Eur. Phys. J. A (2008) 38: 159-162
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2008-10629-y

Regular Article - Experimental Physics

Recent STAR results on heavy-flavor correlation measurements using leading electrons

Institute for Subatomic Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands

^* e-mail: a.mischke@phys.uu.nl

Received: 27 March 2008
Revised: 27 May 2008
Published online: 11 September 2008

Abstract

In this contribution a first STAR measurement on two heavy-flavor particle correlations in p+p collisions at RHIC is presented. Heavy-flavor (charm and bottom) events are identified and separated on a statistical basis by the azimuthal correlation of their decay electrons and open charm mesons, which provide decisive information about the underlying production process. The azimuthal correlation distribution exhibits a two-peak structure which can be attributed to B decays on the near side and predominantly charm pair production on the away side. These assumptions are supported by dedicated simulations using PYTHIA and MC@NLO event generators. This new correlation method has the potential for comprehensive energy loss measurements of heavy quarks in heavy-ion collisions.