ALICE will study nucleus-nucleus and proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The main goal of the experiment is to investigate the properties of QCD matter at the extreme energy densities that will be reached in Pb-Pb collisions. Heavy quarks (charm and beauty) are regarded as powerful tools for this study. After briefly reviewing the ALICE heavy-flavour program, we will describe the preparation for the first measurements to be performed with pp collisions.
The ALICE experiment, currently in the commissioning phase, will study nucleus-nucleus and proton-proton collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We review the ALICE heavy-flavour physics program.
Heavy-flavour measurements give an important contribution to the understanding of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) produced in heavy-ion collisions. Heavy quarks are effective probes for the QGP and understanding their interaction with the medium can give insights into its transport properties. The ALICE Collaboration investigates heavy-flavour production by measuring leptons from heavy-flavour decays and by reconstructing hadronic decays of D mesons and charmed baryons. In this proceeding, recent results from ALICE as well as the direction of future heavy-flavour measurements are discussed.
After a short review of the physics motivations for the study of open heavy flavour production in proton-proton, proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC, we present results on the expected performance of the ALICE experiment for charm and beauty production measurements.
We present the latest results on the ALICE performance for heavy-quark production and quenching measurements, focusing in particular on charm particles.
The ALICE experiment, currently in the commissioning phase, will study nucleus-nucleus and proton-proton collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We review the ALICE heavy-flavour physics program and present a selection of results on the expected performance for the case of proton-proton collisions.
Open heavy-flavour and quarkonia measurements are important tools to study the hot and dense partonic medium formed in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The modification of their production in those collisions, with respect to the pp and p-Pb ones, can help in the characterization of this medium. Quarkonia and open heavy-flavour production is measured in ALICE in the three different collision systems, at mid- and forward rapidity. A selection of those results recently obtained in Pb-Pb and p-Pb collisions by the ALICE Collaboration is presented.
Heavy Quarks will be abundantly produced in Heavy Ion Collisions at LHC energies. Both, the production of open heavy flavoured mesons and quarkonia will probe the strongly interacting medium created in these reactions. In particular, the ALICE detector will be able to measure heavy flavour production down to low transverse momentum, combining leptonic and hadronic channels, covering a large rapidity range $|η|<0.9$ and $-4<η<-2.5$. In this talk we will present the main physics motivations for the study of heavy flavour production at LHC energies and some examples of physics analyses developed …
We present the ALICE results on the nuclear modification factor and elliptic flow of electrons and muons from open heavy-flavour hadron decays at mid-rapidity and forward rapidity in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 2.76 and 5.02 TeV for different centrality intervals. The results are compared to model calculations that include interactions of heavy quarks with the medium.
We present results on inclusive electrons for 1.5 $ < p_{\rm T} < $ 6 GeV/$c$ in {Pb-Pb} collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV measured with ALICE at the LHC and compare these to a cocktail of background electron sources. The excess of electrons beyond the cocktail at high momenta ({$p_{\rm T} >$ 3.5 GeV/$c$}) is attributed to electrons from heavy-flavour decays. The corresponding nuclear modification factor indicates heavy-flavour suppression by a factor of 1.5-4.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where lead nuclei will collide at the unprecedented c.m.s. energy of 5.5 TeV per nucleon-nucleon pair, will offer new and unique opportunities for the study of the properties of strongly interacting matter at high energy density over extended volumes. We will briefly explain why heavy-flavour particles are well-suited tools for such a study and we will describe how the ALICE experiment is preparing to make use of these tools.
The ALICE Collaboration has measured heavy-flavour production through the reconstruction of hadronic decays of D mesons at mid-rapidity and via semi-electronic (at mid-rapidity) and semi-muonic (at forward rapidity) decays of charm and beauty hadrons in pp, p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions. A summary of the most recent results from p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV and Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.76$ TeV is presented in this paper.
We present the first results from the ALICE experiment on the nuclear modification factors for heavy-flavour hadron production in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt{s_NN}=2.76 TeV. Using proton-proton and lead-lead collision samples at sqrt{s}=7 TeV and sqrt{s_NN}=2.76 TeV, respectively, nuclear modification factors R_AA(pt) were measured for D mesons at central rapidity (via displaced decay vertex reconstruction), and for electrons and muons, at central and forward rapidity, respectively.
