Measurement of prompt $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ production in $p\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions at $\sqrt {s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02\,$TeV

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of prompt $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ meson production in proton-lead collisions at 5.02 TeV, providing insights into nuclear effects and charm hadronization at LHC energies.

Contribution

First measurement of prompt $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ production cross-sections and nuclear modification factors in $p$Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV by the LHCb experiment.

Findings

Measured differential cross-sections for $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ mesons.

Determined nuclear modification factors and forward-backward ratios.

Provided cross-section ratios as a baseline for heavy-ion studies.

Abstract

The production of prompt $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ mesons is studied in proton-lead collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt {s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02\,$TeV. The data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $(1.58\pm0.02)\mathrm{nb}^{-1}$ is collected by the LHCb experiment at the LHC. The differential production cross-sections are measured using $D^+$ and $D^+_{s}$ candidates with transverse momentum in the range of $0<p_{\mathrm{T}} <14\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$ and rapidities in the ranges of $1.5<y^*<4.0$ and $-5.0<y^*<-2.5$ in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass system. For both particles, the nuclear modification factor and the forward-backward production ratio are determined. These results are compared with theoretical models that include initial-state nuclear effects. In addition, measurements of the cross-section ratios between $D^+$, $D^+_{s}$ and $D^0$ mesons are presented, providing a baseline for studying the charm hadronization in lead-lead collisions at LHC energies.