[Paper Review] On Mechanism of Charmed c-Quarks Fragmentation in Hadronic Collisions

A. K. Likhoded, S. Slabospitsky|ArXiv.org|Oct 26, 1997

High-Energy Particle Collisions Research1 references3 citations

TL;DR

This paper proposes a modified fragmentation mechanism for charmed c-quarks into D and D_s mesons in hadronic collisions, accounting for differences in valence quark distributions between pions and kaons. It predicts distinct inclusive spectra for D and D_s mesons when produced in π± and K± beams, offering a phenomenological explanation for observed asymmetries in charmed meson production rates.

ABSTRACT

We propose a modification of the mechanism of charmed quarks fragmentation into $D$ mesons in hadronic collisions. It is shown that the distinction in valence quark distributions in the initial $π^{\pm}$ and $K^{\pm}$ mesons leads to different inclusive spectra of $D$ and $D_s$ mesons produced in $π^{\pm}$ and $K^{\pm}$ beams.

Motivation & Objective

• To understand the mechanism of charmed c-quark fragmentation into D mesons in hadronic collisions.
• To explain the observed differences in inclusive spectra of D and D_s mesons produced in π± and K± beams.
• To account for the impact of initial-state valence quark distributions on fragmentation dynamics.
• To refine existing fragmentation models by incorporating hadronic environment effects.
• To provide a phenomenological framework for interpreting experimental data on charmed meson production.

Proposed method

• Adopts a modified fragmentation model based on the valence quark content of initial-state mesons (π± and K±).
• Uses the difference in valence quark structure between pions (u,d) and kaons (u,s) to predict distinct fragmentation patterns.
• Applies perturbative QCD-inspired fragmentation functions with non-perturbative corrections.
• Constructs inclusive spectra for D and D_s mesons based on the fragmentation of c-quarks in different hadronic beams.
• Performs analytical calculations within a phenomenological framework to derive differential cross sections.
• Validates predictions against known experimental trends in charmed meson production.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How do the valence quark distributions in π± and K± mesons influence the fragmentation of charmed c-quarks into D and D_s mesons?
• RQ2 What explains the observed differences in inclusive spectra of D and D_s mesons produced in π± versus K± beams?
• RQ3 Can a modified fragmentation mechanism account for the asymmetries in charmed meson yields in different hadronic collisions?
• RQ4 To what extent do initial-state quark content and dynamics affect the final-state fragmentation patterns?
• RQ5 How can fragmentation functions be adjusted to reflect the hadronic environment in pion and kaon beams?

Key findings

• The model predicts a significant difference in the inclusive spectra of D and D_s mesons when produced in π± and K± beams due to valence quark structure.
• The fragmentation of c-quarks into D_s mesons is enhanced in K± beams compared to π± beams, consistent with the strange quark content in kaons.
• The model explains the observed suppression or enhancement of D_s yields in different beam environments through quark-level dynamics.
• The predicted spectra show a clear dependence on the initial meson's valence quark composition, particularly the presence of strange quarks in K±.
• The results suggest that fragmentation mechanisms are not universal but depend on the initial hadronic state, especially in strange meson beams.
• The framework provides a phenomenological explanation for discrepancies in experimental data on charmed meson production rates.