Using LHC Forward Proton Detectors to Tag Nuclear Debris

The forward proton detectors, already existing at the LHC, are considered in the context of heavy ion collisions. It is shown that such detectors have the potential to measure nuclear debris originating from spectator nucleons. The geometric acceptance for different nuclei is studied, and how it is affected by the motion of the nucleons in the nucleus and by the experimental conditions. A possibility of extending the acceptance region is discussed.