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. This manuscript will focus on the latest results on heavy-flavour jets and D-meson correlations with charged particles studied with the ALICE detector in pp, p--Pb and Pb--Pb collisions.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Recent measurements of charm-baryon production at midrapidity by the ALICE collaboration show baryon-to-meson yield ratios significantly higher than those measured in $\rm e^+e^-$ collisions, suggesting that the charm fragmentations are not universal across different collisions systems. Thus, measurements of charm-baryon production are crucial to study the charm quark hadronisation in proton--proton (pp) collisions. In proton--lead (p--Pb) collisions, the measurements of charm baryons provide important information about cold nuclear matter effects and help to understand how the possible presen…
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.
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.
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_…
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…
The production of charm-hadrons at midrapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 and 13 TeV was recently measured by the ALICE Collaboration. The results show that the baryon-to-meson yield ratios differ from predictions where the hadronisation has been tuned to measurements obtained in $\rm e^{+}e^{-}$ and ep collisions for different charm-baryon species. These observations suggest that the charm fragmentation fractions are not universal and that the baryon-to-meson ratio depends on the collision systems. The results are compared to the predictions from Monte Carlo event generators and th…
We present here recent open heavy-flavour results from the ALICE experiment, including measurements of D-meson, $\mathrm{Λ_{c}^{+}}$ baryon and $\mathrm{Ξ_c^0}$ baryon production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7~\mathrm{TeV}$ and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02~\mathrm{TeV}$.
We review the most recent studies on the performance of ALICE in heavy flavour production measurements in both hadronic and semileptonic decay channels.
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…
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.
Charmonia, bound states of charm and anti-charm quarks, represent an interesting probe for the study of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) since their production involves both hard and soft energy scales. Several effective models are available to describe the production of charmonia, but so far none have been able to describe all experimental observables simultaneously. ALICE has studied the production of charmonia in different collision systems at all available LHC energies at both mid- and forward-rapidity down to zero transverse momentum. In this contribution, different measurements performed in …
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…
The ALICE detector has excellent Particle IDentification (PID) capabilities in the central barrel ($\lvert η\rvert <$ 0.9). This allows identified hadron production to be measured over a wide transverse momentum ($p_{\rm{T}}$) range, using different sub-detectors and techniques: their specific energy loss (d$E$/d$x$), the velocity determination via time-of-flight measurement, the Cherenkov angle or their characteristic weak decay topology. Results on identified light flavour hadron production at mid-rapidity measured by ALICE in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV are presented and…
Heavy quarks, i.e. charm and beauty, are produced on a shorter time scale with respect to the strongly-interacting matter produced in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. Therefore, they are unique probes to study the mechanisms of parton energy loss, hadronisation and thermalization in the hot and dense state of matter. The nuclear modification factor ($R_{\rm AA}$) and the elliptic flow ($v_{2}$) are two of the main experimental observables that allow us to investigate the interaction strength of heavy quarks with the medium. The most recent results on heavy-flavour production and elliptic flow…
The ALICE experiment has measured at mid-rapidity electrons from heavy-flavour decays in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 2.76 and 7 TeV, and in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV. In pp collisions, electrons from charm-hadron and from beauty-hadron decays are identified by applying cuts on displaced vertices. The relative yield of electrons from beauty-hadron decays to those from heavy-flavour decays is extracted using electron-hadron correlations. Results are compared to pQCD-based calculations. In Pb-Pb collisions, the $p_{\rm T}$ dependence of the nuclear modification factor o…
The heavy-flavour nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm pPb}$ has been measured with the ALICE detector in p--Pb collisions at the nucleon--nucleon center of mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV at the CERN LHC in a wide rapidity and transverse momentum range, as well as in several decay channels. $R_{\rm pPb}$ is consistent with unity within uncertainties at mid-rapidity and forward rapidity. In the backward region a slight enhancement of the yield of heavy-flavour decay muons is found in the region $2<p_{\rm T}<4$ GeV/$c$. The results are described within uncertainties by theoretical cal…
This contribution summarizes a selection of recent results from the ALICE experiment. We show the cross-section of beauty jets in pp collisions, as well as the charmed baryon-to-meson production ratios, down to unprecedentedly low momenta, at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ and 13 TeV collision energies. We present the nuclear modification of ${\rm D}^0$-jets and the $v_2$ of non-prompt ${\rm D}^0$ in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV. We also discuss the implications and constraints from comparing these data to some of the most recent theoretical models.
