The beam and detector of the NA62 experiment at CERN

NA62 is a fixed-target experiment at the CERN SPS dedicated to measurements of rare kaon decays. Such measurements, like the branching fraction of the K(+) → π(+) ν bar nu decay, have the potential to bring significant insights into new physics processes when comparison is made with precise theoretical predictions. For this purpose, innovative techniques have been developed, in particular, in the domain of low-mass tracking devices. Detector construction spanned several years from 2009 to 2014. The collaboration started detector commissioning in 2014 and will collect data until the end of 2018. The beam line and detector components are described together with their early performance obtained from 2014 and 2015 data.NA62 is a fixed-target experiment at the CERN SPS dedicated to measurements of rare kaon decays. Such measurements, like the branching fraction of the $K^{+} \rightarrow \pi^{+} \nu \bar\nu$ decay, have the potential to bring significant insights into new physics processes when comparison is made with precise theoretical predictions. For this purpose, innovative techniques have been developed, in particular, in the domain of low-mass tracking devices. Detector construction spanned several years from 2009 to 2014. The collaboration started detector commissioning in 2014 and will collect data until the end of 2018. The beam line and detector components are described together with their early performance obtained from 2014 and 2015 data

Inclusive J/ψ\psi production at midrapidity in pp collisions at s = 13\sqrt{s}~=~13 TeV

We report on the inclusive J/$\psi$ production cross section measured at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}~=~13$ TeV. The J/$\psi$ mesons are reconstructed in the $\rm e^{+} e^{-}$ decay channel and the measurements are performed at midrapidity ($|y|<0.9$) in the transverse-momentum interval $0< p_{\rm T} <40$ GeV/$c$, using a minimum bias data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity $L_{\text{int}} = 32.2~\text{nb}^{-1}$ and an Electromagnetic Calorimeter triggered data sample with $L_{\text{int}} = 8.3~\mathrm{pb}^{-1}$. The $p_{\rm T}$-integrated J/$\psi$ production cross section at midrapidity, computed using the minimum bias data sample, is $\text{d}\sigma/\text{d}y|_{y=0} = 8.97\pm0.24~(\text{stat})\pm0.48~(\text{syst})\pm0.15~(\text{lumi})~\mu\text{b}$. An approximate logarithmic dependence with the collision energy is suggested by these results and available world data, in agreement with model predictions. The integrated and $p_{\rm T}$-differential measurements are compared with measurements in pp collisions at lower energies and with several recent phenomenological calculations based on the non-relativistic QCD and Color Evaporation models

Investigating charm production and fragmentation via azimuthal correlations of prompt D mesons with charged particles in pp collisions at s=13\mathbf {\sqrt{ s} = 13} TeV

International audienceAngular correlations of heavy-flavour and charged particles in high-energy proton–proton collisions are sensitive to the production mechanisms of heavy quarks and to their fragmentation as well as hadronisation processes. The measurement of the azimuthal-correlation function of prompt D mesons with charged particles in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ALICE detector is reported, considering $\mathrm D^{0}$, $\mathrm D^{+}$, and $\mathrm D^{*+}$ mesons in the transverse-momentum interval $3 0.3$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|\eta | < 0.8$. This measurement has an improved precision and provides an extended transverse-momentum coverage compared to previous ALICE measurements at lower energies. The study is also performed as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, showing no modifications of the correlation function with multiplicity within uncertainties. The properties and the transverse-momentum evolution of the near- and away-side correlation peaks are studied and compared with predictions from various Monte Carlo event generators. Among those considered, PYTHIA8 and POWHEG+PYTHIA8 provide the best description of the measured observables. The obtained results can provide guidance on tuning the generators

Measurement of inclusive charged-particle b-jet production in pp and p-Pb collisions at sNN \sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02 TeV

International audienceA measurement of the inclusive b-jet production cross section is presented in pp and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV, using data collected with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The jets were reconstructed in the central rapidity region |η| < 0.5 from charged particles using the anti-k$_{T}$ algorithm with resolution parameter R = 0.4. Identification of b jets exploits the long lifetime of b hadrons, using the properties of secondary vertices and impact parameter distributions. The p$_{T}$-differential inclusive production cross section of b jets, as well as the corresponding inclusive b-jet fraction, are reported for pp and p-Pb collisions in the jet transverse momentum range 10 ≤ p$_{T,ch jet}$≤ 100 GeV/c, together with the nuclear modification factor, ${R}_{\mathrm{pPb}}^{\mathrm{b}-\mathrm{jet}}$. The analysis thus extends the lower p$_{T}$ limit of b-jet measurements at the LHC. The nuclear modification factor is found to be consistent with unity, indicating that the production of b jets in p-Pb at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV is not affected by cold nuclear matter effects within the current precision. The measurements are well reproduced by POWHEG NLO pQCD calculations with PYTHIA fragmentation.[graphic not available: see fulltext

Prompt D0^{0}, D+^{+}, and D∗+^{*+} production in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN \sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02 TeV

