Production of muons from heavy flavour decays at forward rapidity in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at \(\sqrt {s_{NN}}\) = 2.76 TeV

Abstract

The ALICE Collaboration has measured the inclusive production of muons from heavy flavour decays at forward rapidity, 2.5 < y < 4, in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at \(\sqrt {s_{NN}}\) = 2.76 TeV. The pt-differential inclusive cross section of muons from heavy flavour decays in pp collisions is compared to perturbative QCD calculations. The nuclear modification factor is studied as a function of pt and collision centrality. A weak suppression is measured in peripheral collisions. In the most central collisions, a suppression of a factor of about 3-4 is observed in 6 < pt < 10 GeV/c. The suppression shows no significant pt dependence.