Production of muons from heavy flavor decays at forward rapidity in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76TeV

Abstract

The ALICE Collaboration has measured the inclusive production of muons from heavy-flavor decays at forward rapidity, 2.5<y<4, in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76TeV. The pt-differential inclusive cross section of muons from heavy-flavor decays in pp collisions is compared to perturbative QCD calculations. The nuclear modification factor is studied as a function of pt and collision centrality. A weak suppression is measured in peripheral collisions. In the most central collisions, a suppression of a factor of about 3-4 is observed in 6<p t<10GeV/c. The suppression shows no significant pt dependence. © 2012 CERN.