2
1 Introduction
Fig. 1.1 Location of LHC and its four experiments, ALICE, CMS, ATLAS, and LHCb
1.1.1 Physics Goals
There were several epochs in the history of our universe. Strong indications have
been found that on the way from the Quark epoch to the Hadron epoch (roughly 1 µs
after the Big Bang) a phase of matter called QGP existed. In this kind of matter, the
quarks will interact as individual particles instead of being bound together inside
of the nucleus. The transition to this de-confinement of quarks happens at a high
temperature or at high net-baryon density. This early stage of our universe can be
investigated by colliding nuclei at sufficient energies and creating similar conditions.
The LHC currently provides the highest energies available in different collision
systems with protons and lead ions. The ALICE detector has been built to investigate
these type of heavy-ion collisions.
1.1.2 Detector and Sub-detectors
The ALICE detector is constructed of layers upon layers of sub-detectors as shown
in Fig. 1.2. Each sub-detector is optimized to study a different aspects of the particles
produced in the particle interactions. The two beams enter from the right and left and
interact in the centre of the detector.
The functionality of the TPC and MCH will be further described in the next
sections as the work described in this thesis is designed for these two sub-detectors.
1.1.2.1 Time Projection Chamber
The Time Projection Chamber (TPC) is one of the main tracking sub-detector of
ALICE and is located in the centre of the detector in Fig. 1.2. It is a 90 m
3 gasfilled cylinder with a Multi-Wire Proportional Chamber (MWPC) readout on both
1 Introduction
Fig. 1.1 Location of LHC and its four experiments, ALICE, CMS, ATLAS, and LHCb
1.1.1 Physics Goals
There were several epochs in the history of our universe. Strong indications have
been found that on the way from the Quark epoch to the Hadron epoch (roughly 1 µs
after the Big Bang) a phase of matter called QGP existed. In this kind of matter, the
quarks will interact as individual particles instead of being bound together inside
of the nucleus. The transition to this de-confinement of quarks happens at a high
temperature or at high net-baryon density. This early stage of our universe can be
investigated by colliding nuclei at sufficient energies and creating similar conditions.
The LHC currently provides the highest energies available in different collision
systems with protons and lead ions. The ALICE detector has been built to investigate
these type of heavy-ion collisions.
1.1.2 Detector and Sub-detectors
The ALICE detector is constructed of layers upon layers of sub-detectors as shown
in Fig. 1.2. Each sub-detector is optimized to study a different aspects of the particles
produced in the particle interactions. The two beams enter from the right and left and
interact in the centre of the detector.
The functionality of the TPC and MCH will be further described in the next
sections as the work described in this thesis is designed for these two sub-detectors.
1.1.2.1 Time Projection Chamber
The Time Projection Chamber (TPC) is one of the main tracking sub-detector of
ALICE and is located in the centre of the detector in Fig. 1.2. It is a 90 m
3 gasfilled cylinder with a Multi-Wire Proportional Chamber (MWPC) readout on both