Measurement of the forward η meson production rate in p-p collisions at s = 13 TeV with the LHCf-Arm2 detector

• Published in: The journal of high energy physics Vol. 2023; no. 10; p. 169
• Main Authors: Adriani, O., Berti, E., Betti, P., Bonechi, L., Bongi, M., D’Alessandro, R., Detti, S., Hagenauer, M., Itow, Y., Kasahara, K., Kitagami, Y., Kondo, M., Matsubara, Y., Menjo, H., Muraki, Y., Ohashi, K., Papini, P., Piparo, G., Ricciarini, S., Sako, T., Sakurai, N., Scaringella, M., Shimizu, Y., Tamura, T., Tiberio, A., Torii, S., Tricomi, A., Turner, W. C., Yoshida, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 27.10.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atmospheric models; Atoms & subatomic particles; Classical and Quantum Gravitation; Collisions; Constraint modelling; Cosmic ray showers; Cosmic rays; Elementary Particles; Energy; Eta-mesons; Experiments; High energy physics; Interaction models; Large Hadron Collider; Particle production; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Protons; Quantum Field Theories; Quantum Field Theory; Quantum Physics; Quarks; Regular Article - Experimental Physics; Relativity Theory; Sensors; Simulation; String Theory; Forward Physics; Hadron-Hadron Scattering; Particle and Resonance Production; QCD
• ISSN: 1029-8479
• DOI: 10.1007/JHEP10(2023)169

A bstract The forward η mesons production has been observed by the Large Hadron Collider forward (LHCf) experiment in proton-proton collision at s = 13 TeV. This paper presents the measurement of the inclusive production rate of η in p T < 1 . 1 GeV/c, expressed as a function of the Feynman- x variable. These results are compared with the predictions of several hadronic interaction models commonly used for the modelling of the air showers produced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays. This is both the first measurement of η mesons from LHCf and the first time a particle containing strange quarks has been observed in the forward region for high-energy collisions. These results will provide a powerful constraint on hadronic interaction models for the purpose of improving the understanding of the processes underlying the air showers produced in the Earth’s atmosphere by ultra-energetic cosmic rays.