Abstract
The -differential production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons , , , and and their charge conjugate in the rapidity interval were measured in collisions at a center-of-mass energy with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The nuclear modification factor , quantifying the -meson yield in collisions relative to the yield in collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, is compatible within the 15%–20% uncertainties with unity in the transverse momentum interval . No significant difference among the of the four -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 mesons observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to collisions is due to strong final-state effects induced by hot partonic matter.
- Received 14 May 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.232301
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© 2014 CERN, for the ALICE Collaboration