Speaker
Description
ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is studying the physics of strongly interacting matter and in particular the properties of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP), using proton--proton, proton--nucleus and nucleus--nucleus collisions at the CERN LHC (Large Hadron Collider). To fulfil the requirements of the ALICE physics program for run 3 of the LHC, a major upgrade of the experimental apparatus is planned for installation in the second long LHC shutdown. A key element of the ALICE upgrade is the construction of a new, ultra-light, high-resolution Inner Tracking System (ITS). The new ITS will significantly enhance the determination of the distance of closest approach to the primary vertex, the tracking efficiency at low transverse momenta, and the read-out rate capabilities, with respect to what achieved with the current detector. It will consist of seven detector layers based on a Si Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors with a pixel size of about 30x30 $\mu m^2$. This contribution presents the design goals and layout of the new ALICE ITS, focusing on the performance of the sensor prototypes and on the technical implementation of the main detector components.
