Investigating forward-backward asymmetry in D-meson production and anisotropic flow in p-Pb collisions at the LHC

We investigate the forward–backward asymmetry in the production and elliptic flow of prompt D0 mesons in proton–lead (p–Pb) collisions at$\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{N}}}=8.16$ TeV using the heavy-flavor improved string-melting version of the AMPT model. The model calculations provide a simultaneous description of nuclear modification factor $R_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{b}}$ and $v_2$ in forward and backward rapidities. We find that the observed asymmetry arises from the interplay of initial-state cold nuclear matter effects and final-state partonic interactions, with the competition between coalescence and fragmentation playing a critical role in shaping the transverse momentum and rapidity dependence of both observables. This work suggests that a partonic medium is formed in high-multiplicity p-Pb collisions at LHC energies.