Measurement of prompt D-0, D+, D*(+), and D-s(+) production in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5:02 TeV

The measurement of the production of prompt D-0, D+, D*+, and D-S(+) = 5.02 TeV, with an integrated luminosity of 292 +/- 11 mu b(-1), are reported. Differential production cross sections are measured at mid-rapidity (-0.96 < y(cms)< 0.04) as a function of transverse momentum (p(T)) in the intervals 0 < p(T)< 36 GeV/c for D-0, 1 < p(T)< 36 GeV/c for D+ and D*+, and 2 < p(T)< 24 GeV/c for D+ mesons. For each species, the nuclear modification factor R-pPb is calculated as a function of p(T) using a proton-proton (pp) ref- erence measured at the same collision energy. The results are compatible with unity in the whole p(T) range. The average of the non-strange D mesons R-pPb is compared with theoretical model predictions that include initial-state effects and parton transport model predictions. The p(T) dependence of the D-0, D+, and D*+ nuclear modification factors is also reported in the interval 1 < p(T)< 36 GeV/c as a function of the collision centrality, and the central-to-peripheral ratios are computed from the D-meson yields measured in different centrality classes. The results are further compared with charged-particle measurements and a similar trend is observed in all the centrality classes. The ratios of the p(T)-differential cross sections of D-0, D+, D*+, and D-S(+) mesons are also reported. The D-S(+) and D+ yields are compared as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity for several p(T) intervals. No modification in the relative abundances of the four species is observed with respect to pp collisions within the statistical and systematic uncertainties.