1) Approval of FoCal project, formation of FoCal collaboration

We built a FoCal prototype and conducted performance evaluation experiments (2018), and formulated a FoCal experiment proposal (LoI) (CHUJO, PEITZMANN, and VAN LEEUWWN are three of the four main authors, 2019). LoI was deliberated at ALICE and CERN, and in June 2020, FoCal has been approved as an official upgrade project at CERN International Committee, LHCC.

  • Letter of Intent: A Forward Calorimeter (FoCal) in the ALICE experiment, ALICE Collaboration (T. Chujo et al.), CERN-LHCC-2020-009, LHCC-I-036, ALICE-PUBLIC-2019-005.

https://cds.cern.ch/record/2719928?ln=en

Furthermore:

  • LPSC Grenoble Institute joins FoCal (2018). Started joint development of PAD part data readout and processing.
    • Grenoble LPSC (Rachid Guernane, Olivier Bourrion, Damien Tourres)
  • RIKEN (2020), Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science (2021), and Saga University (2021) have newly entered FoCal. The Japanese group expands to 7 research institutes
  • FoCal Japan collaboration (7 institutions):
    • University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba University of Technology, Hiroshima University, Nara Women’s University, RIKEN, Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science, Saga University
  • Successful test beam at PS using a new prototype with HGCROC ASIC (2022)

HGCROC ASIC (2022)

2) Initiative in FoCal project with large external funds

In August 2020, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S) ” Gluon saturation and origin of QGP probed by forward photons at LHC ” (FY2020-2024, PI: T. Chujo) was adopted.

JSPS KAKENHI, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S):

Title: “Gluon saturation and origin of QGP probed by forward photons at LHC”
Period: FY2020 – 2024
PI: Tatsuya CHUJO (University of Tsukuba)
Budget allocation: 149,800 thousand Yen (JPY)

“Frontline Scientific Research Projects Advanced in Japan – Newly Adopted Large-scale Research Projects under FY2022 – Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research”

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research

3) Production of FoCal prototypes and successful test beam experiments

We have been conducted the research on detector R&D with the co-PI listed in this proposal. By using the grant JPSP KAKENHI, Basic Research (S) (2020-2024), (A) (2017-2020), and (B) (2013-2015), we have established the silicon PAD detector system for an electromagnetic calorimeter with APV25 hybirid and Scalable Readout Unit (SRU) readout and the finail readout HGCROC ASIC. In 2018, we built mini-FoCal which is the real scale protype for PAD detector, and it has been tested at CERN PS, SPS and obtained energy resolution of 4% at 150 GeV/c positron beams with the reasonable agreement with the simulation. This mini-FoCal has been further tested in ALICE carven with 13 TeV pp collisions in 2018, and we observed a clear π0 peak, and measured inclusive photon energy spectra in different rapidity at η = 3-5.

Mini-FoCal and test beam experiments at CERN (2018)

Successful mini-FoCal production

New FoCal-E pad prototype (2022) tested at CERN PS.

4) Leading roles in FoCal and ALICE

We have a following leading roles in FoCal and ALICE.

  • T. CHUJO is a coordinator of FoCal-E PAD project, FoCal Japan group representative, ALICE ex-jet physics working group co-convener (2017-2020).
  • T. PEITZMANN is FoCal simulation group manager, ALICE ex-upgrade coordinator, ALICE ex-photon physics working group co-convenor.
  • M. VAN LEEUWWN is a FoCal project coordinator, ALICE upgrade coordinator, ALICE ex-physics board chair, ALICE ex-jet physics working group co-convener, and selected as a next ALICE spokesperson (2023-2025).
  • N. NOVITZKY is a soft photon physics subgroup co-coordinator (2022-), FoCal test beam co-coordinator.

By those leaderships listed above, UT-UT CiC research unit has laid the foundation for a world-class education and research center and is promoting the FoCal project and ALICE experiment.

research center