# Measurement of the inelastic cross section in proton–lead collisions at $\sqrt{^{s}NN}$ = 5.02 TeV

CMS Collaboration; Canelli, F; Chiochia, V; Kilminster, B; Robmann, P; et al (2016). Measurement of the inelastic cross section in proton–lead collisions at $\sqrt{^{s}NN}$ = 5.02 TeV. Physical review. B, 759:641-662.

## Abstract

The inelastic hadronic cross section in proton–lead collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV is measured with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of L=12.6±0.4 nb$^{−1}$ , has been collected with an unbiased trigger for inclusive particle production. The cross section is obtained from the measured number of proton–lead collisions with hadronic activity produced in the pseudorapidity ranges 3<η<5 and/or −5<η<−3 , corrected for photon-induced contributions, experimental acceptance, and other instrumental effects. The inelastic cross section is measured to be $σ_{inel}(pPb)$=2061±3(stat)±34(syst)±72(lumi) mb . Various Monte Carlo generators, commonly used in heavy ion and cosmic ray physics, are found to reproduce the data within uncertainties. The value of $σ_{inel}(pPb)$ is compatible with that expected from the proton–proton cross section at 5.02 TeV scaled up within a simple Glauber approach to account for multiple scatterings in the lead nucleus, indicating that further net nuclear corrections are small.

## Abstract

The inelastic hadronic cross section in proton–lead collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV is measured with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of L=12.6±0.4 nb$^{−1}$ , has been collected with an unbiased trigger for inclusive particle production. The cross section is obtained from the measured number of proton–lead collisions with hadronic activity produced in the pseudorapidity ranges 3<η<5 and/or −5<η<−3 , corrected for photon-induced contributions, experimental acceptance, and other instrumental effects. The inelastic cross section is measured to be $σ_{inel}(pPb)$=2061±3(stat)±34(syst)±72(lumi) mb . Various Monte Carlo generators, commonly used in heavy ion and cosmic ray physics, are found to reproduce the data within uncertainties. The value of $σ_{inel}(pPb)$ is compatible with that expected from the proton–proton cross section at 5.02 TeV scaled up within a simple Glauber approach to account for multiple scatterings in the lead nucleus, indicating that further net nuclear corrections are small.

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Item Type: Journal Article, refereed, original work 07 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute 530 Physics English 2016 09 Jan 2017 09:12 02 Feb 2018 11:15 American Physical Society 2469-9950 Gold https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2016.06.027