K∗(892)0 and φ(1020) meson production at high transverse momentum in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at √ sNN = 2.76 TeV

Abstract

The production of K (892)0 and φ(1020) mesons in proton-proton (pp) and lead-lead (Pb-Pb) collisions at √ sNN = 2.76 TeV has been analyzed using a high luminosity data sample accumulated in 2011 with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Transverse momentum (pT) spectra have been measured for K (892)0 and φ(1020) mesons via their hadronic decay channels for pT up to 20 GeV/c. The measurements in pp collisions have been compared to model calculations and used to determine the nuclear modification factor and particle ratios. The K (892)0/K ratio exhibits significant reduction from pp to central Pb-Pb collisions, consistent with the suppression of the K (892)0 yield at low pT due to rescattering of its decay products in the hadronic phase. In central Pb-Pb collisions the pT dependent φ(1020)/π and K (892)0/π ratios show an enhancement over pp collisions for pT ≈ 3 GeV/c, consistent with previous observations of strong radial flow. At high pT, particle ratios in Pb-Pb collisions are similar to those measured in pp collisions. In central Pb-Pb collisions, the production of K (892)0 and φ(1020) mesons is suppressed for pT > 8 GeV/c. This suppression is similar to that of charged pions, kaons, and protons, indicating that the suppression does not depend on particle mass or flavor in the light quark sector.