We present the measurements of electrons and muons from the semi-leptonic decays of heavy-flavour hadrons measured in the central and forward rapidity regions with ALICE in pp, Pb-Pb, and p-Pb, collisions at the LHC. The pT-differential production cross section in pp collisions, the elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions, and the nuclear modification factor in Pb-Pb and p-Pb collisions are shown. The results are compared to theoretical predictions.
We present an overview of measurements related to open heavy-flavour production with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. Studies are performed using single leptons (electrons at mid-rapidity and muons at forward-rapidity) and D mesons, which are reconstructed via their hadronic decay channels. The measured differential production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 2.76 and 7 TeV are in agreement with perturbative QCD calculations. Results from Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV on the nuclear modification factor $R_{AA}$ are shown, along with the elliptic flow …
Electron spectra measured with ALICE at mid-rapidity are used to study the production of hadrons carrying a charm or a beauty quark. The production cross section of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays is measured in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=7 TeV. Electrons from the beauty decays are identified via the displacement from the interaction vertex. From the electron spectra measured in Pb--Pb collisions, we determine the nuclear modification factor, which is sensitive to the heavy-quark energy loss in a hot strongly interacting medium.
Measurements of the production of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity ($2.5 < y < 4.0$) in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ and 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector are presented along with the $R_{\rm AA}$ measurements in different centrality intervals as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$. Results of the measured $R_{\rm AA}$ at both energies are shown and are compared to the different model predictions.
The ALICE experiment will be able to detect open charm and beauty hadrons in proton-proton and heavy ion collisions in the new energy regime of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Heavy flavours are a powerful tool to investigate the medium created in high energy nucleus--nucleus interactions because they are produced in the hard scatterings occurring at early times and, thanks to their long lifetime on the collision timescale, they probe all the stages of the system evolution. The detectors of the ALICE central barrel ($-0.9 < η< 0.9$) will allow to track charged particles down to low trans…
ALICE is the dedicated heavy-ion experiment at the LHC. Its main physics goal is to study the properties of strongly-interacting matter at conditions of high energy density and high temperature expected to be reached in central Pb--Pb collisions. Charm and beauty quarks are well-suited tools to investigate this state of matter since they are produced in initial hard scatterings and are therefore generated early in the system evolution and probe its hottest, densest stage. ALICE recorded pp data at $\rm \sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV and 2.76 TeV and Pb--Pb data at $\rm \sqrt{s}_{\rm NN}$=2.76 TeV in 2010 a…
Measurements of open heavy flavour production in p--A collisions allow the investigation of Cold Nuclear Matter effects. In addition, they are an important tool for a complementary investigation of the long-range correlations found in small systems in the light flavour sector. In this work, production measurements of D mesons at mid-rapidity in p--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV are reported. Production yields are also reported for the heavy-flavour hadron decay electrons at central rapidity at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 and 8.16 TeV. The elliptic flow ($v_{\rm 2}$) of heavy-fl…
We present a measurement of the nuclear modification factor of electrons from heavy- flavour hadron decays at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at {\surd}sNN = 2.76 TeV. Electrons are identified in the pt range 1.5 GeV/c < pt < 6 GeV/c. A suppression is seen for pt larger than 3.5 GeV/c in the most central collisions.
Heavy quarks are effective probes of the hot and dense nuclear matter, the quark-gluon plasma, produced in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Due to the short time scale characterising their production, heavy quarks experience the whole evolution of the system. In particular, measurements of heavy-flavour hadron production in Pb-Pb collisions at LHC energies give insight into the mechanisms of heavy-quark transport in the deconfined matter. In small hadronic systems, pp and p-Pb collisions, heavy-flavour measurements provide the baseline for observations of hot-medium effects in heavy-io…
The ALICE detector is well suited to measure heavy-flavour (charm and beauty) production via hadronic and semi-leptonic decay channels of heavy-flavour particles. Here an overview of heavy-flavour measurements made with the ALICE detector during Run 1 in pp and p--Pb collisions is presented and discussed.
