First Results from the ALICE experiment at the LHC

TL;DR

The paper reports initial operation results and first collision data from the ALICE experiment at the LHC, including performance metrics and early findings from proton-proton and lead-lead collisions.

Contribution

It presents the first operational results and initial data analysis from the ALICE heavy ion experiment at the LHC.

Findings

ALICE successfully collected initial pp and Pb-Pb collision data.

The experiment demonstrated operational readiness and performance.

Early physics results provide insights into high-energy heavy ion collisions.

Abstract

After close to 20 years of preparation, the dedicated heavy ion experiment ALICE took first data with proton collisions at the LHC starting in November 2009 and first Pb-Pb data in November 2010. This article summarizes initial operation and performance of ALICE as well as first results from both pp and Pb-Pb collisions.