Project Nuclotron-based Ion Collider fAcility at JINR

Abstract

The project of Nuclotron-based Ion Collider fAcility (NICA) that is under development at JINR (Dubna) is presented. The general goals of the project are experimental studies of both hot and dense baryonic matter and spin physics (in collisions of polarized protons and deuterons). The first program requires providing of heavy ion collisions in the energy range of $$\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} $$ = 4–11 Gev at average luminosity of L = 1 × 1027 cm−2 s−1 for 197Au79+ nuclei. The polarized beams mode is proposed to be used in energy range of $$\sqrt {{s_{NN}}} $$ = 12–27 Gev (protons at luminosity of L ≥ 1 × 1030 cm−2 s−1. The report contains description of the facility scheme and its characteristics in heavy ion operation mode. The Collider will be equipped with two detectors—MultiPurpose Detector (MPD), which is in an active stage of construction, and Spin Physics Detector (SPD) that is in the stage of conceptual design. Fixed target experiment “Baryonic matter at Nuclotron” (BM@N) will be performed in very beginning of the project. The wide program of applied researches at NICA facility is being developed as well.