Heavy quarks are effective probes to study the properties of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) produced in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. In this contribution, the latest results on open heavy-flavour production in pp and Pb-Pb collisions measured by the ALICE Collaboration will be discussed. Measurements of open heavy-flavour production in Pb-Pb collisions allow for testing the mechanisms of heavy-quark transport and energy loss in the medium. In addition, measurements of the elliptic ($v_{2}$) and triangular ($v_{3}$) flow coefficients of heavy-flavour particles give insights into the p…
The measurement of heavy-flavour production and nuclear modification factor in heavy-ion collisions provides insights into the mechanisms of parton energy loss in the hot and dense medium formed in these collisions. ALICE results on heavy-flavour decay electrons and muons and on D mesons are presented.
The ALICE experiment studies nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC in order to investigate the properties of QCD matter at extreme energy densities. The measurement of open charm and open beauty production allows one to probe the mechanisms of heavy-quark propagation, energy loss and hadronization in the hot and dense medium formed in high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions. In particular, in-medium energy loss is predicted to be different for massless partons (light quarks and gluons) and heavy quarks at moderate momentum. The ALICE apparatus allows us to measure open heavy-flavour particles i…
ALICE at the LHC is the experiment dedicated to study the physics of nucleus-nucleus collisions. The apparatus is well suited for the measurement of heavy-quark hadron production, making use of the high spatial resolution provided by the tracking detectors and the excellent particle identification, which are distinctive of the ALICE apparatus. Results from proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 2.76 and 7 TeV, and from Pb--Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 2.76 TeV are presented. The measurements in pp collisions provide an important test of perturbative QCD predictions. The precise vertex reconstr…
Results on open heavy-flavour production in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 2.76 TeV measured with ALICE at the LHC are presented. The nuclear modification factors, extracted in three different channels, show a strong suppression in central collisions. The measured D-meson azimuthal anisotropy indicates a non-zero v2, which is similar to the one of charged hadrons.
The D meson yields as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV are presented. The measurement of the yields of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV are shown as well. The measurement of azimuthal correlations of prompt D mesons and charged hadrons in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV are also presented. The results are compared w…
The measurements of open heavy-flavours, i.e. D mesons at central rapidity and leptons from charm and beauty decays at central and forward rapidity was studied in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV using the ALICE detector. The results are presented and compared to model predictions including cold nuclear matter effects.
The hot and dense strongly interacting Quark-Gluon Plasma (sQGP) created in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions can be probed by studying high-$p_{\rm T}$ particle production and parton energy loss. Similar measurements performed in p-Pb collisions may help in determining whether initial or final state nuclear effects play a role in the observed suppression of hadron production at high-$p_{\rm T}$ in Pb--Pb collisions. By examining the nuclear modification factors through the comparison of identified hadron yields in different collision systems one can gain insight into particle production…
Heavy-flavour hadrons, containing open or hidden charm and beauty flavours, are considered as hard probes of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), which is a hot and dense phase state of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) matter. Production of heavy flavours involves large momentum transfer processes during collisions. Heavy quarks are expected to be produced in the initial stage of collisions and therefore prior to the formation of the QGP in heavy-ion collisions. Consequently, heavy quarks travel through and interact with the QGP. Hence, measuring both open and hidden heavy-flavour production in large sys…
The production of open heavy-flavour particles was studied in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=5.02$ TeV using the ALICE detector. Three separate observables were used: the hadronic decays of D mesons at mid-rapidity, and semileptonic decays of heavy-flavour hadrons to electrons and muons at mid-rapidity and forward rapidity, respectively. The most recent ALICE measurements of the nuclear modification factor, $R_\mathrm{pPb}$, of open charm and beauty are reported, along with the centrality and multiplicity dependence of D-meson production in p-Pb collisions.
Two-particle azimuthal correlations of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays with charged particles can give insight into the properties of heavy-quark production and hadronization into heavy-flavour jets.\\ In this contribution, the ALICE results measured in pp collisions at 5.02 TeV, collected in the LHC Run 2, are presented. The yields of charged particles in the near and away-side correlation peaks and the peak width are compared with PYTHIA calculations.
