Open Heavy Flavor Production at Forward Angles in PHENIX

The measurement of the nuclear modification factor (RAA) for heavy-flavor production in heavy-ion collisions tests predictions for cold- and hot-nuclear-matter effects. Heavy-flavor production in p+p collisions tests pQCD calculations and serves as a reference for understanding heavy-flavor production in heavy-ion collisions. Using the PHENIX muon-arm spectrometers, the transverse momentum spectra of inclusive muon candidates are measured for p+p and Cu + Cu collisions at sNN=200GeV. After subtracting backgrounds, we obtain the measured invariant yields of negative muons from the decay of heavy flavor mesons. For p+p collisions, we measure the charm-production cross section integrated over pT and in the rapidity range 1.4