Speaker
Description
Polarized proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) presents a unique opportunity to study the partonic and spin structure of the nucleon and nuclei. The STAR experiment at RHIC has measured at mid-pseudorapidity ($-1<\eta<2$) spin asymmetries in production cross section of pions, jets, as well as W and Z bosons, providing important experimental inputs to understand both the longitudinal and transverse spin structures of the nucleon. STAR is now working on improving its particle detection in the forward direction ($2.5<\eta<4$) with a suite of tracking and calorimetry detectors. These new forward detectors, together with the existing mid-rapidity ones, will allow STAR to explore the low-x and high-x regimes with unprecedented precision. In this talk, the planned STAR forward detector upgrade and physics program will be presented.
