The first measurement of the e+e− pair production at midrapidity and low invariant mass in central Pb-Pb collisions at √s NN = 5.02 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider is presented. The yield of e+e− pairs is compared with a cocktail of expected hadronic decay contributions in the invariant mass (mee) and pair transverse momentum (pT,ee) ranges mee < 3.5 GeV/c2 and pT,ee < 8 GeV/c. For 0.18 < mee < 0.5 GeV/c2 the ratio of data to the cocktail of hadronic contributions amounts to 1.40 ± 0.11 (stat.) ± 0.23 (syst.) ± 0.16 (cocktail) and 1.42 ± 0.11 (stat.) ± 0.23 (syst.)+0.24 −0.29 (cocktail), including or not including medium effects in the estimation of the heavy-flavor background, respectively. It is consistent with predictions from two different models for an additional contribution of thermal e+e− pairs from the hadronic and partonic phases. In the intermediate-mass range (1.2 < mee < 2.6 GeV/c2 ), the pair transverse impact parameter of the e+e− pairs (DCAee, where “DCA” denotes “distance of closest approach”) is used for the first time in Pb-Pb collisions to separate displaced dielectrons from heavy-flavor hadron decays from a possible (thermal) contribution produced at the interaction point. The data are consistent with a suppression of e+e− pairs from cc and an additional prompt component. Finally, the first direct-photon measurement in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions at √s NN = 5.02 TeV is reported via the study of virtual direct photons in the transverse momentum range 1 < pT < 5 GeV/c. A model including prompt photons, as well as photons from the preequilibrium and fluid-dynamic phases, can reproduce the result, while being at the upper edge of the data uncertainties.

Dielectron production in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 5.02 TeV

Cortese, P.;Jacazio, N.;Ramello, L.;Sitta, M.;
2025-01-01

Abstract

The first measurement of the e+e− pair production at midrapidity and low invariant mass in central Pb-Pb collisions at √s NN = 5.02 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider is presented. The yield of e+e− pairs is compared with a cocktail of expected hadronic decay contributions in the invariant mass (mee) and pair transverse momentum (pT,ee) ranges mee < 3.5 GeV/c2 and pT,ee < 8 GeV/c. For 0.18 < mee < 0.5 GeV/c2 the ratio of data to the cocktail of hadronic contributions amounts to 1.40 ± 0.11 (stat.) ± 0.23 (syst.) ± 0.16 (cocktail) and 1.42 ± 0.11 (stat.) ± 0.23 (syst.)+0.24 −0.29 (cocktail), including or not including medium effects in the estimation of the heavy-flavor background, respectively. It is consistent with predictions from two different models for an additional contribution of thermal e+e− pairs from the hadronic and partonic phases. In the intermediate-mass range (1.2 < mee < 2.6 GeV/c2 ), the pair transverse impact parameter of the e+e− pairs (DCAee, where “DCA” denotes “distance of closest approach”) is used for the first time in Pb-Pb collisions to separate displaced dielectrons from heavy-flavor hadron decays from a possible (thermal) contribution produced at the interaction point. The data are consistent with a suppression of e+e− pairs from cc and an additional prompt component. Finally, the first direct-photon measurement in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions at √s NN = 5.02 TeV is reported via the study of virtual direct photons in the transverse momentum range 1 < pT < 5 GeV/c. A model including prompt photons, as well as photons from the preequilibrium and fluid-dynamic phases, can reproduce the result, while being at the upper edge of the data uncertainties.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
PRC_112_2025_054906.pdf

file ad accesso aperto

Descrizione: Articolo
Tipologia: Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 10.26 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
10.26 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11579/220263
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact