Multiplicity dependence of f$_0$(980) production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV

TL;DR

This study investigates how the production of the f0(980) meson varies with charged-particle multiplicity in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV, revealing trends consistent with smaller collision systems and providing insights into its quark content.

Contribution

First measurement of f0(980) production dependence on multiplicity in pp collisions at 13 TeV, comparing results with thermal models to explore its quark structure.

Findings

f0(980) yields increase with multiplicity

Particle ratios decrease with multiplicity

Data favor no significant hidden strangeness in f0(980)

Abstract

The dependence of $\mathrm{f}_{0}$(980) production on the final-state charged-particle multiplicity is reported for proton-proton (pp) collisions at the centre-of-mass energy, $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. The production of $\mathrm{f}_{0}$(980) is measured with the ALICE detector via the $\mathrm{f}_0 (980) \rightarrow \pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ decay channel in a midrapidity region of $|y|<0.5$. The evolution of the integrated yields and mean transverse momentum of f$_{0}$(980) as a function of charged-particle multiplicity measured in pp at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV follows the trends observed in pp at $\sqrt{s}=5.02$ TeV and in proton-lead (p-Pb) collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV. Particle yield ratios of $\mathrm{f}_{0}$(980) to $\pi^{\pm}$ and $\mathrm{K}^{*}$(892)$^{0}$ are found to decrease with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. These particle ratios are compared with calculations from the canonical statistical thermal model as a function of charged-particle multiplicity. The thermal model calculations provide a better description of the decreasing trend of particle ratios when no strange or antistrange quark composition for f$_{0}$(980) is assumed, which suggests that the data do not support significant hidden strangeness in the f$_{0}$(980).