PROJECT OF THE NUCLOTRON-BASED ION COLLIDER FACILITY (NICA) AND MULTIPURPOSE DETECTOR (MPD) AT JINR

Abstract

The project of The Nuclotron-based Ion Collider fAcility (NICA) that is under development at JINR is presented. The general goal of the project is to start in the coming 5–7 years experimental study of hot and dense strongly interacting barionic matter and search for possible signs of the mixed phase and critical endpoint in heavy ion collisions. The MultiPurpose Detector (MPD) is proposed for this purpose. Another goal of the NICA construction is performance of experimental studies on spin physics with colliding beams of polarized protons and light nuclei. The superconducting (SC) proton synchrotron Nuclotron, that has been constructed and being operated at JINR, is one of key elements of NICA. The report contains description of the physics motivation (the scientific case) and main characteristics of the project: the facility scheme and operation scenario, the elements parameters, the proposed methods of intense ion beam formation, acceleration and achievement of the required luminosity of the collider. Essential feature of the project is an application of cooling methods — electron cooler in the Booster synchrotron and electron and/or stochastic cooling in the collider rings. Status and plans of the project development are presented as well.