State Innovation Exchange

The two-point energy-energy correlator (EEC) is a novel jet substructure observable probing the correlation of energy flow within jets. In these proceedings, three EEC measurements performed by the ALICE Collaboration are reported. First is a finalized measurement in proton-proton collisions, where the angular dependence of the EEC cross-section shows a separation of the perturbative and non-perturbative regimes. The first EEC measurement is reported in heavy-flavor jets, tagged via a fully-reconstructed D$^0$ meson. Here, comparison to inclusive pp jets provides insights into the flavor dynamics of QCD fragmentation and hadronization. Finally, the first measurement of EECs in p-Pb collisions is presented. By comparing the results to pp, modifications in jet evolution caused by the presence of a cold nuclear medium can be studied.

Lattice QCD (LQCD) calculations predict that chiral symmetry is restored in a smooth crossover transition between a quark-gluon plasma and a hadron resonance gas (HRG) at vanishing net-baryon density, a condition realized in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. In this regime, the net-baryon number cumulants computed using the HRG and LQCD partition functions are in good agreement up to third order. However, starting with the fourth-order cumulants, the LQCD results are significantly lower than the corresponding HRG results. This offers a unique opportunity to experimentally verify the full QCD partition function by measuring the fourth-order cumulants of the net-proton number distributions. We present net-proton number cumulants up to sixth order in proton-proton collisions at top LHC energy recorded by ALICE to search for effects of a possible chiral phase transition in this small system. An extension of the net-proton measurements in Pb-Pb collisions to fourth order is also presented. In addition to providing experimental access to the full QCD partition function, these measurements will, for the first time, allow to distinguish between different mechanisms of baryon production.

The early production of heavy quarks ($c\bar{c}$ and $b\bar{b}$) makes charmonia an ideal probe to study the evolution of the hot and dense medium produced in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions, known as the quark--gluon plasma (QGP). At LHC energies, the well established suppression of charmonium yield from color screening in the QGP is counterbalanced by the recombination of uncorrelated charm-quark pairs, either throughout the QGP phase or solely at the phase boundary. Systematic measurements of charmonium ground and excited states are important to discriminate between the scenarios forseen by various theoretical models. In addition, studies of non-prompt charmonia, i.e., charmonia originating from the decay of beauty hadrons, give access to study the energy loss of beauty quarks in the QGP. In these proceedings we present recently published Run 2 results by the ALICE Collaboration of prompt and non-prompt J/$\psi$ measured at midrapidity in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. In addition, the first preliminary Run 3 measurement of the $\psi$(2S)-to-J/$\psi$ ratio, measured at forward rapidity in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$= 5.36 TeV, is shown. The results are compared to available theoretical model calculations.

To examine the feasibility of high-frequency sampling of symptoms and gather preliminary data on whether daily exercise behavior is related to daily symptom fluctuations. Seven patients with cancer started a 12-week daily home-based walking and resistance exercise program during chemotherapy. Each day, patients rated pain, numbness/tingling, anxiety, and depression; resistance band exercise duration and perceived exertion; and steps for 12 weeks, as well as their pain at pre-, mid-, and postintervention. Overall, daily symptom ratings showed an expected large variation. Participants took more steps on and after days with less pain; performed more minutes of resistance exercises on days with less pain, numbness/tingling, and anxiety; and reported greater exertion on days with more pain and anxiety. It is feasible to collect daily symptom measures throughout an exercise intervention during chemotherapy. Oncology nurses can help support exercise behavior by offering interventions to reduce interfering symptoms and by promoting helpful beliefs about symptoms.

Monolithic stitched CMOS sensors are explored for the upgrade of Inner Tracking System of the ALICE experiment (ITS3) and the R&D of the CERN Experimental Physics Department. To learn about stitching, two 26 cm long stitched sensors, the Monolithic Stitched Sensor (MOSS), and the Monolithic Stitched Sensor with Timing (MOST), were implemented in the Engineering Round 1 (ER1) in the TPSCo 65nm ISC technology. Contrary to the MOSS, powered by 20 distinct power domains accessible from separate pads, the MOST has one global analog and digital power domain to or from which small fractions of the matrix can be connected or disconnected by conservatively designed power switches to prevent shorts or defects from affecting the full chip. Instead of the synchronous readout in the MOSS, the MOST immediately transfers hit information upon a hit, preserving timing information. The sensor reverse bias is also applied through the bias of the front-end rather than by a reverse substrate bias. This paper presents the first characterization results of the MOST, with the focus on its specific characteristics, including yield analysis, precise timing measurements, and the potential of its alternative biasing approach for improved sensor performance.

