Very high momentum particle identification in ALICE at the LHC

We propose to construct and install a limited acceptance detector to identify hadrons (pions, K, p) up to 30 GeV/ c on a track-by-track basis in space available in ALICE. Details and PID performance simulation results will be presented for two possible options, including a high transverse momentum ( p T ) trigger for this detector. The first option is a RICH design with a C 4 F 10 gas UV-photon radiator, UV-mirror, quartz window and pad-readout. This design requires additional tracking detectors to enable high p T triggering. A second option is a combination of three detectors: a RICH with CF 4 gas both as a UV-photon radiator and as a gas amplification medium (a windowless approach); and a threshold Cherenkov detector ( C 4 F 10 ) with a quartz window and pad readout. The response for minimum ionizing particles (MIP) and UV-photons in these detectors can be well separated. With an additional tracking detector this design will also provide high p T triggering. The simulation includes UV-photon production due to CF 4 scintillation.