Charmed Meson Production Research Articles

Double charmed meson in pp and pA collisions production at the LHC within the dipole approach in momentum representation

A study of double charmed meson production in proton–proton and proton–nucleus collisions at the LHC energies is performed. Based on the color dipole formalism developed in the transverse momentum representation and the double parton scattering mechanism, predictions are made for the transverse momentum differential cross section for different pairs of D-mesons. The theoretical results consider the center-of-mass energy and forward rapidities associated to the measurements by the LHCb Collaboration. The results considering different unintegrated gluon distributions are presented and compared to data and predictions for proton–nucleus collisions are provided.

A high-resolution pixel silicon Vertex Detector for open charm measurements with the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS

The study of open charm meson production provides an efficient tool for the investigation of the properties of hot and dense matter formed in nucleus–nucleus collisions. The interpretation of the existing di-muon data from the CERN SPS suffers from a lack of knowledge on the mechanism and properties of the open charm particle production. Due to this, the heavy-ion programme of the NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS has been extended by precise measurements of charm hadrons with short lifetimes. A new Vertex Detector for measurements of the rare processes of open charm production in nucleus–nucleus collisions was designed to meet the challenges of track registration and high resolution in primary and secondary vertex reconstruction. A small-acceptance version of the vertex detector was installed in 2016 and tested with Pb + Pb collisions at 150A,text{ GeV }!/!c. It was also operating during the physics data taking on Xe + La and Pb + Pb collisions at 150A,text{ GeV }!/!c conducted in 2017 and 2018. This paper presents the detector design and construction, data calibration, event reconstruction, and analysis procedure.

Far-forward production of charm mesons and neutrinos at forward physics facilities at the LHC and the intrinsic charm in the proton

We discuss production of far-forward $D$ mesons/antimesons and neutrinos/antineutrinos from their semileptonic decays in pp-collisions at the LHC. We include the gluon-gluon fusion $gg \to c\bar{c}$, the intrinsic charm (IC) $gc \to gc$ as well as the recombination $gq \to Dc$ partonic mechanisms. The calculations are performed within the $k_T$-factorization approach and the hybrid model using different unintegrated parton distribution functions (uPDFs) for gluons from the literature, as well as within the collinear approach. We compare our results to the LHCb data for forward $D^{0}$-meson production at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV for different rapidity bins in the interval $2 < y < 4.5$. The IC and recombination models are negligible at the LHCb kinematics. Both the mechanisms start to be crucial at larger rapidities and dominate over the standard charm production mechanisms. At high energies there are so far no experiments probing this region. We present also energy distributions for forward electron, muon and tau neutrinos to be measured at the LHC by the currently operating FASER$\nu$ experiment, as well as by future experiments like FASER$\nu2$ or FLArE, proposed very recently by the Forward Physics Facility project. Again components of different mechanisms are shown separately. For all kinds of neutrinos (electron, muon, tau) the subleading contributions, i.e. the IC and/or the recombination, dominate over light meson (pion, kaon) and the standard charm production contribution driven by fusion of gluons for neutrino energies $E_{\nu} \gtrsim 300$ GeV. For electron and muon neutrinos both the mechanisms lead to a similar production rates and their separation seems rather impossible. On the other hand, for $\nu_{\tau} + {\bar \nu}_{\tau}$ neutrino flux the recombination is further reduced making the measurement of the IC contribution very attractive.

Charmed meson production based on dipole transverse momentum representation in high energy hadron-hadron collisions available at the LHC

The production of D-mesons in high-energy pp collisions at the LHC kinematic regime is analyzed with the color dipole approach in the momentum representation. We present predictions for the D-meson differential cross section in terms of the transverse momentum and rapidity distributions taking into account the nonlinear behavior of the QCD dynamics. Comparison between our results and the corresponding experimental measurements reported by the ALICE and LHCb Collaborations in different rapidity bins is performed. We show that the D-meson production in the high energy limit can be properly addressed by using the QCD dipole transverse momentum distributions.

Exclusive electro-weak production of a charmed meson at high energy

Exclusive electro-weak processes have peculiar features which make them complementary to usually discussed deeply virtual electroproduction processes such as deep virtual Compton scattering or meson production (and the corresponding crossed reactions). They allow in particular single charmed meson production, which we study in two different contexts : electroproduction at an electron ion collider and neutrino-production at a medium energy neutrino facility. We rely on the QCD collinear factorization framework where generalized parton distributions allow physicists to perform a nucleon tomography.

A general-mass scheme for prompt charm production at hadron colliders

In these proceedings, we apply the recently developed S-ACOT-MPS factorization scheme at the next-to-leading order to prompt charm production at hadron colliders. It provides a good agreement with experimental data on charm meson production measured by LHCb at 7 and 13 TeV. The low-p_TpT data are on the margins of the theoretical error bands, emphasizing the importance of including contributions beyond the next-to-leading order.

