Production of antinuclei in pp collisions at \sqrt{s} = 7 TeV with ALICE at the LHC

Abstract

First results of ALICE on the production of nuclei and antinuclei in pp collisions at \surd s = 7 TeV are presented. These particles are identified using the energy loss (dE/dx) measurements in the Time Projection Chamber. The Inner Tracking System allows a precise determination of the event vertex, by which primary and secondary particles are well separated. The high statistics of over 350 M events give a significant number of light nuclei and antinuclei such as (anti)deuterons, (anti)tritons, (anti)Helium3 and possibly (anti)hypertritons. The study of nuclei and antinuclei will help to understand their production mechanisms. Antinuclei production as a function of particle multiplicity in an event is discussed in this respect. Various particle ratios obtained from these collisions using predictions from a statistical model are also presented.