First measurement of 𝐷𝑠⁢1⁡(1+)⁢(2536)+ and 𝐷*𝑠⁢2⁡(2+)⁢(2573)+ production in proton-proton collisions at √𝑠 =13  TeV at the LHC

Abstract

The production yields of the orbitally excited charm-strange mesons Ds⁢1⁡(1+)⁢(2536)+ and D*s⁢2⁡(2+)⁢(2573)+ were measured for the first time in proton-proton (pp) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of √𝑠 =13  TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The D+s⁢1 and D*+s⁢2 mesons were measured at midrapidity (|𝑦| <0.5) in minimum-bias and high-multiplicity pp collisions in the transverse-momentum interval 2<𝑝T<24  GeV/𝑐. Their production yields relative to the D+s ground-state yield were found to be compatible between minimum-bias and high-multiplicity collisions, as well as with previous measurements in e±⁢p and e+⁢e− collisions. The measured D+s⁢1/D+s and D*+s⁢2/D+s yield ratios are described by statistical hadronization models and can be used to tune the parameters governing the production of excited charm-strange hadrons in Monte Carlo generators, such as pythia 8.