Charmed Meson Reconstruction in the $D^{∗+} \to D^0(K^− \pi^+) \pi^+$ Decay Channel in p-p Collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 7$ TeV with the ALICE Experiment

Within this thesis, the prompt production of the D∗+(2010) meson and its anti-particle has been measured in the D∗+→D$^{0}$(K−π+)π+decay channel at mid-rapidity from p-p collisions at√s= 7 TeV with the ALICE apparatus.The production differential cross section is presented in ten intervals in the transverse momentum range 1< pT<24 GeV/c. The measured differential cross section of prompt D∗+(2010) meson production is described by state-of-the-art perturbative QCD calculations within the framework of FONLL and GM-FVNS within rather large uncertainties in both experiment and calculations. Hadronization of charm into light flavor (d) D mesons allows for a description within the statistical model. The total charm production cross section was extracted by additionally taking into account the ALICE measurements on the prompt production of D$^{0}$ and D$^{+}$ mesons.Fair agreement with results from other LHC experiments ATLAS and LHCb is found.