Constraining hadronization mechanisms with $\Lambda_{\rm c}^+$/D$^0$ production ratios in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

The production of prompt $\Lambda_{\rm c}^+$ baryons at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) was measured in central (0–10%) and mid-central (30–50%) Pb–Pb collisions at the center-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector. The $\Lambda_{\rm c}^+$ production yield, the $\Lambda_{\rm c}^+$/D$^0$ production ratio, and the $\Lambda_{\rm c}^+$ nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ are reported. The results are more precise and more differential in transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) and centrality with respect to previous measurements. The $\Lambda_{\rm c}^+$/D$^0$ ratio, which is enhanced with respect to the pp measurement for 4 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 8 GeV/$c$, is described by theoretical calculations that model the charm-quark transport in the quark–gluon plasma and include hadronization via both coalescence and fragmentation mechanisms.