Neutral pion and η meson production in proton-proton collisions at s=0.9TeV and s=7TeV

Abstract

The first measurements of the invariant differential cross sections of inclusive π⁰ and η meson production at mid-rapidity in proton–proton collisions at √s = 0.9 TeV and √s = 7 TeV are reported. The π⁰ measurement covers the ranges 0.4 < p_T < 7 GeV/c and 0.3 < p_T < 25 GeV/c for these two energies, respectively. The production of η mesons was measured at √s = 7 TeV in the range 0.4 < p_T < 15 GeV/c. Next-to-Leading Order perturbative QCD calculations, which are consistent with the π⁰ spectrum at √s = 0.9 TeV, overestimate those of π⁰ and η mesons at √s = 7 TeV, but agree with the measured η/π⁰ ratio at √s = 7 TeV.