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Nuclear Physics A 1005 (2021) 122001

www.elsevier.com/locate/nuclphysa

XXVIIIth International Conference on Ultrarelativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions

(Quark Matter 2019)

Highlights from the LHCb experiment

Benjamin Audurier for the LHCb collaboration
a Università degli Studi di Cagliari

Abstract
We report on the latest results in heavy-ion collisions obtained by the LHCb collaboration, both in collider and fixed-
target configuration, and presented at the Quark Matter 2019 conference. In addition, a brief overview of the future
upgrades of the detector and prospects for heavy-ion physics are discussed. The latter also includes a brief discussion of
the extension of fixed-target program as well as expected performances in high-occupancy nucleus-nucleus collisions.

Keywords: LHCb, Heavy-ion, Upgrades, Fixed-target, Heavy flavour, UPC

1. Introduction

Initially designed to study the matter-antimatter asymmetry with b-hadrons and rare decays, LHCb [1]
is a one-arm spectrometer fully instrumented at forward rapidity. Over the years, the detector has shown
great performances [2] for particle identification capabilities, vertex reconstruction, mass and momentum
resolution down to zero pT . Since 2013 and the recording of the first pPb data sample, LHCb has turned into
a versatile multipurpose detector with an ever expanding heavy-ion physics program, thanks to its unique
capability among the LHC experiments to run both in collider and fixed-target mode via the injection of
noble gases at the interaction point. From the physics point of view, this allows a large coverage of the Q2 -
Bjorken-x phase space (see Fig. 1) and an access to both low- and high-x regions for which nuclear parton
distribution functions are poorly constrained and which are uncovered by other LHC experiments..

A large collection of data samples at different colliding energies and of various colliding species (see Fig.2)
has been recorded since. This collection has recently expanded in 2018 with two new samples in collider
√ √
(PbPb at sNN = 5.02 TeV) and fixed-target (PbNe at sNN = 68.9 TeV) mode, reaching an integrated lumi-
−1 −1
nosity of about 210 μb and 0.3 nb , respectively. In the next sections, we report on recent results obtained
by the LHCb collaboration and presented at Quark Matter 2019. In Sec. 2, results obtained in fixed-target
configuration are discussed. Sec. 3 addresses the measurements of hard probes in pPb collisions, followed

∗ The contact author acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC) through the project EXPLORINGMATTER,

founded by the ERC through a ERC-Consolidator-Grant, GA 647390.

Email address: benjamin.audurier@cern.ch (Benjamin Audurier for the LHCb collaboration)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2020.122001
0375-9474/© 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
B. Audurier Nuclear Physics A 1005 (2021) 122001

by a discussion on the status of ongoing analyses in PbPb collisions in Sec. 4. Finally, prospects and expec-
tations for the upcoming upgrades of the detector and the evolution of its fixed-target program are presented
in Sec. 5, leading to the conclusions.

107
8.16 TeV pPb Other Collision Systems
6
LHCb LHCb 110 GeV
10 ATLAS/CMS HERA
ALICE
10 5 ALICE Muon
Q2 [GeV2]

104

103

102

101
Gluon saturated region
10−6 10−5 10−4 10−3 10−2 10−1 100
x

Fig. 1. Phase space coverage of LHCb in terms of Q2 and Bjorken-x for several colliding configuration compared to other experiments.

Fig. 2. Data samples collected by LHCb in collider (left) and fixed-target (right) configuration.

2. Intrinsic charm and cosmic physics in fixed-target collisions

Thanks to the SMOG system, LHCb has recorded many data samples in fixed-target configuration where
beams delivered by the LHC collide with noble gases injected at the interaction point. This possibility opens
up many opportunities to study the nuclear matter at centre-of-mass colliding energies between the SPS and
RHIC. Combining colliding energies at the scale of a hundred GeV with the forward acceptance of the de-
tector allows a unique and wide coverage of the gluon nuclear parton distribution functions at intermediate
Bjorken-x and low Q2 , depending on the probes. For instance, the first measurements of charm production
√ √
in pHe ( sNN = 86.6 GeV) and pAr ( sNN = 110.4 GeV) collisions [3] allow us to study of the intrinsic
charm content of the nucleon at large Bjorken-x. After extensive comparisons between data and theory
prediction [4], no substantial intrinsic charm contribution has been so far observed by LHCb (Fig 3).

LHCb’s fixed-target program can also serve as a laboratory for cosmic particle physics. In particular, the
anti-proton fraction in cosmic rays has been long recognized as a sensitive indirect probe for exotic as-
trophysical sources of antimatter, such as dark matter annihilation. As most of the theory predictions are

2
B. Audurier Nuclear Physics A 1005 (2021) 122001

√
Fig. 3. Left: momentum dependence of the anti-proton cross section in pHe collisions at sNN = 110.4 GeV compared to theory
predictions for different pT cuts. Right : centre-of-mass rapidity dependence of the differential J/ψ production cross sections in pHe
collisions (top) and differential J/ψ yields in pAr collisions (bottom).

based on cross section extrapolations from pp collisions, the measurement of the anti-proton cross section
√
in pHe at sNN = 110.4 GeV [5] performed by LHCb has great constraining power as shown in Fig. 3.
Since this publication, new predictions have incorporated these results leading to a strong reduction of the
uncertainties [6] and illustrating the great impact of LHCb on such physics.

