Measurement of the prompt-production cross-section ratio $\ddot{I}ƒ(\ddot{I}{‡}_{c2})/\ddot{I}ƒ(\ddot{I}{‡}_{c1})$ in $p$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV

Abstract

This Letter reports the first measurement of prompt $\ddot{I}{‡}_{c1}$ and $\ddot{I}{‡}_{c2}$ charmonium production in nuclear collisions at Large Hadron Collider energies. The cross-section ratio $\ddot{I}ƒ(\ddot{I}{‡}_{c2})/\ddot{I}ƒ(\ddot{I}{‡}_{c1})$ is measured in $p$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV, collected with the LHCb experiment. The $\ddot{I}{‡}_{c1,2}$ states are reconstructed via their decay to a $\mathrm{J}/\ddot{\mathrm{I}}ˆ$ meson, subsequently decaying into a pair of oppositely charged muons, and a photon, which is reconstructed in the calorimeter or via its conversion in the detector material. The cross-section ratio is consistent with unity in the two considered rapidity regions. Comparison with a corresponding cross-section ratio previously measured by the LHCb collaboration in $pp$ collisions suggests that $\ddot{I}{‡}_{c1}$ and $\ddot{I}{‡}_{c2}$ states are similarly affected by nuclear effects occurring in $p$Pb collisions.

All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2020-048.html (LHCb public pages)