The production of heavy quarks in pp collisions provides a precision test of perturbative QCD calculations at the LHC energies. More complex collision systems like p--Pb collisions allow studies of cold nuclear matter effects, such as modifications of the parton distribution functions at small x and of the $\kt$ broadening effect. We present the ALICE results of prompt D-meson production as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, in pp and p--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV respectively. The per-event yield of D mesons in different multiplicity and $\pt$…
In this contribution, recent ALICE measurements of the production cross section of single electrons, single muons and open charmed mesons in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV are reported. The data are compared to next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations. First open charm signals in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 2.76 TeV are shown.
Measurement of heavy-flavour production in small systems can be used to test the Quantum ChromoDynamic (QCD) models. In this manuscript, the production cross section of D mesons at midrapidity and open heavy-flavour decay muons (HFM) measured at forward rapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV, and open heavy-flavour decay electrons (HFE) measured at midrapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with ALICE detector will be presented. The self-normalized yield of open heavy-flavour decay electrons and muons as a function of multiplicity in pp and p$-$Pb collisions will be presen…
We present the elliptic flow $v_{2}$ of electrons from the semi-leptonic decays of heavy-flavour hadrons at mid-rapidity for semi-central ($20-40%$ centrality) Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV measured with the ALICE detector. A positive $v_{2}$ is observed at low $p_\mathrm{T}$ in semi-central collisions. Comparisons with previous measurements obtained at lower collision energy at RHIC in Au-Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 0.2 TeV and with theoretical models are also presented.
The ALICE experiment has measured charm and beauty production in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s) = 2.76 and 7 TeV and sqrt(sNN) = 2.76 TeV, respectively, via the exclusive reconstruction of hadronic D meson decays and semi-leptonic D and B meson decays. In this contribution, recent results on the nuclear modification factor for open charmed mesons and heavy-flavour decay electrons at central rapidity and muons at forward rapidity are presented and discussed.
ALICE measured electrons from inclusive heavy-flavour hadron decays and beauty-hadron decays at mid-rapidity in pp collisions at \sqrt{s} = 7 TeV and 2.76 TeV and p-Pb collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02 TeV. For both pp collision energies, p_T-differential electron production cross sections are presented and compared to pQCD predictions. For p-Pb collisions, the p_T-dependent nuclear modification factor of electrons from inclusive heavy-flavour hadron decays is presented.
Heavy quarks, produced in hard parton scatterings in the early stage of ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions, are ideal probes to investigate the properties of the Quark--Gluon Plasma (QGP) produced in such collisions. Measurements of heavy-flavour jets can provide constraints on energy-loss models. In particular, they add information on how the radiated energy is dissipated in the medium. Studies of angular correlations between heavy-flavour and charged particles allow us to characterize the heavy-quark fragmentation process and its possible modification in a hot nuclear matter environment…
Measurements of the heavy-flavour hadron production are a powerful tool to study the nature of strong interaction and to understand the properties of nuclear matter that is created in ultra-relativistic hadron-hadron collisions. The excellent tracking and vertexing capabilities of the ALICE experiment, together with its particle identification systems, allow for an efficient identification and reconstruction of decays of hadrons that contain heavy quarks. A selection of recent measurements on open heavy-flavour production from pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV and p--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_…
In these proceedings results are presented from the measurement of open heavy-flavour production as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in pp collisions at $\sqrt {s}$ = 7 TeV and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt {s_{\rm NN}}$=5.02 TeV recorded with the ALICE detector in 2010 and 2013, respectively. $\rm D^{0}$, $\rm D^{+}$ and $\rm D^{*+}$ mesons are reconstructed from their hadronic decay channels in the central rapidity region, and their production yields are measured in various multiplicity and $p_{\rm T}$ intervals. The per-event yields of $\rm D$ mesons in the various multiplicity inter…
The measurement of heavy-flavour production allows us to characterise the properties of the deconfined medium created in Pb-Pb collisions at LHC energies. pp collisions serve as a reference for Pb-Pb studies, and p-Pb collisions provide information on initial and/or final state effects related to cold nuclear matter. We report on open heavy-flavour as well as quarkonium production in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The experimental data are compared with results from Pb-Pb collisions as well as with various theoretical predictions.
