Multiplicity dependence of f0(980) production in pp collisions at s= 13 TeV

Abstract

The dependence of f0(980) production on the final-state charged-particle multiplicity is reported for proton–proton (pp) collisions at the centre-of-mass energy, s= 13 TeV. The production of f0(980) is measured with the ALICE detector via the f0(980)?p+p- decay channel in a midrapidity region of |y|< 0.5. The evolution of the integrated yields and mean transverse momentum of f0(980) as a function of charged-particle multiplicity measured in pp at s= 13 TeV follows the trends observed in pp at s= 5.02 TeV and in proton–lead (p–Pb) collisions at sNN= 5.02 TeV. Particle yield ratios of f0(980) to p± and K*(892)0 are found to decrease with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. These particle ratios are compared with calculations from the canonical statistical thermal model as a function of charged-particle multiplicity. The thermal model calculations provide a better description of the decreasing trend of particle ratios when no strange or antistrange quark composition for f0(980) is assumed, which suggests that the data do not support significant hidden strangeness in the f0(980). © CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration 2026.