Open charm mesons and charmonia in magnetized strange hadronic matter * *A.J.C.S acknowledges the support towards this work from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, via an INSPIRE fellowship (INSPIRE Code IF170745). AM acknowledges financial support from Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India (CRG/2018/002226)

We investigate the in-medium masses of open charm mesons (D( , ), ( , ), ( , )) and charmonium states ( , , , , ) in strongly magnetized isospin asymmetric strange hadronic matter using a chiral effective model. In the presence of a magnetic field, the number and scalar densities of charged baryons have contributions from Landau energy levels. The mass modifications of open charm mesons result from their interactions with nucleons, hyperons, and the scalar fields (the non-strange field σ, strange field ζ, and isovector field δ) in the presence of a magnetic field. The mass modifications of the charmonium states result from the modification of gluon condensates in a medium simulated by the variation in the dilaton field (χ) in the chiral effective model. The effects of finite quark masses are also incorporated in the trace of the energy-momentum tensor in quantum chromodynamics to investigate the mass shifts of charmonium states. The in-medium masses of open charm mesons and charmonia are observed to decrease with an increase in baryon density. The charged , , , and mesons have additional positive mass shifts due to Landau quantization in the presence of a magnetic field. The effects of the strangeness fraction are observed to be more dominant for mesons compared with D mesons. The mass shifts of charmonia are observed to be larger in hyperonic media compared with nuclear media when the effect of the finite quark mass term is neglected. These medium mass modifications can have observable consequences on the production of the open charm mesons and charmonia in high-energy asymmetric heavy-ion collision experiments.

Open charm and charmonium states in strong magnetic fields

The mass modifications of the open charm ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) mesons, and their effects on the decay widths [Formula: see text] as well as of the charmonium state, [Formula: see text] to open charm mesons ([Formula: see text]), are investigated in the presence of strong magnetic fields. These are studied accounting for the mixing of the pseudoscalar ([Formula: see text]) and vector ([Formula: see text]) mesons ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] mixings), with the mixing parameter, [Formula: see text] of a phenomenological three-point ([Formula: see text]) vertex interaction determined from the observed radiative decay width of [Formula: see text]. For charged [Formula: see text] mixing, this parameter is dependent on the magnetic field, because of the Landau level contributions to the vacuum masses of these mesons. The masses of the charged [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons modified due to [Formula: see text] mixing, in addition, have contributions from the lowest Landau levels in the presence of a strong magnetic field. The effects of the magnetic field on the decay widths are studied using a field theoretical model of composite hadrons with quark (and antiquark) constituents. The matrix elements for these decays are evaluated using the light quark–antiquark pair creation term of the free Dirac Hamiltonian for the constituent quark field, with explicit constructions for the charmonium state [Formula: see text], the open charm ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) mesons and the pion states in terms of the constituent quark fields. The parameter for the charged [Formula: see text] mixing is observed to increase appreciably with increase in the magnetic field. This leads to dominant modifications to their masses, and hence the decay widths of charged [Formula: see text] as well as [Formula: see text] at large values of the magnetic field. The modifications of the masses and decay widths of the open and hidden charm mesons in the presence of strong magnetic fields should have observable consequences on the production of the open charm ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) mesons as well as of the charmonium states resulting from noncentral ultra-relativistic heavy ion collision experiments.

Masses and decay widths of charmonium states in the presence of strong magnetic fields

The masses and decay widths of charmonium states are studied in the presence of strong magnetic fields. The mixing between the pseudoscalar and vector charmonium states at rest is observed to lead to appreciable negative (positive) shifts in the masses of the pseudoscalar (longitudinal component of the vector) charmonium states in vacuum/hadronic medium in the presence of high magnetic fields. The pseudoscalar and vector charmonium masses in the hadronic medium, calculated in an effective chiral model from the medium changes of a scalar dilaton field, have additional significant modifications due to the mixing effects. The masses of the $D$ and $\bar D$ mesons in the magnetized hadronic matter are calculated within the chiral effective model. The partial decay widths of the vector charmonium state to $D\bar D$ are computed using a field theoretical model for composite hadrons with quark/antiquark constituents, and are compared to the decay widths calculated using an effective hadronic Lagrangian. The effects of the mixing are observed to lead to significant contributions to the masses of the pseusoscalar and vector charmonium states, and an appreciable increase in the decay width $\psi(3770) \rightarrow D\bar D$ at large values of the magnetic fields. These studies of the charmonium states in strong magnetic fields should have observable consequences on the dilepton spectra, as well as on the production of the open charm mesons and the charmonium states in ultra relativistic heavy ion collision experiments.

