First measurement of D_s1(1^+)(2536)^+ and D_s2^*(2^+)(2573)^+ production in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV at the LHC

Abstract

The production yields of the orbitally excited charm-strange mesons D_s1(1^+)(2536)^+ and D_s2^*(2^+)(2573)^+ were measured for the first time in proton-proton (pp) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of √s = 13 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The D_s1^+ and D_s2^*+ mesons were measured at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) in minimum-bias and high-multiplicity pp collisions in the transverse-momentum interval 2 < p_T < 24 GeV/c. Their production yields relative to the D_s^+ ground-state yield were found to be compatible between minimum-bias and high-multiplicity collisions, as well as with previous measurements in e^± p and e^+ e^- collisions. The measured D_s1^+ / D_s^+ and D_s2^*+ / D_s^+ yield ratios are described by statistical hadronization models and can be used to tune the parameters governing the production of excited charm-strange hadrons in Monte Carlo generators, such as PYTHIA 8.