Measurement of D-meson production at mid-rapidity in pp collisions at \({\sqrt{s}=7}\) TeV

Abstract

The production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons \({\rm D^0}\). \({\rm D^+}\). \({\rm D^{*+}}\) and \({\rm D_s^+}\) were measured at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy \(\sqrt{s}=7\) TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). D mesons were reconstructed from their decays \({\rm D}^0 \to {\rm K}^-\pi^+\). \({\rm D}^+\to {\rm K}^-\pi^+\pi^+\). \({\rm D}^{*+} \to {\rm D}^0 \pi^+\). \({\rm D_s^{+}\to \phi\pi^+\to K^-K^+\pi^+}\). and their charge conjugates. With respect to previous measurements in the same rapidity region, the coverage in transverse momentum \(p_{\rm T}\) is extended and the uncertainties are reduced by a factor of about two. The accuracy on the estimated total \(\rm c\overline c\) production cross section is likewise improved. The measured \(p_{\rm T}\).differential cross sections are compared with the results of three perturbative QCD calculations.