Jet physics in ALICE

Abstract

This work aims at the performance of the ALICE detector for the measurement of high-energy jets at mid-pseudo-rapidity in ultra-relativistic nucleus--nucleus collisions at LHC and their potential for the characterization of the partonic matter created in these collisions. In our approach, jets at high energy with E_{T}>50 GeV are reconstructed with a cone jet finder, as typically done for jet measurements in hadronic collisions. Within the ALICE framework we study its capabilities of measuring high-energy jets and quantify obtainable rates and the quality of reconstruction, both, in proton--proton and in lead--lead collisions at LHC conditions. In particular, we address whether modification of the jet fragmentation in the charged-particle sector can be detected within the high particle-multiplicity environment of the central lead--lead collisions. We comparatively treat these topics in view of an EMCAL proposed to complete the central ALICE tracking detectors. The main activities concerning the thesis are the following: a) Determination of the potential for exclusive jet measurements in ALICE. b) Determination of jet rates that can be acquired with the ALICE setup. c) Development of a parton-energy loss model. d) Simulation and study of the energy-loss effect on jet properties.