Speaker
Description
The main aim of the LHC forward (LHCf) experiment is to provide precise measurements of the
particles production spectra in the forward region. These calibration data are very important for the tuning of hadronic interaction models used by ground-based cosmic rays experiments. LHC is the most suitable place where we can perform these measurements because proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 14 TeV is equivalent to the interaction of a $10^{17}$ eV cosmic ray with the atmosphere. In order to do that, LHCf makes use of two small sampling calorimeters installed at ±140m from LHC IP1, so that it can detect neutral particles produced by p-p collisions having pseudo-rapidity $\eta$ > 8.4.
In the past years LHCf acquired data from p-p collisions at different energies ($\sqrt{s}$ = 0.9 TeV, 2.76 TeV, 7 TeV and 13 TeV) and from p-Pb collisions ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV). In this talk, we would like to present the analysis results published by the collaboration, relative to neutrons, photons and $\pi^{0}$ production spectra, compared with models predictions. In particular we will discuss about $\pi^{0}$, the best probe LHCf can use to study forward physics, which offers the possibility to study $p_{T}$ and $p_{z}$ spectra, to test Feynman scaling hypothesis and to estimate the nuclear modification factor. Finally, preliminary results relative to photon energy spectra at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV will be presented.
