Heavy-flavour studies with a high-luminosity fixed-target experiment at the LHC
Résumé
Extraction of the multi-TeV proton and lead LHC beams with a bent crystal or by using an internal gas target allows one to perform the most energetic fixed-target experiment ever. $pp$, pd and $p$A collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 115 GeV and Pb$p$ and PbA collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 72 GeV can be studied with high precision and modern detection techniques over a broad rapidity range. Using the LHCb or the ALICE detector in a fixed-target mode offers unprecedented possibilities to access heavy-flavour production in a new energy domain, half way between the SPS and the nominal RHIC energy.
In this contribution, a review of projection studies for quarkonium and open charm and beauty production with both detector set-ups used with various nuclear targets and the LHC lead beams is presented.