Differential cross-section measurements of $D^{\pm}$ and $D_{s}^{\pm}$ meson production in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of $D^{ m extpm}$ and $D_s^{ m extpm}$ meson production cross-sections in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV, comparing results with QCD predictions to test theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed differential cross-section measurements of these mesons at 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector, testing QCD predictions in a new energy regime.

Findings

Measurements are consistent with NLO QCD predictions within uncertainties.

Differential cross-sections cover $12 < p_T < 100$ GeV and $| ext{eta}| < 2.5$.

Results help refine theoretical models of charm meson production.

Abstract

The production of $D^{\pm}$ and $D_{s}^{\pm}$ charmed mesons is measured using the $D^{\pm}/D_{s}^{\pm} \to \phi(\mu\mu)\pi^{\pm}$ decay channel with 137 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during the years 2016-2018. The charmed mesons are reconstructed in the range of transverse momentum $12 < p_\mathrm{T} < 100$ GeV and pseudorapidity $|\eta| < 2.5$. The differential cross-sections are measured as a function of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity, and compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. The predictions are found to be consistent with the measurements in the visible kinematic region within the large theoretical uncertainties.