Spin Physics Detector project at JINR

TL;DR

The Spin Physics Detector at JINR's NICA collider aims to explore the spin structure of nucleons using polarized beams, covering a unique energy range with advanced detection capabilities, starting after 2025.

Contribution

This paper introduces the SPD project at NICA, detailing its design, physics goals, and its role in bridging existing measurements of nucleon spin structure across different energy scales.

Findings

Design of a multipurpose 4π detector with advanced capabilities.

Potential to explore unpolarized and polarized gluon content at large Bjorken-x.

Coverage of a unique energy range between low and high-energy experiments.

Abstract

The Spin Physics Detector at the constructing NICA collider (JINR, Dubna) is a universal facility to investigate the spin structure of the proton and deuteron and the other spin-related phenomena with polarized proton and deuteron beams at a collision energy up to 27 GeV. A comprehensive study of the unpolarized and polarized gluon content of the nucleon at large Bjorken-x using different complementary probes such as charmonia, open charm, and prompt photon production processes is the central point of the SPD physics program. In the polarized proton-proton collisions, the SPD experiment at NICA will cover the kinematic gap between the low-energy measurements at ANKE-COSY and SATURNE and the high-energy measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, as well as the planned fixed-target experiments at the LHC. The possibility for NICA to operate with polarized deuteron beams at such energies is unique. The SPD experimental setup is planned as a multipurpose universal 4$\pi$ detector with advanced tracking and particle identification capabilities, electromagnetic calorimeter, and muon (range) system. To minimize possible systematic effects, SPD will be equipped with a free-running data acquisition system. The spin physics program at the SPD is expected to start after 2025 and to extend for about 10 years.