First results from the NA60 experiment at CERN

TL;DR

The NA60 experiment at CERN introduces a new detector for improved dimuon detection in heavy-ion collisions, presenting initial results that address key questions about quark-gluon plasma signatures and open charm production.

Contribution

It presents the first results from NA60's new detector, enhancing dimuon detection capabilities in heavy-ion collision experiments.

Findings

Improved dimuon detection in proton-nucleus and heavy-ion collisions.

Initial data on open charm production.

Insights into quark-gluon plasma signatures.

Abstract

Since 1986, several heavy ion experiments have studied some signatures of the formation of the quark-gluon plasma and a few exciting results have been found. However, some important questions are still unanswered and require new measurements. The NA60 experiment, with a new detector concept that vastly improves dimuon detection in proton-nucleus and heavy-ion collisions, studies several of those open questions, including the production of open charm. This paper presents the experiment and some first results from data collected in 2002.