First Direct Observation of the Dead-Cone Effect

We report the first direct measurement of the dead-cone effect at colliders, using iterative jet declustering techniques in pp collisions at root s = 13 TeV. The procedure exposes the splittings of D-0 mesons in the jet shower, by iteratively declustering the angular ordered C/A tree. The splitting history of the D-0 meson initiated jet is mapped onto the Lund Plane, where appropriate cuts can be made to suppress hadronisation effects. The reported variable is the splitting angle with respect to the D-0 meson axis, which is updated after each splitting. Track-based jet finding, along with the low transverse momentum reach for charged tracks of the ALICE detector, allow for an accurate reconstruction of the splitting angle in the phase-space where the dead-cone effect is expected to be largest. The results are compared to those of inclusive jets, where the dead-cone effect is expected to be negligible.

Automated summary

The study reports the first direct measurement of the dead-cone effect at colliders, revealing the splittings of D-0 mesons in jet showers using iterative jet declustering techniques in pp collisions at root s = 13 TeV. Results show the splitting history of the D-0 meson initiated jet mapped onto the Lund Plane, with comparisons made to inclusive jets where the dead-cone effect is expected to be negligible.