QCD predictions for open charm meson production at the LHCb in a fixed-target experiment

We investigate open charm meson production in fixed-target LHCb experiment at $\sqrt{s}=86.6$ GeV in $p+^4\!\mathrm{He}$ collisions. Theoretical calculations of charm cross section are done in the framework of the $k_{T}$-factorization approach. Its application in the kinematical range never examined before is carefully discussed. We consider different schemes for the calculations relevant for different unintegrated (transverse momentum dependent) parton densities in a proton. We include in the analysis both CCFM- and DGLAP-based models of unintegrated parton distributions appropriate for the considered kinematics. Integrated as well as differential cross sections as a function of $D^{0}$ meson rapidity and transverse momentum are shown and compared with the experimental data. As a reference point, predictions of next-to-leading order collinear approach are also presented and discussed. A very good agreement between the experimental data and the $k_{T}$-factorization predictions was obtained. Both the CCFM and the DGLAP-based frameworks for parton distributions in a proton are successfully used to explain the LHCb fixed-target open charm cross section.

Prompt atmospheric neutrinos in the quark\u2013gluon string model

We calculate the atmospheric flux of prompt neutrinos, produced in decays of the charmed particles at energies beyond 1 TeV. Cross sections of the D mesons and {Lambda }^{+}_{c} baryons production in pA and pi A collisions are calculated in the phenomenological quark–gluon string model (QGSM) which is updated using recent measurements of cross sections of the charmed meson production in the LHC experiments. A new estimate of the prompt atmospheric neutrino flux is obtained and compared with the limit from the IceCube experiment, and with predictions of other charm production models.

Beam impact tests of a prototype target for the beam dump facility at CERN: Experimental setup and preliminary analysis of the online results

The Beam Dump Facility (BDF) is a project for a new facility at CERN dedicated to high intensity beam dump and fixed target experiments. Currently in its design phase, the first aim of the facility is to search for Light Dark Matter and Hidden Sector models with the Search for Hidden Particles (SHiP) experiment. At the core of the facility sits a dense target/dump, whose function is to absorb safely the 400 GeV/c Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) beam and to maximize the production of charm and beauty mesons. An average power of 300 kW will be deposited on the target, which will be subjected to unprecedented conditions in terms of temperature, structural loads and irradiation. In order to provide a representative validation of the target design, a prototype target has been designed, manufactured and tested under the SPS fixed-target proton beam during 2018, up to an average beam power of 50 kW, corresponding to 350 kJ per pulse. The present contribution details the target prototype design and experimental setup, as well as a first evaluation of the measurements performed during beam irradiation. The analysis of the collected data suggests that a representative reproduction of the operational conditions of the Beam Dump Facility target was achieved during the prototype tests, which will be complemented by a Post Irradiation Examination campaign during 2020.

Centrality Dependence of Charmed-Meson Photoproduction in Ultrarelativistic Heavy Ion Collisions**Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11847207, the International Postdoctoral Exchange Fellowship Program of China under Grant No. 20180010, and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project No. 2017M610663

We calculate the centrality dependence of inclusive cross section of large-pT charmed-meson (D0, D∗, D∗+, and ) from heavy quark fragmentation by the hard photoproduction processes in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions. The numerical results indicate that the contribution of the hard photoproduction processes cannot be negligible for the inclusive charmed-meson production in Au-Au collisions at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and Pb-Pb collisions at Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

The atmospheric neutrino flux from decays of charmed particles

We calculate the high-energy component of the atmospheric neutrino flux which arises from decays of the charmed particles. Cross sections of the D mesons and baryons production in pA and πA collisions are calculated within the framework of the quark-gluon string model (QGSM). The recent data on the cross sections of charmed meson production at high energies, obtained in experiments at the LHC, allow an improvement of the QGSM free parameters and new estimate of the prompt atmospheric neutrino flux. The newly-calculated flux of the prompt neutrinos is three times smaller than the flux predicted with the previous version of QGSM. We compare our result with the constraint derived from IceCube experiment as well as with predictions obtained with different charm production models.

Open charm measurements in NA61/SHINE at CERN SPS

The measurements of open charm production was proposed as an important tool to investigate the properties of the hot and dense matter formed in nucleus-nucleus collisions as well as to provide the means for model independent interpretation of the existing data on J/ψ suppression. Recently, the experimental setup of the NA61/SHINE experiment was supplemented with a Vertex Detector which was motivated by the importance and the possibility of the first direct measurements of open charm meson production in heavy ion collisions at SPS energies. First test data taken in December 2016 on Pb+Pb collisions at 150A GeV/c allowed to validate the general concept of D0 meson detection via its D0 → π+ + K− decay channel and delivered a first indication of open charm production.The physics motivation of open charm measurements at SPS energies, pilot results on open charm production, and finally, the future plans of open charm measurements in the NA61/SHINE experiment after LS2 are presented.

