The VHMPID detector
Giacomo Volpe · 2009
The ALICE experiment is devoted to measure the properties of the strongly interacting matter created in heavy-ion collisions at LHC at √ S NN = 5.5 TeV.Heavy ion collisions at RHIC have shown an anomalously high baryon to meson ratio in the so called intermediate momentum range of 2 to 6 GeV/c.Theoretical predictions, using different arguments, foreseen that the baryon enhancement at LHC will be present in a momentum range higher than at RHIC, namely p T = 10 -30 GeV/c.To be able to study this phenomenon in details, upgrades of the ALICE detector systems to extend track-by-track identification capability of protons up to 10 GeV/c and more, are necessary.A possible upgrade is under study.Different solutions have been taken into account, but the more interesting consists of a ring imaging Cherenkov detector, that exploits the focusing properties of a spherical mirror and gas C 4 F 10 as Cherenkov radiator.The photons detection is provided by a multiwire chamber or a GEM-like detector coupled with pad-segmented CsI photocathodes.The new device has been named VHMPID (Very High Momentum Particle Identification Detector).Description of VHMPID and performance results from simulation are reported. High-pT Physics at