The production of prompt D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$ mesons was measured at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) in Pb–Pb collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The D mesons were reconstructed via their hadronic decay channels and their production yields were measured in central (0–10%) and semicentral (30–50%) collisions. The measurement was performed up to a transverse momentum (p$_{T}$) of 36 or 50 GeV/c depending on the D meson species and the centrality interval. For the first time in Pb–Pb collisions at the LHC, the yield of D$^{0}$ mesons was measured down to p$_{T}$ = 0, which allowed a model-independent determination of the p$_{T}$-integrated yield per unit of rapidity (dN/dy). A maximum suppression by a factor 5 and 2.5 was observed with the nuclear modification factor (R$_{AA}$) of prompt D mesons at p$_{T}$ = 6–8 GeV/c for the 0–10% and 30–50% centrality classes, respectively. The D-meson R$_{AA}$ is compared with that of charged pions, charged hadrons, and J/ψ mesons as well as with theoretical predictions. The analysis of the agreement between the measured R$_{AA}$, elliptic (v$_{2}$) and triangular (v$_{3}$) flow, and the model predictions allowed us to constrain the charm spatial diffusion coefficient D$_{s}$. Furthermore the comparison of R$_{AA}$ and v$_{2}$ with different implementations of the same models provides an important insight into the role of radiative energy loss as well as charm quark recombination in the hadronisation mechanisms

Measurement of prompt Ds+D_s^+-meson production and azimuthal anisotropy in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN\sqrt {s_{NN}}=5.02TeV

International audienceThe production yield and angular anisotropy of prompt Ds+ mesons were measured as a function of transverse momentum (pT) in Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN=5.02TeV collected with the ALICE detector at the LHC. Ds+ mesons and their charge conjugates were reconstructed at midrapidity (|y|&lt;0.5) from their hadronic decay channel Ds+→ϕπ+, with ϕ→K−K+, in the pT intervals 2&lt;pT&lt;50GeV/c and 2&lt;pT&lt;36GeV/c for the 0–10% and 30–50% centrality intervals. For pT&gt;10GeV/c, the measured Ds+-meson nuclear modification factor RAA is consistent with the one of non-strange D mesons within uncertainties, while at lower pT a hint for a Ds+-meson RAA larger than that of non-strange D mesons is seen. The enhanced production of Ds+ relative to non-strange D mesons is also studied by comparing the pT-dependent Ds+/D0 production yield ratios in Pb–Pb and in pp collisions. The ratio measured in Pb–Pb collisions is found to be on average higher than that in pp collisions in the interval 2&lt;pT&lt;8GeV/c with a significance of 2.3σ and 2.4σ for the 0–10% and 30–50% centrality intervals. The azimuthal anisotropy coefficient v2 of prompt Ds+ mesons was measured in Pb–Pb collisions in the 30–50% centrality interval and is found to be compatible with that of non-strange D mesons. The main features of the measured RAA, Ds+/D0 ratio, and v2 as a function of pT are described by theoretical calculations of charm-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding quark–gluon plasma including hadronisation via charm-quark recombination with light quarks from the medium. The pT-integrated production yield of Ds+ mesons is compatible with the prediction of the statistical hadronisation model

Production of light (anti)nuclei in pp collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

Understanding the production mechanism of light (anti)nuclei is one of the key challenges of nuclear physics and has important consequences for astrophysics, since it provides an input for indirect dark-matter searches in space. In this paper, the latest results about the production of light (anti)nuclei in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV are presented, focusing on the comparison with the predictions of coalescence and thermal models. For the first time, the coalescence parameters B$_{2}$ for deuterons and B$_{3}$ for helions are compared with parameter-free theoretical predictions that are directly constrained by the femtoscopic measurement of the source radius in the same event class. A fair description of the data with a Gaussian wave function is observed for both deuteron and helion, supporting the coalescence mechanism for the production of light (anti)nuclei in pp collisions. This method paves the way for future investigations of the internal structure of more complex nuclear clusters, including the hypertriton.[graphic not available: see fulltext

Investigating charm production and fragmentation via azimuthal correlations of prompt D mesons with charged particles in pp collisions at s=13\mathbf {\sqrt{ s} = 13} TeV

Angular correlations of heavy-flavour and charged particles in high-energy proton–proton collisions are sensitive to the production mechanisms of heavy quarks and to their fragmentation as well as hadronisation processes. The measurement of the azimuthal-correlation function of prompt D mesons with charged particles in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ALICE detector is reported, considering $\mathrm D^{0}$, $\mathrm D^{+}$, and $\mathrm D^{*+}$ mesons in the transverse-momentum interval $3 0.3$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|\eta | < 0.8$. This measurement has an improved precision and provides an extended transverse-momentum coverage compared to previous ALICE measurements at lower energies. The study is also performed as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, showing no modifications of the correlation function with multiplicity within uncertainties. The properties and the transverse-momentum evolution of the near- and away-side correlation peaks are studied and compared with predictions from various Monte Carlo event generators. Among those considered, PYTHIA8 and POWHEG+PYTHIA8 provide the best description of the measured observables. The obtained results can provide guidance on tuning the generators