Heavy-flavour studies with a high-luminosity fixed-target experiment at the LHC

Trzeciak, Barbara; Brodsky, S.J.; Cavoto, G.; Echevarria, M.G.; Ferreiro, E.G.; Hadjidakis, C.; Haque, R.; Hrivnácová, I.; Kikola, D.; Klein, A.; Kurepin, A.; Kusina, A.; Lansberg, J.P.; Lorcé, C.; Lyonnet, F.; Makdisi, Y.; Massacrier, L.; Porteboeuf, S.; Quintans, C.; Rakotozafindrabe, A.; Robbe, P.; Scandale, W.; Schienbein, I.; Seixas, J.; Shao, H.S.; Signori, A.; Topilskaya, N.; Uras, A.; Wagner, J.; Yamanaka, N.; Yang, Z.; Zelenski, A.; DaSilva, C.; VanHulse, C.

doi:10.22323/1.387.0190

Abstract

Extraction of the multi-TeV proton and lead LHC beams with a bent crystal or by using an internal gas target allows one to perform the most energetic fixed-target experiment ever. $pp$, pd and $p$A collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 115 GeV and Pb$p$ and PbA collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 72 GeV can be studied with high precision and modern detection techniques over a broad rapidity range. Using the LHCb or the ALICE detector in a fixed-target mode offers unprecedented possibilities to access heavy-flavour production in a new energy domain, half way between the SPS and the nominal RHIC energy.
In this contribution, a review of projection studies for quarkonium and open charm and beauty production with both detector set-ups used with various nuclear targets and the LHC lead beams is presented.