The ALICE 3 detector concept for LHC Runs 5 and 6 and its physics performance

The LHC Run 5 and 6 data taking phases will deliver unprecedented luminosity in high-energy proton-proton and heavy-ion collisions, enabling insightful advancements in understanding quantum chromodynamics (QCD), and, in particular, the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). The ALICE Collaboration proposes ALICE 3, a next-generation experiment optimized for these future LHC operations. ALICE 3 will feature a cutting edge pixel-based tracking system with broad pseudorapidity coverage (|eta\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\eta$$\end{document}|<4), supplemented by advanced particle identification systems. These include silicon time-of-flight layers, a ring-imaging Cherenkov detector, a dedicated muon identification system, and an electromagnetic calorimeter. A novel retractable vertex detector inside the beam pipe will achieve a track pointing resolution lower than 10 microns for transverse momenta above 200 MeV/c. ALICE 3 aims to conduct innovative measurements of QGP properties and extend the frontiers of our knowledge in QCD. The detailed study of thermal and dynamical properties of the QGP will be made possible by measuring low-transverse-momentum heavy-flavour production, including beauty hadrons, multi-charm baryons, and charm-charm correlations. Precise multi-differential measurements of dielectron emission will shed light on chiral-symmetry restoration and the time-evolution of QGP temperature. In addition to QGP studies, ALICE 3 will uniquely address the physics of hadronic phase, exploring charm meson interaction potentials via femtoscopy, and searching for exotic nuclei with charm quarks. This contribution presents the detector concept, expected physics performance, and the current status of the research and development efforts.