Forward rapidity ψ(2S) meson production in pp, p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions with ALICE at the LHC

Abstract

The ALICE Collaboration has studied the inclusive ψ(2S) meson production in pp, p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at the CERN LHC. The ψ(2S) is detected through its decay to a muon pair, using the forward Muon Spectrometer, which covers the pseudo-rapidity range –4 < η < -2.5. The ψ(2S) production cross sections in pp collisions are presented as a function of rapidity (y) and transverse momentum (pT). In p-Pb collisions, ψ(2S) results are compared to the J/ψ ones by the ratio of their production cross sections as a function of rapidity, transverse momentum and event activity. The ψ(2S) nuclear modification factor, RpA, is also discussed. The results show a ψ(2S) suppression compared to the one observed for the J/ψ meson and are not described by theoretical models including cold nuclear matter effects as nuclear shadowing and energy loss. Finally, the preliminary results of ψ(2S) meson production in Pb-Pb collisions are shown in two pT ranges as a function of the collision centrality.