The first observation of $Z$ boson production in proton-lead collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per proton-nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5~\text{TeV}$ is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $1.6~\text{nb}^{-1}$ collected with the LHCb detector. The $Z$ candidates are reconstructed from pairs of oppositely charged muons with pseudorapidities between 2.0 and 4.5 and transverse momenta above $20~\text{GeV}/c$. The invariant dimuon mass is restricted to the range $60-120~\text{GeV}/c^2$. The $Z$ production cross-section is measured to be \begin{eqnarray*} \sigma_{Z\to\mu^+\mu^-}(\text{fwd})&=&13.5^{+5.4}_{-4.0}\text{(stat.)}\pm1.2\text{(syst.)}~\text{nb} \end{eqnarray*} in the direction of the proton beam and \begin{eqnarray*} \sigma_{Z\to\mu^+\mu^-}(\text{bwd}) & =&10.7^{+8.4}_{-5.1}\text{(stat.)}\pm1.0\text{(syst.)}~\text{nb} \end{eqnarray*} in the direction of the lead beam, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.
The measured Z production cross-sections in proton-lead collisions, measured in the fiducial region defined in the table, in the forward and backward directions. The statistical uncertainty is defined as the 68% confidence interval with symmetric coverage assuming that the number of candidates follows a Poisson distribution.
The forward-backward ratio measured in the overlap region 2.5 < ABS(YRAP) < 4.0. The first uncertainty is statistical, defined as the 68% confidence interval with symmetric coverage. The second uncertainty is systematic and includes the uncertainty on the acceptance correction factor, BETA, for the difference in the detector acceptance of the muons between the forward and backward directions.
The production of $J/\psi$ mesons with rapidity $1.5<y<4.0$ or $-5.0<y<-2.5$ and transverse momentum $p_\mathrm{T}<14 \mathrm{GeV}/c$ is studied with the LHCb detector in proton-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5 \mathrm{TeV}$. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about $1.6 \mathrm{nb}^{-1}$. For the first time the nuclear modification factor and forward-backward production ratio are determined separately for prompt $J/\psi$ mesons and $J/\psi$ from $b$-hadron decays. Clear suppression of prompt $J/\psi$ production with respect to proton-proton collisions at large rapidity is observed, while the production of $J/\psi$ from $b$-hadron decays is less suppressed. These results show good agreement with available theoretical predictions. The measurement shows that cold nuclear matter effects are important for interpretations of the related quark-gluon plasma signatures in heavy-ion collisions.
Single differential production cross sections of prompt J/PSI mesons and of J/PSI from B decay as a function of transverse momentum in the FORWARD region. The errors shown are statistical and the uncorrelated and correlated components of the systematic uncertainties.
Single differential production cross sections of prompt J/PSI mesons and of J/PSI from B decay as a function of transverse momentum in the BACKWARD region. The errors shown are statistical and the uncorrelated and correlated components of the systematic uncertainties.
Single differential production cross sections of prompt J/PSI mesons and of J/PSI from B decay as a function of rapidity in the FORWARD region. The errors shown are statistical and the uncorrelated and correlated components of the systematic uncertainties.
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