The ALICE experiment measured the heavy-flavour production in the semi-muonic decay channel at forward rapidities ($2.5<y<4$) in pp and Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.76$ TeV. We report on the first results on the $p_{\rm T}$-differential cross-sections in pp collisions as well as on the nuclear modification factors as a function of the transverse momentum and centrality.
Azimuthal correlation studies of heavy-flavour particles with charged particles in p--Pb collisions can give an insight into the cold nuclear matter effects \cite{Andronic:2015wma} on heavy-quark production and hadronization into heavy-flavour jets. Multiplicity-dependent measurements of angular correlations of heavy-flavour particles with charged hadrons allow us to investigate the collective behavior of the system and the initial state effects on heavy flavour hadron production. In addition, they can reveal possible modifications of the heavy-quark fragmentation and hadronization at differen…
Heavy-flavour hadrons, i. e. hadrons carrying charm or beauty quarks, are a well-suited probe to study the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. For this reason, measurements of electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays have been performed in pp, p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC with the ALICE detector. Results for the nuclear modification factors ($R_{\rm{pA}}$ and $R_{\rm{AA}}$) support a final-state energy loss of heavy quarks in central Pb-Pb collisions and, in semi-central collisions a positive elliptic flow coefficient $v_{2}$ of electrons from heavy-flavour…
ALICE is devoted to the study of the properties of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). This state of matter is created in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. Heavy quarks are considered effective probes of the QGP since, due to their large masses, they are produced in hard scattering processes and experience the full evolution of the hot and dense medium while interacting with its constituents. The heavy-quark measurements provide insights on processes like in-medium energy loss and hadronization. Measurements in proton-proton collisions provide the baseline for interpreting heavy-io…
In ALICE, open heavy-flavour production is studied through the measurements of the leptons (electrons and muons) from heavy-flavour hadron decays at central and forward rapidity and via the reconstruction of D-meson hadronic decays at mid-rapidity. An overview of the open heavy-flavour production with ALICE in pp ($\sqrt{s}$ = 2.76 TeV and 7 TeV), p--Pb ($\sqrt {s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV) and Pb--Pb ($\sqrt {s_{\rm NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV) collisions will be presented. We will discuss the production cross sections, modifications of the transverse momentum distributions, azimuthal anisotropic emissions …
The ALICE experiment will be able to detect hadrons containing charm and beauty quarks in proton-proton and heavy ion collisions in the new energy regime of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Open charmed mesons are a powerful tool to study the medium produced in heavy ion collisions, since charm quarks are produced on a very short time scale and they experience the whole history of the collision. In addition, the measurements of heavy flavour yield provide a natural normalization for those of charmonia and bottomonia production at LHC. In this talk, after a general overview of ALICE perspe…
ALICE is the LHC experiment devoted to the study of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). To probe this high energy density state of strongly interacting matter expected to be produced in heavy-ion collisions at high energies, measurements performed in various systems (pp, p-Pb and Pb-Pb) are compared to each other. Heavy quarks are produced in initial hard partonic scatterings on a short time scale and participate in the subsequent evolution of the medium. This makes them sensitive probes of the QGP. With ALICE, open heavy flavours are studied using D mesons (D$^0$, D$^+$, D$^{*+}$) reconstructed via…
Heavy quarks produced in pp and heavy ion collisions are studied using heavy-flavour decay electrons and heavy-flavour mesons. Detailed understanding of the production processes and fragmentation of heavy quarks can be obtained by studying the azimuthal angular correlation of heavy-flavour hadrons. The azimuthal angular correlations of heavy-flavour mesons and charged hadrons can be used to disentangle charm and beauty-hadrons in pp collisions. In this contribution the fraction of electrons from beauty-hadron decays in the heavy-flavour decay electron yield is shown as well as the beauty produ…
Hadrons containing heavy quarks, i.e. charm or beauty, are unique probes of the properties of the hot and dense QCD medium produced in heavy-ion collisions. Due to their large masses, heavy quarks are produced at the initial stage of the collision, almost exclusively via hard partonic scattering processes. Therefore, they are expected to experience the full collision history propagating through the QCD medium losing energy via elastic and inelastic collisions with the medium constituents. The ALICE collaboration has measured the production of open heavy-flavour hadrons via their hadronic and s…