3. Orthodox and unorthodox probes in pp and pPb collisions

With many published results over the years, LHCb proved itself to be a hard-probe-compatible detector
in pPb collisions at forward and backward rapidity. In the beauty sector, LHCb has measured both open-
√
beauty hadrons [7] and Υ states [8] at sNN = 8.16 TeV. The bottomonia measurements benefit from the
excellent mass resolution with a clear separation of the three states, as shown in Fig. 4. Extensive studies
and ratios among the states are done to constrain theory predictions based on cold nuclear matter effects.
Tensions between data and different nPDFs parametrization are observed, in particular versus pT , suggesting
additional effects such as comovers interactions. Likewise, comparisons between open-heavy flavor mesons
(B0 , B+ ) and baryon (Λ0b ) states have been performed thanks to the great spatial resolution of the detector.
Extensive studies show good agreement between data and model predictions.
√
In addition to these published results, there are many ongoing measurements in pPb collisions at sNN
= 8.16 TeV. Preliminary results on the D production [9] were shown by the collaboration. The increase
0

in the luminosity by a factor of twenty compared to previous measurement [10] allows precise differential
measurements of the cross section in pT and rapidity up to pT = 16 GeV/c. Early comparison with theory
predictions exhibits tension with data at high-pT (Fig. 5) which might indicate the presence of additional
effects from the medium. In the electroweak sector, preliminary precise results have been presented for
the Z boson cross sections [11] at forward and backward rapidities, showing a good agreement between

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B. Audurier Nuclear Physics A 1005 (2021) 122001

√
Fig. 4. Invariant mass spectra of dimuon pairs in pPb (left) and Pbp (right) collisions at sNN = 8.16 TeV around the Υ masses.

LHCb data and theory predictions as well as with data from other experiments at the LHC. Finally, work
on the measurement of the χc states as they are observed [12] in the same pPb dataset (see Fig. 6) is ongoing.

While one can argue that open-charm mesons and Z boson are fairly well known particles, the nature of
the exotic χc1 (3872) state is still unknown. Several hypotheses have been postulated on its nature, from a
pentaquark state to a mesonic molecule. One way to gather information is to compare its production yield
to the one of a more orthodox probe, √ such as the ψ(2S ), versus the event activity. Preliminary results ob-
tained by LHCb in pp collisions at s = 8 TeV show a decreasing (flat) trend for the prompt (non-prompt)
X(3872)/ψ(2S ) production versus the number of charged tracks from the primary vertex reconstructed by
the Vextex Locator (VELO) [13]. These trends might be a hint for a relatively lower binding energy for the
exotic state compare to the excited quarkonium state. This should be confirmed with a better control of the
fully correlated systematics.

√
Fig. 5. Left: pT dependence of the forward-to-backward (pPb to Pbp) cross section ratio of the D0 at sNN = 8.16 (red) and 5.02
(black) TeV compared to theory predictions. Right : comparison of Z boson cross section versus rapidity measured by LHCb (red and
brown) and other LHC experiments measurements normalized to theory predictions.

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B. Audurier
Events / ( 10 MeV/c2 ) Nuclear Physics A 1005 (2021) 122001

300 LHCb Preliminary

pPb sNN = 8.16 TeV
250 converted photons
1.5 < y *χ < 4.0
c
χ χ
200 c1 c2

150

100

50

0
300 350 400 450 500 550
M(μ+μ-γ )-M(μ+μ-) [MeV/c2]

Fig. 6. Left: Mass spectrum of χc → μ+ μ− (γ → e+ e− ) candidates from √pPb collisions overlaid with a fit. Right: Production ratio
of X(3872)/ψ(2S ) versus the number of VELO tracks in pp collisions at s = 8 TeV with fully correlated uncertainties, for prompt
(non-prompt) component in red (black).

4. Sneak peek at PbPb and PbNe collisions

105
Candidates / (5 MeV/c2)

2.0 < y < 4.5

LHCb Preliminary Data
Pb-Pb 2018 Fit
104 J/ ψ
sNN = 5 TeV ψ(2S)
Background
103

102

3000 3500 4000

mμ+μ- [MeV/ c2]

√
Fig. 7. Dimuon invariant mass spectra of peripheral (left) and ultraperipheral (right) systems in PbPb collisions at sNN = 5.02 TeV.

√
In 2018, LHCb has recored a new PbPb sample at sNN = 5.02 TeV with a significant increase of the
luminosity by a factor of twenty compared to the previous sample recorded in 2015. Data are reconstructed
down to ∼ 70% centrality where the performance of the detector remains competitive, which is already
enough to record ∼ 15000 J/ψ (Fig. 7). In ultra-peripheral collisions, where there is no nuclear overlap,
work is actually ongoing for the measurement of coherent charmonia cross section, both for the J/ψ and
ψ(2S ) resonances, which are clearly visible in the dimuon decay channel (Fig. 8).

