Characterization of hot QCD matter via soft photons and dileptons in the final state in pp and AA collisions at the HL-LHC

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Klaus Reygers
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 465064238

The project aims at elaborating the physics program of precision measurements of the properties of strongly interacting matter at high temperature and energy density in collisions of protons and ions at the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider from Run 5 onwards. The feasibility of direct photon measurements at low transverse momenta and rare probes reconstruction via photons and dielectrons in the final state will be assessed. To achieve this goal, the concept of two complementary photon detectors will be proposed. One photon detection method is based on the reconstruction of photon conversions to electron-positron pairs within the material of the inner detectors using a forward conversion tracker. The other method is based on photon reconstruction in the high-resolution high-granularity electromagnetic calorimeter. Optimization of both detectors will be performed via Monte Carlo simulations. Validation of the detectors optimization will be performed by the detector prototypes to be produced and measured at the test-beam facilities. A comprehensive physics program for the characterization of the hot QCD matter via soft photons and dileptons in the final state will be elaborated.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Partner Organisation: Russian Science Foundation, until 3/2022
• Co-Investigators: Dr. Ana Marin; Privatdozent Dr. Kai Schweda; Professorin Dr. Johanna Stachel
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Alexander Borissov, until 3/2022; Dr. Yuri Kharlov, until 3/2022; Mikhail Malaev, until 3/2022; Dr. Dmitri Peresunko, until 3/2022; Dr. Victor Riabov, until 3/2022