Latest vertex and tracking detector developments for the future Electron-Ion Collider

Abstract: The high-luminosity high-energy Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) to be built at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) will provide a clean environment to study several fundamental questions in the high energy and nuclear physics fields. A high granularity and low material budget vertex and tracking detector is required to provide precise measurements of primary and displaced vertex and track reconstruction with good momentum and spatial resolutions. The reference design of the EIC project detector at the first Interaction Point (IP), which was selected from three submitted EIC detector proposals, enables a series of high precision heavy flavor measurements. Based on the EIC project detector reference design, the newly formed ePIC collaboration is developing the technical design for the EIC project detector towards its construction and operation. The reference design of the EIC vertex and tracking detector consists of the Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (MAPS) based silicon vertex and tracking subsystem, the Micro-Pattern Gas Detector (MPGD) based gas tracking subsystem and the AC-Coupled Low Gain Avalanche Diode (AC-LGAD) based silicon outer tracker, and it has the track reconstruction capability in the pseudorapidity region of -3.5 to 3.5 with full azimuthal coverage. Further detector geometry optimization with a new magnet and technology down selection are underway by the ePIC collaboration. The latest ePIC vertex and tracking detector geometry and its performance evaluated in simulation will be presented. Details of the EIC vertex and tracking detector R$&$D, which include the proposed detector technologies, prototype sensor characterization and detector mechanical design will be discussed as well.