Prospects for the NA60+ experiment at the CERN SPS

TL;DR

The NA60+ experiment at CERN SPS aims to explore the QCD phase diagram at high baryochemical potential through precision measurements of thermal dimuons, heavy quark, and strangeness production in Pb-Pb collisions at 5-17 GeV.

Contribution

This paper proposes a new heavy-ion experiment, NA60+, at CERN SPS, focusing on high baryochemical potential regions of the QCD phase diagram.

Findings

Design of the NA60+ experimental setup

Projected capabilities for measuring thermal dimuons and heavy quark production

Potential insights into QCD matter at high baryochemical potential

Abstract

A new heavy-ion experiment on fixed target, NA60+, has been proposed at the CERN SPS for data taking in the next years. Its main goals will be focused on precision studies of thermal dimuons, heavy quark and strangeness production in Pb-Pb collisions at center-of-mass energies ranging from 5 to 17 GeV, which will provide a unique opportunity to investigate the region of the QCD phase diagram at high baryochemical potential ($\mu_B \sim 200-400$~MeV). The key points of the NA60+ very broad and ambitious physics program will be described.