While LHCb performances are limited to peripheral PbPb collisions, the newly recorded fixed-target PbNe
√
sample at sNN = 69 GeV suffers from no constrains in centrality reach. The data with an integrated lumi-
nosity of ∼ 0.3 nb−1 are promising for heavy-flavor studies with ∼ 1500 D0 and ∼ 700 J/ψ signal candidates
observed (Fig. 8).

5. LHCb upgrade : prospects and performances

The LHCb collaboration is currently preparing the future of the experiment with the Long Shutdown 2
(LS2) ongoing at the LHC. The year 2021 will see the commissioning of a new detector [14] designed to
sustain the gradually increasing delivered luminosity in pp collisions (∼ 1033 cm2 s1 instantaneous luminosity

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B. Audurier Nuclear Physics A 1005 (2021) 122001

2000

Candidates / (7.5 MeV/ c2)

250
Candidates / (6.5 MeV/ c2)

LHCb preliminary
1800 LHCb preliminary
1600 sNN = 69 GeV, PbNe
200 sNN = 69 GeV, PbNe
1400

150 1200
1000

100 800
600

50 400
200

0 0
3000 3050 3100 3150 3200 1800 1820 1840 1860 1880 1900 1920
± 1940
m(μ +μ - ) [MeV/c2] m(K π ± ) [MeV/c2]

√
Fig. 8. Mass spectra in dimuon (left) and Kπ (right) decay in fixed-target PbNe collisions at sNN = 69 GeV around the J/ψ and D0
masses.

Fig. 9. Timeline of the LHCb upgrade phases.

with a pile-up factor of 5 for Run 3 at LHCb) toward the HL-LHC phase [15] (see Fig. 9). These constraints
require an improvement of the tracking system upstream of the magnet, comprised of the installation of a
new pixel VELO detector and a silicon micro-strip tracker called Upstream Tracker (UT). Downstream of the
magnet, the old tracking stations are being replaced by three Scintillating Fiber (SciFi) stations. The optics
and photodetectors of the two RICH systems are replaced while new muon stations with higher granularity
are installed. Only the calorimeters are left almost intact with a simple upgrade of the readout electronics.
Finally, the fixed-target program is also evolving with the installation of SMOG2 [16], a standalone gas
confinement cell upstream of the VELO detector. With this new device, the gas density should increase by a
factor ∼ 100 compared to the old SMOG system, resulting in a better measurement of the gas density down
to few percent accuracy. In addition, studies are ongoing on the possibility to record fixed-target collisions
in parallel of pp collisions leading to a significant increase of recorded fixed-target data, opening many
opportunities for precise measurements.
With all these forthcoming upgrades remains the question of LHCb performances in PbPb collisions and
its saturation with increasing centrality. From the tracking point of view, the VELO and the SciFi are the
most important pieces. The SciFi, in particular, might be the first saturating detector due to its design. First
results from simulations (Fig. 10) are promising, showing no significant saturation of the two detectors up
to ∼ 30% centrality to be expected for Run 3. Finally, a first estimate shows a gradual disappearance of this
limitation with the next upgrades of the SciFi system scheduled for Run 4 and Run 5 [17].

6. Conclusion

The past seven years have seen the LHCb collaboration becoming a major contributor to heavy ion
physics at the LHC. The forward acceptance of the detector, the reconstruction of tracks down to zero pT and
its unique fixed-target program give access to a unique coverage in the phase space, complementing studies
done by other experiment at the LHC. Many precise studies in fixed-target and pPb collisions have already

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B. Audurier
nVeloClusters Nuclear Physics A 1005 (2021) 122001

LHCb simulation - Upgrade LHCb simulation - Upgrade

nFTClusters
EPOS 100%-30% PbPb 5 TeV EPOS 100%-30% PbPb 5 TeV

40-50%

30-40%

<30%
50-60%
40-50%

30-40%

<30%
(TeV)
Ecal Energy (TeV)
Ecal Energy (TeV)

Fig. 10. VELO (left) and SciFi (right) cluster distributions versus the total energy deposited in the Ecal from simulated PbPb collisions
√
at sNN = 5 TeV corresponding to the upgraded detector setup. The black lines represent the centrality percentile limits.

been acknowledged as state-of-the-art measurements, providing crucial input for theory predictions. New
studies are ongoing with the two new data samples (PbPb and PbNe) to explore. With the imminent and later
upgrades, both the potential and performance of the detector will be pushed a step further. The evolution
of the fixed-target program with the new SMOG2 device will significantly increase the recorded luminosity
with a better control on the target gas densi. Promising studies are ongoing of recording fixed-target events
in parallel with pp collisions thus turning LHCb into a full time fixed-target experiment. Concerning the
performance in high-occupancy collisions, limitations due to the tracking system should be reducede thanks
to the new tracking detectors. In Run 3 (2021), LHCb should be able to reconstruct data down to 30%
centrality in PbPb collisions, and the situation should improve with the next upgrades (2025 and 2030).

The future looks bright for the LHCb physics program. With expanding capabilities and new data sam-
ples to explore, the LHCb collaboration will continue to be a major actor in heavy-ion physics for a long
time.

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