Production of ω mesons in pp collisions at √s=7TeV

Abstract

The invariant differential cross section of inclusive ω(782)ω(782) meson production at midrapidity (|y|<0.5|y|<0.5) in pp collisions at s√=7TeVs=7TeV was measured with the ALICE detector at the LHC over a transverse momentum range of 2<pT<17GeV/c2<pT<17GeV/c. The ωω meson was reconstructed via its ω→π+π−π0ω→π+π−π0 decay channel. The measured ωω production cross section is compared to various calculations: PYTHIA 8.2 Monash 2013 describes the data, while PYTHIA 8.2 Tune 4C overestimates the data by about 50%. A recent NLO calculation, which includes a model describing the fragmentation of the whole vector-meson nonet, describes the data within uncertainties below 6GeV/c6GeV/c, while it overestimates the data by up to 50% for higher pTpT. The ω/π0ω/π0 ratio is in agreement with previous measurements at lower collision energies and the PYTHIA calculations. In addition, the measurement is compatible with transverse mass scaling within the measured pTpT range and the ratio is constant with Cω/π0=0.67±0.03~(stat)~±0.04~(sys)~Cω/π0=0.67±0.03~(stat)~±0.04~(sys)~ above a transverse momentum of 2.5GeV/c