The ALICE experiment studies nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC in order to investigate the properties of QCD matter at extreme energy densities. The measurement of open charm and open beauty production allows to investigate the interaction of heavy quarks with the hot and dense medium formed in high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions. In particular, in-medium energy loss is predicted to be different for gluons, light quarks and heavy quarks and to depend on the medium energy density and size. ALICE has measured open heavy-flavour particle production at central rapidity in several decay chan…
The measurement of heavy-flavour (charm and beauty) production in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions provides an important contribution to the study of the properties of the hot and dense medium created in such collisions. One approach to measure heavy-flavour production is via electrons from semi-leptonic decays of heavy-flavour hadrons. In this contribution we present the nuclear modification factor $(R_{\rm{AA}})$ and the azimuthal anisotropy $(v_{2})$ of heavy-flavour decay electrons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathit{\rm{NN}}}= 2.76$ TeV, which are sensitive to the interaction o…
Heavy-flavour hadrons, i.e. hadrons containing charm or beauty quarks, are effective probes to test perturbative-QCD (pQCD) calculations, to investigate the different hadronisation mechanisms, and to study the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. Measurements performed in pp and p-Pb collisions have recently revealed unexpected features not in line with the expectations based on previous measurements from $\rm{e^+e^-}$ and ep collisions, showing that charm fragmentation fractions are not universal. The investigation of initial-state effects such as…
ALICE is the general purpose heavy-ion detector at the CERN LHC. Its goal is to investigate the properties of the strongly interacting matter under the extreme conditions of density and temperature reached in Pb{Pb collisions, with the aim to characterize the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). In this scenario, the upgrade of the ALICE inner tracker targets physics topics in which ALICE can bring a unique contribution to the QGP characterization via the heavy avour probes. We present an overview of the inner tracker upgrade and the expected physics performance for heavy avour measurements.
In relativistic heavy-ion physics two-particle correlations provide a very useful tool to investigate the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). This observable is sensitive to several of the properties of the QGP such as resonances, interaction of partons with the medium and collective effects (e. g. elliptic flow). In the present work, the correlation function between electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays and light hadrons was measured in pp and Pb-Pb collisions (central and semi-central). Furthermore, in pp collisions the relative beauty contribution to the total cross section of electrons from hea…
Heavy flavour is mainly produced during the initial hard partonic interactions in a heavy ion collision, and is well-suited to probe the early phases of the evolution of the system. This contribution will focus on Pb--Pb analyses at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 2.76 TeV, with some hints at the $\pp$ data at 7 and 2.76 TeV. Results of open heavy flavour analyses will be shown for various decay channels, including electrons, muons, and hadronic charm decays, together with results obtained for heavy quarkonia at both central and forward rapidities.
The production of muons from heavy flavour decays is measured at forward rapidity (2.5 < y < 4) with the muon spectrometer of the ALICE experiment at the LHC. In pp collisions at \sqrt{s} = 7 TeV, the measurement of the transverse momentum and rapidity differential production cross section of muons from heavy flavour decays is carried out from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of Lint = 16.5 nb^-1 and results are compared to predictions based on perturbative QCD calculations. In Pb-Pb collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}}= 2.76 TeV, the analysis of a data sample corresponding to an…
Heavy quarks are produced in the early stages of ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions, and their number is preserved throughout the subsequent evolution of the system. Therefore, they constitute ideal probes for characterising the Quark--Gluon Plasma (QGP) medium and for the study of its transport properties. In particular, heavy quarks interact with the partonic constituents of the plasma, losing energy, and are expected to be sensitive to the medium collective motion induced by its hydrodynamical evolution. In pp collisions, the measurement of heavy-flavour hadron production provides a re…