Open Charm Measurements at CERN SPS Energies with the New Vertex Detector of the NA61/SHINE Experiment: Status and Plans

The study of open charm meson production provides an efficient tool for detailed investigations of the properties of hot and dense matter formed in nucleus-nucleus collisions. The interpretation of the existing data from the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) suffers from a lack of knowledge about the total charm production rate. To overcome this limitation, the heavy-ion program of the NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS has been upgraded to allow for precise measurements of particles with a short lifetime. A new vertex detector (Small Acceptance version of the Vertex Detector (SAVD)) was constructed to meet the challenges of open charm measurements in nucleus-nucleus collisions. The first exploratory data taking of Pb + Pb collisions at 150A GeV/c with the SAVD was performed in 2016, and a D 0 signal was extracted in its D 0 → π + + K − decay channel. This was the first, direct observation of open charm in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the SPS energies. Furthermore, the future plans of open charm measurements in the NA61/SHINE experiment related to the upgraded version of the Vertex Detector are discussed.

Open charm measurements at CERN SPS energies with the new Vertex Detector of the NA61/SHINE experiment

The study of open charm meson production provides an efficient tool for detailed investigations of the properties of hot and dense matter formed in nucleus-nucleus collisions. The interpretation of the existing data from the CERN SPS suffers from a lack of knowledge on the total charm production rate. To overcome this limitation the heavy-ion programme of the NA61/SHINE experiment at CERN SPS has been expanded to allow for precise measurements of particles with a short lifetime. A new Small Acceptance Vertex Detector (SAVD) was designed and constructed to meet the challenges of open charm measurements in nucleus-nucleus collisions. SAVD was installed in December 2016 for data taking with Pb+Pb collisions at 150A GeV/c. An exploratory set of collected data allowed to validate the general concept of the D0 mesons detection via its D0→π++K- decay channel and delivered the first direct observation of open charm at SPS energies. In October and November of 2017 a large statistic data set has been taken for Xe+La at 150A, 75A, and 40A GeV/c, these data are currently under intense analysis. The physics motivation behind the open charm measurements at the SPS energies will be discussed. Moreover, the concept of the SAVD hardware and status of the analysis will be shown. Also, the future plans of open charm measurements in the NA61/SHINE experiment related to the upgraded Vertex Detector will be presented.

Charmonium states in strong magnetic fields

The medium modifications of the masses of the charmonium states (J/$\psi$, $\psi$(3686) and $\psi$(3770)) in asymmetric nuclear matter in the presence of strong magnetic fields are studied using an effective chiral model. The mass modifications arise due to medium modifications of the scalar dilaton field, which simulates the gluon condensates of QCD within the effective hadronic model. The effects due to the magnetic field as well as isospin asymmetry are observed to be appreciable at high densities for the charmonium states, which can have consequences, e,g, in the production of the open charm mesons and the charmonium states, in the asymmetric heavy ion collisions at the compressed baryonic matter (CBM) experiments at the future facility at GSI. The presence of magnetic field leads to Landau quantization of the energy levels of the proton in the asymmetric nuclear matter. The effects of the anomalous magnetic moments of the proton and neutron on the masses of the charmonium states are studied and are observed to lead to larger masses of the charmonium states, as compared to when these effects are not taken into account.

Open Charm Measurements at CERN SPS Energies with the New Vertex Detector of the NA61/SHINE Experiment

The heavy-ion programme of the NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS has been expanded to allow precise measurements of exotic particles with short lifetime. The study of open charm meson production is a sensitive tool for new detailed investigations of the properties of hot and dense matter formed in nucleus-nucleus collisions. In particular, it offers new possibilities for studies of such phenomena as in- medium parton energy loss and quarkonium dissociation and possible regeneration, thus providing new information to probe deconfinement. A new high resolution Vertex Detector was designed for the NA61/SHINE experiment for measurements of the very rare processes of open charm production in nucleus- nucleus collisions at the SPS. It will meet the challenges of track registration and of very precise spatial resolution in primary and secondary vertex reconstruction required for the identification of

Charm meson production in Pb–Pb collisions at the LHC in HYDJET++ model

The phenomenological analysis of J/ψ and D meson production in Pb–Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 2.76 TeV per nucleon pair is fulfilled in the framework of the two-component HYDJET++ model, which includes the thermal and nonthermal production mechanisms. A significant fraction of D-mesons is found to be in a kinetic equilibrium with the created matter, while J/ψ-mesons are characterized by earlier (as compared to light hadrons) freeze-out.