The ALICE 3 detector concept for LHC Runs 5 and 6 and its physics performance

TL;DR

ALICE 3 is a next-generation detector designed for the LHC's future runs, enabling advanced studies of quark-gluon plasma, QCD phenomena, and heavy-flavour physics with unprecedented precision and coverage.

Contribution

This paper presents the design, expected physics performance, and R&D status of the ALICE 3 detector for future LHC runs, highlighting its innovative capabilities.

Findings

Track pointing resolution better than 10 microns for pT>200 MeV/c

Capability to measure low-pT heavy-flavour production and dielectron emission

Potential to explore chiral-symmetry restoration and charm interactions

Abstract

The LHC Run 5 and 6 data taking phases will bring unprecedented luminosity in high-energy proton-proton and in heavy-ion collisions. The ALICE Collaboration proposes a next-generation experiment, ALICE 3, specifically designed to operate with the future LHC. ALICE 3 will feature a large pixel-based tracking system covering eight units of pseudorapidity, complemented by advanced particle identification systems. These include silicon time-of-flight layers, a ring-imaging Cherenkov detector, a muon identification system, and an electromagnetic calorimeter. By placing the vertex detector on a retractable plate inside the beam pipe, a track pointing resolution better than 10 microns can be achieved for the transverse momentum range $p_T$>200 MeV/c. ALICE 3 will be capable of innovative measurements of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) and explore new frontiers in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). The detailed study of thermal and dynamical properties of QGP will be made possible by measuring low-$p_T$ heavy-flavour production, including beauty hadrons, multi-charm baryons, and charm-charm correlations. Precise multi-differential measurements of dielectron emission will allow for the exploration of chiral-symmetry restoration and the time-evolution of QGP temperature. In addition to QGP studies, ALICE 3 will make unique contributions to the physics of the hadronic phase, through femtoscopic studies of charm meson interaction potentials and searches for nuclei containing charm. This contribution covers the detector design, expected physics performance, and the current status of detector research and development.