LHCf

LHCf ("Large Hadron Collider forward") is a special-purpose LHC experiment for astroparticle (cosmic ray) physics, one of six being constructed on the Large Hadron Collider accelerator at CERN. It is to study the particles generated in the "forward" region of collisions, those almost directly in line with the colliding proton beams. It therefore consists of two detectors, 140 m on either side of an intersection point.

Because of this large distance, it can co-exist with a more conventional detector surrounding the intersection point, and shares IP1 with the much larger general-purpose ATLAS experiment.

Purpose

The LHCf is intended to measure the energy and numbers of neutral pions (SubatomicParticle|Pion0) produced by the collider. This will hopefully help explain the origin of ultra high energy cosmic rays.

References

* [http://www.uslhc.us/What_is_the_LHC/Experiments/LHCf LHCf section on US/LHC Website]
* [http://cerncourier.com/main/article/46/9/5 LHCf: a tiny new experiment joins the LHC] describing the experiment's location.
* [http://www.particle.cz/conferences/c2cr2005/talks/Adriani.pdf The LHCf experiment at LHC]
* [http://doc.cern.ch//archive/electronic/cern/preprints/lhcc/public/lhcc-2005-032.pdf: Technical Design Report of LHCf]
* (Full design documentation)