The ZEUS detector is a sophisticated tool for studying the particle reactions provided by the high-energetic beams of the HERA accelerator. Thus the participating scientists are pushing forward our knowledge of the fundamental particles and forces of nature, gaining unsurpassed insight into the exciting laws of the microcosm.
The italian groups that participate to the ZEUS experiment have the full responsibility of the muon detection system (Barrel, Rear and Forward). They have also the main responsibility in the Leading Proton Spectrometer, a challenging spectrometer designed and built to detect energetic protons scattered unbroken at low angles with respect to the incoming direction. Also a leading role is in the Beam Pipe Tracker, a silicon-layers detector located close to the beam pipe to detect electrons scattered at low angles. Last, they have been involved in the construction of a new silicon vertex detector (Micro Vertex Detector) that has been operational since the luminosity upgrade, completed in year 2003.
The italian groups are actively involved in many physical analyses on different topics.
Official ZEUS-Italy web site is http://www-zeus.roma1.infn.it (in italian).