/ nucl-ex CERN-PH-EP-2014-90

Measurement of prompt D-meson production in p-Pb collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 5.02 TeV

Pages: 17

Abstract: The pt-differential production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons D0, D+, D*+ and Ds+ and their charge conjugate in the rapidity interval -0.96 < y_cms < 0.04 were measured in p-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy sqrt(sNN) = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The nuclear modification factor R_pPb, quantifying the D-meson yield in p--Pb collisions relative to the yield in pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, is compatible within the 15-20% uncertainties with unity in the transverse momentum interval 1 < pt < 24 GeV/c. No significant difference among the R_pPb of the four D-meson species is observed. The results are described within uncertainties by theoretical calculations that include initial-state effects. The measurement adds experimental evidence that the modification of the momentum spectrum of D mesons observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to pp collisions is due to strong final-state effects induced by hot partonic matter.

Note: *Temporary entry*; 17 pages, 4 captioned figures, authors from page 12 to page 14

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