The SPD project at NICA

TL;DR

The SPD project at NICA aims to study the spin structure of protons and deuterons using polarized beams at the NICA collider, focusing on gluon distributions and spin asymmetries with a comprehensive detector setup.

Contribution

This paper presents the physics program, design, and construction plans of the SPD detector at NICA, highlighting its unique capabilities for spin physics research.

Findings

Design of the SPD detector setup is detailed.

The physics goals include accessing gluon TMD PDFs and transversity distributions.

Construction is planned for 2024-2030 as part of JINR's development plan.

Abstract

The Spin Physics Detector (SPD) is a universal detector in the one of two interaction points of the NICA collider under construction at JINR, Dubna. SPD plans to study the spin structure of the proton and deuteron and other spin-related phenomena using a unique possibility to operate with polarized proton and deuteron beams at a collision energy up to 27 GeV and a luminosity up to $10^{32}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. As the main goal, the experiment aims to provide access to the gluon TMD PDFs in the proton and deuteron, as well as the gluon transversity distribution and tensor PDFs in the deuteron, via the measurements of specific single and double spin asymmetries using different complementary probes such as charmonia, open charm, and prompt photon production processes. Other polarized and unpolarized physics is possible, especially at the first stage of NICA operation with reduced luminosity and collision energy of the proton and ion beams. Construction of the first stage of the SPD facility is included in the JINR seven-year development plan for 2024-2030. The physics program of the SPD project and the design of the SPD setup are presented.