Spin Physics at RHIC

TL;DR

This paper discusses the objectives and initial findings of the RHIC spin program, which aims to understand the contributions of quarks, antiquarks, and gluons to proton spin through polarized proton collisions.

Contribution

It introduces the first experimental results from polarized proton collisions at RHIC, advancing the study of proton spin structure.

Findings

Initial polarized proton collision data at 200 GeV obtained

Insights into quark and gluon contributions to proton spin

Establishment of RHIC as a facility for spin physics research

Abstract

The physics goals that will be addressed by colliding polarized protons at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) are described. The RHIC spin program provides a new generation of experiments that will unfold the quark, anti-quark and gluon contributions to the proton's spin. In addition to these longer term goals, this paper describes what was learned from the first polarized proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV. These collisions took place in a five-week run during the second year of RHIC operation.