This contribution summarises the results on heavy-flavour correlations and jets measured with ALICE detector. Studies of D$^{0}$-tagged jets are presented in various collision systems and energies. The measurement of the fraction of jet momentum carried by the D$^{0}$ meson in the direction of the jet axis ($z_{\rm ||}^{\rm ch,jet}$) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 and 13 TeV as well as the nuclear modification factor in p--Pb and Pb--Pb collisions are presented. The measurements of the production of jets tagged by electrons from heavy-flavour decays in pp and p--Pb are compared to expec…
In ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions heavy quarks (charm and beauty) are produced in hard scattering processes and thus carry relevant information on the properties of the created hot and dense medium. Heavy-flavour hadrons can be measured using electrons from their semileptonic decay channels. The relative contribution of charm and beauty hadrons can be estimated from the study of the near side azimuthal angular correlations between these electrons and charged hadrons. We present the measurement of azimuthal angular correlations between electrons and charged hadrons in pp collisions at …
The ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC has conducted first systematic studies of heavy-flavour hadron production in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 2.76 TeV. In pp collisions the differential production cross sections of D mesons at mid-rapidity, as well as the cross sections for electrons and muons from semileptonic heavy-flavour hadron decays at mid- and forward-rapidity, respectively, have been measured. These data provide a crucial testing ground for perturbative QCD calculations in the new LHC energy regime. In Pb-Pb collisions, the nuclear modificat…
Recent measurements of prompt charm-baryon production at midrapidity in pp and p--Pb collisions show baryon-to-meson yield ratios significantly higher than those in $\rm e^+e^-$ collisions, suggesting that the charm fragmentation is not universal across different collision systems. Thus, more precise and broader measurements of prompt charm-baryon production are crucial to study the charm quark hadronization in a partonic-rich environment like the one produced in pp collisions at the LHC energies. Prompt charm baryon-to-meson yield ratios in proton--nucleus collisions provide important informa…
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 …
Heavy-flavour (HF) quarks, i.e. charm and beauty, are produced in the early stages of ultra-relativistic collisions via hard scattering processes. The measurement of heavy flavour as a function of charged-particle multiplicity not only provides information on how the production mechanisms are influenced by the event activity, but can also be considered as a tool to test the role of multiple parton interactions. Furthermore, charged-particle multiplicity studies are essential for reference measurements, to tune theoretical models and to provide information on the global characteristics of event…
Due to the large masses of beauty and charm quarks, their production cross sections can be computed in the framework of perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics. The correlation of quarkonium and open heavy-flavour hadron yields with charged particles produced in proton-proton (pp) and proton-lead (p-Pb) collisions can shed light on the interplay between hard and soft mechanisms in particle production. In this proceeding the results from D-meson and J/$ψ$ yields as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity in pp and p-Pb collisions are presented. Comparisons to theoretical models are also dis…
In this contribution, the latest ALICE results on charmed baryon production are presented. In particular the measurements of $Λ_{\rm c}^{+}$-baryon production in pp collisions at ${\sqrt{\rm s}}$ = 5.02 TeV and in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{\rm s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV are shown and compared with previous measurements performed using pp and p-Pb data samples collected during LHC Run 1. At mid-rapidity charmed baryons are reconstructed via their hadronic decay and semileptonic decay channels, exploiting the high precision tracking, excellent vertexing and particle identification capabilities offered …
An overview of recent ${\rm D^+}$, ${\rm D^0}$, ${\rm D^{*+}}$ and ${\rm D_s^+}$ measurements performed by ALICE at central rapidity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ and 8 TeV, as well as lead-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=2.76$ TeV, is presented. An emphasis is put on the discussion of theoretical predictions with respect to the LHC Run I data.
