Measurement of D-meson production at mid-rapidity in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

The production cross sections for prompt charmed mesons D0, D+, D∗+ and D+s were measured at mid-rapidity in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy √s=7 TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). D mesons were reconstructed from their decays D0→K−π+, D+→K−π+π+, D∗+→D0π+, D+s→ϕπ+→K−K+π+, and their charge conjugates.With respect to previous measurements in the same rapidity region, the coverage in transverse momentum (pT) is extended and the uncertainties are reduced by a factor of about two. The accuracy on the estimated total ccbar production cross section is likewise improved. The measured pT-differential cross sections are compared with the results of three perturbative QCD calculations.<br/

Recent developments on the ALICE central Trigger processor

The ALI CE Central Trigger Processor has been constructed and tested, and will shortly be installed in the experimental area. In this review, we introduce the new developments in hardware and software, present a measurement of the minimum propagation time, and illustrate various trigger applications

Timing in the ALICE trigger system

In this paper we discuss trigger signals synchronisation and trigger input alignment in the ALICE trigger system. The synchronisation procedure adjusts the phase of the input signals with respect to the local Bunch Crossing (BC) clock and, indirectly, with respect to the LHC bunch crossing instant. The synchronisation delays are within one clock period: 0-25 ns. The alignment assures that the trigger signals originating from the same bunch crossing reach the processor logic in the same clock cycle. It is achieved by delaying signals by an appropriate number of full clock periods. We propose a procedure which will allow us to nd alignment delays during the system con guration, and to monitor them during the data taking

The ALICE trigger electronics

The ALICE trigger system (TRG) consists of a Central Trigger Processor (CTP) and up to 24 Local Trigger Units (LTU) for each sub-detector. The CTP receives and processes trigger signals from trigger detectors and the outputs from the CTP are 3 levels of hardware triggers: L0, L1 and L2. The 24 sub-detectors are dynamically partitioned in up to 6 independent clusters. The trigger information is propagated through the LTUs to the Front-end electronics (FEE) of each sub-detector via LVDS cables and optical fibres. The trigger information sent from LTU to FEE can be monitored online for possible errors using the newly developed TTCit board. After testing and commissioning of the trigger system itself on the surface, the ALICE trigger electronics has been installed and tested in the experimental cavern with appropriate ALICE experimental software. Testing the Alice trigger system with detectors on the surface and in the experimental cavern in parallel is progressing very well. Currently one setup is used for testing on the surface; another is installed in experimental cavern. This paper describes the current status of ALICE trigger electronics, online error trigger monitoring and appropriate software for this electronics