Production of pions, kaons and protons in Xe--Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.44$ TeV

Abstract

In late 2017, the ALICE experiment recorded a data sample of Xe--Xe collisions at the unprecedented energy in A--A systems of $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}} = 5.44\text{ TeV}$. The $p_{\rm T}$ spectra at mid-rapidity ($|y| < 0.5$) of pions, kaons and protons are presented. The preliminary $p_{\rm T}$ spectra are obtained by combining independent analyses with the Inner Tracking System (ITS), the Time Projection Chamber (TPC), and the Time-Of-Flight (TOF) detectors. This paper focuses on the details of the analysis performed with TOF and in particular on the performance implications of the special Xe--Xe run conditions. The peculiarity of this data set comes from the experimental conditions: because of the lower magnetic field of the ALICE solenoid ($B = 0.2\text{ T}$, lower than the nominal $0.5\text{ T}$) we expect to explore a $p_{\rm T}$ region unattainable before. A comparison between the yields at different centrality bins will also be provided.