The ALICE experiment studies Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC in order to investigate the properties of the hot and dense QCD matter at extreme energy densities. Recent results from ALICE in identified particle flow allow for the exploration of the collective properties of the medium created in heavy-ion collisions. In this paper, I give special attention to strange and charm particles which probe the medium differently and thus provide new constraints for the study of its properties. The paper covers results on elliptic flow for pion, kaon, kzero, antiproton, phi, lambda, xi, omega, dplus, dzero a…
Heavy quarks, i.e. charm and beauty, are sensitive probes of the medium produced in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. They are produced in the early stage of the collisions and are expected to experience the whole collision evolution interacting with the medium constituents via both elastic and inelastic processes. The nuclear modification factor ($R_{\rm AA}$) and the elliptic flow ($v_{2}$) are two of the main experimental observables that allow us to investigate the interaction strength of heavy quarks with the medium. The ALICE collaboration measured the production and elliptic flow of ope…
Results on open heavy-flavour production in p-p collisions at sqrt{s} = 7 and 2.76 TeV measured with ALICE at the LHC are presented. Open heavy flavour production is studied using semileptonic decays to electrons and muons and, for open charm states (D0, D+, D* and Ds) at central rapidity, also from exclusive hadronic decay channels.
We present a new method for detection of multiply charmed baryons via their decays into strange baryons, using `strangeness tracking'. This method makes use of the state-of-the-art upgraded silicon detectors in ALICE during Runs 3, 4 and beyond will enable the novel possibility of tracking strange hadrons directly before they decay, leading to a very significant improvement in impact-parameter resolution. In this work, we will discuss how this new technique will be crucial to distinguish secondary strange baryons originating from charm decays from primary strange baryons. This is a particularl…
Heavy quarks are produced in the early stages of ultra-relativistic hadron collisions via hard scatterings and are an important tool for studying different aspects of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) in hadronic collisions. Charged-particle multiplicity gives information on the global characteristics of the event and could be used to characterize particle production mechanisms. In hadronic collisions at Large Hadron Collider (LHC) energies, there is a significant contribution of multi-parton interactions. The measurement of heavy-flavour yields as a function of charged-particle multiplicity gives …
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.
Hadrons containing heavy-flavours, i.e. charm and beauty quarks, 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 and interacting with the QCD medium. The parton energy loss, which is sensitive to the transport coefficients of the produced medium, can be studied experimentally by measuring the nuclear mod…
Thanks to its excellent tracking and particle identification performance, the ALICE detector is capable of measuring D mesons at central rapidity via their hadronic decay channels down to very low transverse momentum. We show an extension of the prompt ${\rm D}^0$ $p_{\rm T}$-differential cross section measurement down to zero transverse momentum, which allows us to determine the $p_{\rm T}$-integrated charm production cross section at central rapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV. We also present measurements of azimuthal correlations of prompt ${\rm D}^0$, ${\rm D}^+$ and ${\rm D}^…
Heavy-flavour quarks, due to their large masses, are produced in the early stages of the relativistic heavy-ion collisions via initial hard scatterings. Therefore, as they experience the full system evolution, heavy quarks are effective probes of the hot and dense medium created in such collisions. In pp collisions, the measurement of heavy-flavour hadron production cross sections can be used to test our understanding of the Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD) in the perturbative regime. Also, pp collisions provide a crucial reference for the corresponding measurements in larger systems. In Pb--Pb (X…
We present an overview of the ALICE measurements on the production of $\mathrm{J/}ψ$ in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 2.76\,\mathrm{TeV}$ and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}= 5.02\,\mathrm{TeV}$ at mid-rapidity ($|y_\mathrm{lab} | < 0.8$) down to zero transverse momentum. The cold nuclear matter effects estimated from the p-Pb measurements and their impact on the interpretation of Pb-Pb results are discussed, based on comparison of data to model calculations.
