Centrality dependence of high-pT D meson suppression in Pb-Pb collisions at (Formula presented.) TeV

Abstract

Abstract: The nuclear modification factor, RAA, of the prompt charmed mesons D0, D+ and D∗+, and their antiparticles, was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy sNN=2.76(Formula presented.) TeV in two transverse momentum intervals, 5 < pT< 8 GeV/c and 8 < pT< 16 GeV/c, and in six collision centrality classes. The RAA shows a maximum suppression of a factor of 5-6 in the 10% most central collisions. The suppression and its centrality dependence are compatible within uncertainties with those of charged pions. A comparison with the RAA of non-prompt J/ψ from B meson decays, measured by the CMS Collaboration, hints at a larger suppression of D mesons in the most central collisions.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]