LHCb Upgrade II: preconstruction for the ultimate LHC flavour physics experiment

The second major upgrade of the LHCb detector, LHCb Upgrade II, will maximise the discovery potential of the High Luminosity LHC by providing unique detection capability. The experiment is designed to exploit the high production rate of heavy flavoured (beauty and charm) particles in LHC collisions, enabling precision searches for physics beyond the Standard Model through loop processes. LHCb Upgrade II builds on the existing infrastructure of the LHCb experiment, with upgrades to all subdetector systems and new elements that will provide capability to resolve particles from different collisions in the same bunch crossing through the use of precision timing information. Data will be recorded at much higher rates than currently possible, leading to a broad and exciting physics programme.

This project is a three-year preconstruction phase of UK work on LHCb Upgrade II, Oct. 2023-Sep. 2026, following and building on earlier R&D through to the completion and review of subdetector technical design reports. It is anticipated to be followed by a construction phase, and subsequent installation, operation and physics exploitation. Funding for preconstructcion and construction phases has been allocated by a UKRI Infrastructure Fund award. UK effort is focussed on specific, strategic technologies that will enable the physics goals of LHCb Upgrade II to be achieved while also achieving broad impact.