A. De Caro

The multigap resistive plate chamber as a time-of-flight detector

Abstract The goal of this R&D has been to reach the time resolution needed for Time-of-Flight detectors using the Multigap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC). We present here a MRPC with a time resolution of 70 ps. This prototype has been studied within the R&D program for the very large area TOF array of the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC.

A study of the multigap RPC at the gamma irradiation facility at CERN

Abstract The selected device for the ALICE Time-of-Flight array is the Multigap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC). We have tested this device at the Gamma Irradiation Facility at CERN to evaluate the rate dependence. We find that the rate capability of the MRPC easily exceeds the 50 Hz/cm 2 maximum expected rate at the ALICE experiment. In addition, we have measured the power dissipated for an equivalent flux of 1.6 kHz/cm 2 of through-going muons to be 650 mW/m 2 .

Results of the ALICE time-of-flight detector from the 2009 cosmic-ray data taking

The Time-Of-Flight detector (TOF) of the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC is based on Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs). The TOF detector consists of 152928 readout channels covering a total area of 141 m2. In this paper the results of the calibration with cosmic-ray data collected during 2009 are presented.

Multiplicity studies and effective energy in ALICE at the LHC

In this work we explore the possibility to perform “effective energy” studies in very high energy collisions at the CERN large hadron collider (LHC). In particular, we focus on the possibility to measure in pp collisions the average charged multiplicity as a function of the effective energy with the ALICE experiment, using its capability to measure the energy of the leading baryons with the zero degree calorimeters. Analyses of this kind have been done at lower centre-of-mass energies and have shown that, once the appropriate kinematic variables are chosen, particle production is characterized by universal properties: no matter the nature of the interacting particles, the final states have identical features. Assuming that this universality picture can be extended to ion–ion collisions, as suggested by recent results from RHIC experiments, a novel approach based on the scaling hypothesis for limiting fragmentation has been used to derive the expected charged event multiplicity in AA interactions at LHC. This leads to scenarios where the multiplicity is significantly lower compared to most of the predictions from the models currently used to describe high energy AA collisions. A mean charged multiplicity of about 1000–2000 per rapidity unit (at η∼0) is expected for the most central Pb–Pb collisions at

The highest precision proof of CPT invariance in the “nuclear binding masses”

\sqrt{s_{{\text{NN}}}} = 5.5\,\text{TeV}

The ALICE Time-Of-Flight detector: status and expected performance at the LHC startup

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Study of QGP signatures with the ϕ → K + K – signal in Pb-Pb ALICE events

The validity of CPT invariance in the field of “nuclear binding masses” has been studied for nuclei (antinuclei) with two and three nucleons (antinucleons): (d∕d) and (3He∕3He¯). It is discussed the importance of investigating the transition from the world where gluons and quarks carry their QCD colors (QGCW) to the world where gluons and quarks exist only with zero-QCD-color (QGZCW).

A multiplicity trigger based on the Time of Flight detector for the ALICE experiment

A. Akindinova, A. Alicib,c, P. Antoniolic, S. Arcellib,c, M. Basileb,c, G. Cara Romeoc, L. Cifarellib,c, F. Cindoloc, A. De Carod, D. De Gruttolad, S. De Pasqualed, M. Fusco Girardd, B. Guerzonib,c, D. Hatzifotiadouc, H.T. Junge, W.W. Junge, D.S. Kime, D.W. Kime, H.N. Kime, J.S. Kime, S. Kiseleva, G. Laurentic, K. Leee, S.C. Leee, D. Malkevicha, A. Margottic, R. Naniac, A. Nedosekina, F. Noferinic,g , P. Paganod, A. Pescic, O. Pinazzac, R. Preghenellac,f,∗, M. Ryabinina, E. Scapparonec, G. Sciolib,c, A. Silenzib,c, M. Tchoumakova, K. Voloshina, M.C.S. Williamsc, B. Zagreeva, C. Zampollig,h, A. Zichichib,c,f . a Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow, Russia b Dipartimento di Fisica dell’Universita, Bologna, Italy c Sezione INFN, Bologna, Italy d Dipartimento di Fisica dell’Universita and INFN, Salerno, Italy e Department of Physics, Kangnung National University, Republic of Korea f Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Rome, Italy g INFN–CNAF, Bologna, Italy h CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Latest results on the performance of the multigap resistive plate chamber used for the ALICE TOF

The φ → KK decay channel in Pb-Pb collisions at LHC is studied through a full simulation of the ALICE detector. The study focuses on possible signatures in this channel of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) formation. On a basis of 10 collisions at high centrality some proposed QGP signatures are clearly visible both in KK invariant mass and transverse mass distributions. The high significance of this observation appears to reside heavily on the use of the TOF (Time Of Flight) system of ALICE in addition to its central tracking detectors. PACS. PACS-key discribing text of that key – PACS-key discribing text of that key

Performance of the ALICE Time-Of-Flight detector at the LHC

The goal of the ALICE Time of Flight detector, based on MRPC technology, is to perform charged particle identification in |η|<1. This large area (150 m), finely segmented detector (~160,000 channels), provides fast signals which will contribute to the Level 0 and Level 1 trigger decisions. We use the TOF detector information to perform an online estimate of the total track multiplicity and to identify simple and peculiar topologies like those produced by peripheral collisions and by cosmic muons. The system architecture foresees a first layer of 72 VME boards interfacing the detector front-end to a second layer, which receives and processes all the information and takes trigger decisions.