Results from LHCf Experiment

TL;DR

The LHCf experiment measured forward neutral particle spectra in proton-proton collisions at LHC energies, providing crucial data to calibrate cosmic ray models, revealing significant discrepancies with existing models, and outlining future research directions.

Contribution

First measurements of the inclusive photon spectrum at LHC energies, highlighting discrepancies with models and planning future p-Pb collision analyses.

Findings

Significant discrepancies between measured spectra and model predictions.

First results on inclusive photon spectrum at LHC energies.

Future plans include p-Pb collision data collection.

Abstract

The LHCf experiment has taken data in 2009 and 2010 p-p collisions at LHC at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ TeV and $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV. The measurement of the forward neutral particle spectra produced in proton-proton collisions at LHC up to an energy of 14 TeV in the center of mass system are of fundamental importance to calibrate the Monte Carlo models widely used in the high energy cosmic ray (HECR) field, up to an equivalent laboratory energy of the order of $10^{17}$ eV. In this paper the first results on the inclusive photon spectrum measured by LHCf is reported. Comparison of this spectrum with the model expectations show significant discrepancies, mainly in the high energy region. In addition, perspectives for future analyses as well as the program for the next data taking period, in particular the possibility to take data in p-Pb collisions, will be discussed.