Diffractive Physics Program at the Electron-Ion Collider's (EIC) 2nd Detector

TL;DR

The paper discusses the design and potential scientific contributions of a second general-purpose detector at the Electron-Ion Collider, focusing on diffractive physics and complementary measurement capabilities.

Contribution

It proposes the scientific and technical role of a second detector at the EIC, emphasizing its unique capabilities for diffractive physics and systematic cross-checks.

Findings

Potential for improved forward detector acceptance at low p_T

Enhanced exclusive and diffractive physics measurements

Complementary technologies for the second detector

Abstract

The Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) will be a novel experimental facility to explore the properties of gluons in nucleons and nuclei, shedding light on their structure and dynamics. The EIC community outlined the physics program of the EIC in a White Paper, and the demanding detector requirements and potential technologies to deploy at an EIC detector were published in a comprehensive Yellow Report. The general-purpose detector resulting from this efforts, ePIC, is designed to perform a broad physics program. At the same time, the wider EIC community is strongly in favor of a second detector at the EIC. Having two general-purpose collider detectors to support the EIC science program, allows us to have cross-checks and control of systematic uncertainties for potential scientific discoveries. The second detector should feature complementary technologies where possible. It can also focus on specific measurements that are less well addressed by ePIC. The second interaction region provides potentially improved forward detector acceptance at low $p_{T}$ and a secondary beam focus that enables to enhance the exclusive, tagging, and diffractive physics program. Hereby, I will present potential capabilities of the second detector and discuss studies related to its diffractive physics program.