sPHENIX measurements of heavy flavor production in $p$+$p$ collisions

TL;DR

sPHENIX, a new collider detector at RHIC, has collected an unprecedented large dataset of $p$+$p$ collisions, enabling high-precision measurements of heavy flavor production, including first observations of certain charm hadrons at RHIC.

Contribution

This work demonstrates the use of sPHENIX's streaming tracking system to collect large unbiased datasets, enabling novel heavy flavor measurements at RHIC.

Findings

Observation of $D^0$ mesons in $p$+$p$ collisions.

Evidence of $ ext{Lambda}_c^+$ production at RHIC.

First measurements of heavy flavor resonances at RHIC.

Abstract

sPHENIX is the first new collider detector experiment dedicated to heavy-ion physics since the LHC began collecting data. Successfully commissioned in 2023-2024, one of its standout features is a streaming-capable tracking system that enables the collection of large, unbiased $p$+$p$ datasets-previously unattainable at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Leveraging this capability, sPHENIX recorded over 100 billion unbiased $p$+$p$ collisions at 200 GeV during Run 24. This unprecedented dataset unlocks a high-precision open heavy flavor physics program with extended low-$p_T$ reach, spanning both charm and beauty sectors. These proceedings present the progress in the analysis of open heavy flavor in the $p$+$p$ dataset. From one hour of data and early-stage calibrations, we see observations of $D^0$ mesons and evidence of $\Lambda_c^+$ in $p$+$p$ collisions for the first time at RHIC. These resonances will allow for novel physics measurements to be performed for the first time at RHIC.