The ALICE experiment is designed to study ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). As part of its major upgrades for Run 4, the Forward Calorimeter (FoCal) will be installed during Long Shutdown 3 (LS3). FoCal enables precise measurements of direct photon production at forward rapidity, providing a sensitive probe of the gluon distribution in protons and nuclei. This paper introduces the expected performance of the forward electromagnetic calorimeter (FoCal-E) and presents several potential strategies for mitigating occupancy and BUSY violation challenges in the pixel layers of FoCal-E. Beam test results demonstrate that back biasing effectively reduces pixel occupancy. Meanwhile, SystemC simulations explore additional mitigation strategies-such as grid masking and a regional trigger-to further minimize BUSY violations and enhance detector performance under high-luminosity conditions.

We present an efficient and cost-effective way to train operators of complex systems with limited accessibility, such as sub-detectors of big experiments at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Our coaching station was developed to train on-call shifters for the ALICE Fast Interaction Trigger (FIT). This coaching station significantly reduces the training period and enhances the trainee's confidence in their actions. We hope this work will inspire the construction of comparable training systems for other sub-detectors.

A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) is one of the four big CERN experiments at the LHC. The area of interest is the study of the Quark-Gluon Plasma which is produced in heavy-ion collisions. The trajectories of particles created in collisions are reconstructed online and are visualized together with the detector geometry to provide proper augmentation of the presented data. This interactive visualization tool allows 3D visualization of samples taken from the collected data. Starting with LHC Run 3 (from 2022), a newly developed solution has been adopted following the creation of the new ALICE O\textsuperscript{2} Framework. In the first step the data handling part was implemented. The visualization part was developed using technologies from LHC Run 2. This paper presents the process of transition of the visualization component to the modern web based solution. The architecture of the existing ALICE LHC Run 3 online real-time visualization solution is presented. The advantages of the new approach are discussed.

ALICE, one of the four main CERN LHC experiments, studies heavy-ion collisions at ultra-relativistic energies. For LHC Run 4 (starting 2030), ALICE will replace the three innermost cylindrical layers of its inner tracking system during Long Shutdown 3 (2026-2029). The new ITS3 will enhance pointing resolution by a factor of two and improve tracking efficiency at low transverse momentum (pT < 0.3 GeV/c). It will feature ultra-thin (< 50 micrometer), stitched wafer-scale Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) using 65 nm CMOS imaging technology. These sensors can be bent, forming a truly cylindrical barrel with an innermost radius of 19 mm and an average material budget of 0.09 X/X0 per layer. ITS3 development involves cutting-edge R&D, including MAPS production in 65 nm CMOS, stitched wafer-scale fabrication, ultra-light mechanics, and a novel air cooling system. The 65 nm CMOS technology was validated using Multi-Layer Reticle 1 test structures. In mid-2023, the first stitched prototypes, MOnolithic Stitched Sensors (MOSS), were produced to demonstrate stitching feasibility and assess wafer-scale sensor yield and performance. Each MOSS chip (1.4 cm x 25.9 cm) contains 6.7 million pixels across 10 repeated sensor units, each with 8 pixel matrices: top matrices (256 x 256 pixels, 22.5 micrometer pitch) and bottom matrices (320 x 320 pixels, 18 micrometer pitch). These layouts help evaluate yield variations based on density and spacing. This work presents results from MOSS characterization, including power domain impedance, DAC performance, pixel readout, threshold, and fake-hit rate scans. Beam and lab tests confirmed an efficiency >99% and a Fake Hit Rate lower than 0.1 pixel-1 s-1, meeting ITS3 requirements for Run 4.