Transverse momentum spectra of charged particles in proton-proton collisions at \(\sqrt{s}\) = 900 GeV with ALICE at the LHC

Abstract

The inclusive charged particle transverse momentum distribution is measured in proton-proton collisions at \(\sqrt{s} = 900\)~GeV at the LHC using the ALICE detector. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region \((|\eta|<0.8)\) over the transverse momentum range \(0.15<p_T<10\)~GeV/\(c\), The correlation between transverse momentum and particle multiplicity is also studied. Results are presented for inelastic (INEL) and non-single-diffractive (NSD) events. The average transverse momentum for \(|\eta|<0.8\) is \(\left<p_T\right>_{\rm INEL}=0.483\pm0.001\)~(stat.)~\(\pm0.007\(~(syst.)~GeV/\(c\) and \(\left<p_T\right>_{\rm NSD}=0.489\pm0.001\)~(stat.)~\(\pm0.007\(~(syst.)~GeV/\(c\), respectively. The data exhibit a slightly larger \(\left<p_T\right>\) than measurements in wider pseudorapidity intervals. The results are compared to simulations with the Monte Carlo event generators PYTHIA and PHOJET.