Probing Charm Quark Dynamics via Multiparticle Correlations in Pb-Pb Collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV

Multiparticle azimuthal correlations of prompt D-0 mesons arc measured in Pb-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV. For the first time, a four-particle cumulant method is used to extract the second Fourier coefficient of the azimuthal distribution (v(2)) of D-0 mesons as a function of event centrality and the D-0 transverse momentum. The ratios of the four-particle v(2) values to previously measured two-particle cumulant results provide direct experimental access to event-by-event fluctuations of charm quark azimuthal anisotropies. These ratios are also found to be comparable to those of inclusive charged particles in the event. However, hints of deviations are seen in the most central and peripheral collisions. To investigate the origin of flow fluctuations in the charm sector, these measurements are compared to a model implementing fluctuations of charm quark energy loss via collisional or radiative processes in the quark-gluon plasma. These models cannot quantitatively describe the data over the full transverse momentum and centrality ranges, although the calculations with collisional energy loss provide a better description of the data.

Automated summary

The multiparticle azimuthal correlations of prompt D-0 mesons in Pb-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV are measured. The second Fourier coefficient (v(2)) of the azimuthal distribution of D-0 mesons is extracted using a four-particle cumulant method, as a function of event centrality and the D-0 transverse momentum. The ratios of the four-particle v(2) values to previously measured two-particle cumulant results provide insights into the event-by-event fluctuations of charm quark azimuthal anisotropies. These ratios are also compared to the ones of inclusive charged particles in the event, showing hints of deviations in the most central and peripheral collisions. To investigate the origin of flow fluctuations in the charm sector, these measurements are compared to a model implementing fluctuations of charm quark energy loss via collisional or radiative processes in the quark-gluon plasma. These models cannot quantitatively describe the data over the full transverse momentum and centrality ranges, although the calculations with collisional energy loss provide a better description of the data.