First Results from the ALICE experiment at the LHC

After close to 20 years of preparation, the dedicated heavy ion experiment ALICE took first data with proton collisions at the LHC starting in November 2009 and first Pb-Pb data in November 2010. This article summarizes initial operation and performance of ALICE as well as first results from both pp and Pb-Pb collisions.After close to 20 years of preparation, the dedicated heavy ion experiment ALICE took first data with proton collisions at the LHC starting in November 2009 and first Pb–Pb data in November 2010. This article summarizes initial operation and performance of ALICE as well as first results from both pp and Pb–Pb collisions.After close to 20 years of preparation, the dedicated heavy ion experiment ALICE took first data with proton collisions at the LHC starting in November 2009 and first Pb-Pb data in November 2010. This article summarizes initial operation and performance of ALICE as well as first results from both pp and Pb-Pb collisions