# Probing the high-x content of the nuclei in the fixed-target mode at the LHC

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how fixed-target experiments at the LHC using LHCb and ALICE can significantly improve our understanding of the high-momentum fraction quark and gluon content in protons and nuclei, advancing nuclear parton distribution functions.

## Contribution

It provides projections for studying various particle productions in fixed-target mode, highlighting potential improvements in nuclear PDFs and insights into cold-nuclear-matter effects.

## Key findings

- Expected enhancement in nuclear PDF precision
- Improved understanding of cold-nuclear-matter effects
- Potential for new insights into high-x parton distributions

## Abstract

Using the LHCb and ALICE detectors in the fixed-target mode at the LHC offers unprecedented possibilities to study the quark, gluon and heavy-quark content of the proton and nuclei in the poorly known region of the high-momentum fractions. We review our projections for studies of Drell-Yan, charm, beauty and quarkonium production with both detector set-ups used with various nuclear targets and the LHC proton beams. Based on this, we show the expected improvement in the determination of the quark, charm and gluon proton and nuclear PDFs as well as discuss the implication for a better understanding of the cold-nuclear-matter effects in hard-probe production in proton-nucleus collisions.