D-meson propagation in hadronic matter and consequences for heavy-flavor observables in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions

Abstract

International audienceWe employ recently published cross sections for D mesons with hadrons and calculate the drag and diffusion coefficients of D mesons in hadronic matter as a function of the momentum of D mesons as well as of the temperature of the medium. Calculating in our approach the spatial diffusion coefficient, D-x, at zero chemical potential we see a very smooth transition between our calculations for the hadron gas and the lattice QCD calculations. Applying the results for the transport coefficients of D mesons in a Fokker-Planck equation, which describes the evolution of D mesons during the expansion of a hadron gas created in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions, we find that the value of R-AA is little influenced by hadronic rescattering, whereas in the elliptic flow the effects are stronger. We extend our calculations to the finite chemical potentials and calculate the spatial diffusion coefficients of D mesons propagating through the hadronic medium following isentropic trajectories, appropriate at future FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research, Darmstadt) and NICA (Nuclotron-Based Ion Collider Facility, Dubna) heavy-ion experiments. For the isentropic trajectory with s/rho(net)(B) = 20 we find a perfect matching of results for D mesons in hadronic matter and for charm quarks in partonic matter treated within the dynamical quasiparticle model approach

Measurement of D0 Azimuthal Anisotropy at Midrapidity in Au+Au Collisions at Adamczyk1, Adkins2, Agakishiev3 et al. 2017Phys. Rev. Lett.11410550View full textAdd to dashboardCite

“…In Fig. 4, the measured D 0 v 2 in 0-80% centrality collisions is compared with several model calculations [16][17][18][19][20][21]45]. Duke, LBT, PHSD, SUBATECH models and TAMU model with charm quark diffusion are able to describe our previously published D 0 R AA result [10,16,21].…”

“…However, a clear interpretation of lepton v 2 measurements suffers from an ambiguity in the lepton sources between charm and bottom decays and the decay kinematics. On the other hand, there has been significant progress in theoretical calculations for charm hadron v 2 in heavy-ion collisions [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. A precise measurement of charm hadron v 2 over a wide momentum range is expected to provide valuable insights into the sQGP properties [9].…”

Diffusion ofΛcin hot hadronic medium and its impact onΛc/Ghosh1, Das2, Greco3 et al. 2014Phys. Rev. D273180View full textAdd to dashboardCite

“…To make reliable characterization of the QGP, the role of the hadronic phase should be assessed and its contribution must be subtracted out from the data. Recently the diffusion coefficients of the D and B mesons have been evaluated in the hadronic phase [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] and their effects on R AA ðp T Þ at large transverse momentum (p T ) [31] and elliptic flow (v 2 ) [32,33] have been studied and found to be significant. Apart from the heavy mesons (D and B) the heavy baryon (Λ c ) is also significant as its enhancement [34,35] due to quark coalescence would affect the R AA ðp T Þ of nonphotonic electrons.…”

Heavy-quark dynamics in a hydrodynamically evolving medium

“…There is, however, growing awareness that around the pseudo-critical temperature interaction can also be strong on the hadronic side [8,9]. For entering the era of precision measurement, it will become important to have a good handle on the hadronic final interactions as well.…”