arXiv subjects

L. Forthomme

Publications and source records attributed to L. Forthomme.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

The Large Hadron electron Collider as a bridge project for CERN

The LHeC is the project for delivering electron-nucleon collisions at CERN using the HL-LHC beams. An Energy Recovery Linac in racetrack configuration will provide 50 GeV electrons to achieve centre-of-mass energies around 1 TeV/nucleon and instantaneous luminosities around $10^{34}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$. The LHeC program elaborated in the CDR of 2021 included a phase with concurrent operation of electron-hadron and hadron-hadron collisions, followed by a standalone phase of electron-hadron collisions only. In view of the current HL-LHC schedule, in this paper we have examined the possibilities of a program after the regular HL-LHC program with only electron-proton operation. In this operation mode, the LHeC would serve as an impactful bridge project between major colliders at CERN. The standalone physics program comprises electroweak, Higgs, top-quark, BSM and strong-interaction physics. In addition, it empowers the physics analyses at the HL-LHC by retrofitting measurements and searches with significantly more precise knowledge of the proton structure and $α_s$. The accelerator technology deployed in the Energy Recovery Linac for the LHeC is a major stepping-stone for the performance, cost reduction and training for future colliders. The capital investments in the LHeC electron accelerator can be reused in a cost-efficient way as the injector for the FCC-ee. Finally, data from the LHeC are essential to enable the physics potential of any new high-energy hadron collider. The operational plan of 6 years easily fits in the period between two major colliders at CERN. Similar to the LHeC empowering the HL-LHC physics program, the FCC-eh would be an impactful addition to the FCC physics program.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Characterisation of the dip-bump structure observed in proton-proton elastic scattering at $\sqrt s$ = 8 TeV

The TOTEM collaboration at the CERN LHC has measured the differential cross-section of elastic proton-proton scattering at $\sqrt{s} = 8\ {\rm TeV}$ in the squared four-momentum transfer range $0.2\ {\rm GeV^{2}} < |t| < 1.9\ {\rm GeV^{2}}$. This interval includes the structure with a diffractive minimum ("dip") and a secondary maximum ("bump") that has also been observed at all other LHC energies, where measurements were made. A detailed characterisation of this structure for $\sqrt{s} = 8\ {\rm TeV}$ yields the positions, $|t|_{\rm dip} = (0.521 \pm 0.007)\ {\rm GeV^2}$ and $|t|_{\rm bump} = (0.695 \pm 0.026)\ {\rm GeV^2}$, as well as the cross-section values, ${{\rm d}σ/{\rm d} t}_{\rm dip} = (15.1 \pm 2.5)\ {\rm{μb/GeV^2}}$ and ${{\rm d}σ/{\rm d} t}_{\rm bump} = (29.7 \pm 1.8)\ {\rm{μb/GeV^2}}$, for the dip and the bump, respectively.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2015

Trapping in irradiated p-on-n silicon sensors at fluences anticipated at the HL-LHC outer tracker

The degradation of signal in silicon sensors is studied under conditions expected at the CERN High-Luminosity LHC. 200 $μ$m thick n-type silicon sensors are irradiated with protons of different energies to fluences of up to $3 \cdot 10^{15}$ neq/cm$^2$. Pulsed red laser light with a wavelength of 672 nm is used to generate electron-hole pairs in the sensors. The induced signals are used to determine the charge collection efficiencies separately for electrons and holes drifting through the sensor. The effective trapping rates are extracted by comparing the results to simulation. The electric field is simulated using Synopsys device simulation assuming two effective defects. The generation and drift of charge carriers are simulated in an independent simulation based on PixelAV. The effective trapping rates are determined from the measured charge collection efficiencies and the simulated and measured time-resolved current pulses are compared. The effective trapping rates determined for both electrons and holes are about 50% smaller than those obtained using standard extrapolations of studies at low fluences and suggests an improved tracker performance over initial expectations.

physics.ins-det↗