with several theoretical predictions is also provided. They typically describe $R_\text{AA}$ better in central collisions and in the $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ range from about 10 to 100 GeV.