Measurement of _Λ^3H production in Pb–Pb collisions at √s_NN = 5.02 TeV

Abstract

The first measurement of _Λ^3H and anti-_Λ^3H differential production with respect to transverse momentum and centrality in Pb–Pb collisions at √s_NN = 5.02 TeV is presented. The _Λ^3H has been reconstructed via its two-charged-body decay channel, i.e., _Λ^3H -> ^3He + π^-. A Blast-Wave model fit of the p_T-differential spectra of all nuclear species measured by the ALICE collaboration suggests that the _Λ^3H kinetic freeze-out surface is consistent with that of other nuclei. The ratio between the integrated yields of _Λ^3H and 3He is compared to predictions from the statistical hadronisation model and the coalescence model, with the latter being favoured by the presented measurements.