Search

The AMADEUS experiment at the DAΦNE collider of LNF-INFN deals with the investigation of the at-rest, or low-momentum, K− interactions in light nuclear targets, with the aim to constrain the low energy QCD models in the strangeness sector. The 0 step of the experiment consisted in the reanalysis of the 2004/2005 KLOE data, exploiting K− absorptions in H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, leading to the first invariant mass spectroscopic study with very low momentum (about 100 MeV) in-flight K− captures. With AMADEUS step 1 a dedicated pure Carbon target was implemented in the central region of the KLOE detector, providing a high statistic sample of pure at-rest K− nuclear interaction. The first measurement of the non-resonant transition amplitude | AK−n→Λπ− |$\left| {{A_{{K^ - }n \to \Lambda {\pi ^ - }}}} \right|$ at s=33 MeV$\sqrt s = 33\,MeV$ below the K̄N threshold is presented, in relation with the Λ(1405) properties studies. The analysis procedure adopted in the serarch for K− multi-nucleon absorption cross sections and Branching Ratios will be also described.

The interaction of antikaons (K−) with nucleons and nuclei in the low-energy regime represents a very active research field in hadron physics. A unique and rather direct experimental access to the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths is provided by precision X-ray spectroscopy of transitions in low-lying states in the lightest kaonic atoms (i.e. kaonic hydrogen and deuterium). In the SIDDHARTA experiment at the electron-positron collider DAFNE of LNFINFN we measured the most precise values of the strong interaction observables in conic hydrogen. The strong interaction on the 1s ground state of the electromagnetically bound K-p atom causes an energy shift and broadening of the 1s state. SIDDHARTA will extend the spectroscopy to kaonic deuterium to get access to the antikaon-neutron interaction and thus the isospin dependent scattering lengths. At J-PARC a kaon beam is used in a complementary experiment with a different setup for spectroscopy of kaonic deuterium atoms. The talk will give an overview of the of the upcoming experiments SIDDHARTA and the complementary experiment at J-PARC.Furthermore, the implications of the experiments for the theory of low-energy strong interaction with strangeness will be discussed.

The main steps for the analysis of the Λp correlated production in low-energy K− captures on Carbon nuclei, performed by the AMADEUS collaboration, are presented. The goal is to perform the first comprehensive study of the K− absorption on two, three and four nucleons, exploiting the lowmomentum K−s (pK ~ 127 MeV/c) produced at the DAΦNE collider, and to measure the low-energy cross sections and branching ratios of the K− multinucleon absorption processes in both the Λp and Σ0p channels. An integrated luminosity of 1.74 fb−1 collected during the KLOE 2004/2005 data campaign is analysed by reconstructing the Λp final state.

The interaction of antikaons with nucleons and nuclei in the low-energy regime represents an active research field in hadron physics with still many important open questions. The investigation of light kaonic atoms, in which one electron is replaced by a negatively charged kaon, is a unique tool to provide precise information on this interaction; the energy shift and the broadening of the low-lying states of such atoms, induced by the kaon-nucleus hadronic interaction, can be determined with high precision from the atomic X-ray spectroscopy, and this experimental method provides unique information to understand the low energy kaon-nucleus interaction at the production threshold. The lightest atomic systems, like the kaonic hydrogen and the kaonic deuterium deliver, in a model-independent way, the isospin-dependent kaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement to-date, together with an exploratory measurement of kaonic deuterium, were carried out in 2009 by the SIDDHARTA collaboration at the DAΦNE electron-positron collider of LNF-INFN, combining the excellent quality kaon beam delivered by the collider with new experimental techniques, as fast and very precise X-ray detectors, like the Silicon Drift Detectors. The SIDDHARTA results triggered new theoretical work, which achieved major progress in the understanding of the low-energy strong interaction with strangeness reflected by the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths calculated with the antikaon-proton amplitudes constrained by the SIDDHARTA data. The most important open question is the experimental determination of the hadronic energy shift and width of kaonic deuterium; presently, a major upgrade of the setup, SIDDHARTA-2, is being realized to reach this goal. In this paper, the results obtained in 2009 and the proposed SIDDHARTA-2 upgrades are presented.

The AMADEUS collaboration is performing experimental investigations in the sector of the low energy strangeness hadron physics by taking advantage of the DAΦNE collider, which provides a unique source of monochromatic low-momentum kaons and exploiting the KLOE detector as an active target. The K− single and multi-nuclear absorption on H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, both at-rest and in-flight, are studied with the aim to determine the nature of the controversial Λ(1405), the non-resonant hyperon pion formation amplitude below the K̅N threshold, the yield and cross sections of K− multi-nucleon absorptions intimately connected to the antikaon multi-nucleon clusters properties and the K− scattering cross sections on light nuclear targets. These studies have a strong impact on the non-perturbative strangeness QCD with implications ranging from nuclear physics to the equation of state of neutron stars.

The goal of the AMADEUS experiment is to shed light on unsolved fundamental issues in the non-perturbative strangeness QCD sector through the study of lowenergy K- hadronic interactions with light nuclear targets. The main open questions are the controversial nature of the Δ(1405) state, which is investigated in hyperon-pion correlation studies, and the possible existence of exotic antikaon multi-nucleon clusters, whose search in K- induced reactions is intimately related to the studies of the K- multi-nucleon absorption processes in hyperon-nucleon/nucleus channels. The DAΦNE collider at the INFN-LNF provides unique monochromatic low-momentum kaons from the φ meson decay almost at-rest, suitable for the AMADEUS studies. The KLOE detector is exploited as an active target, in order to obtain excellent acceptance and resolution data for K- nuclear capture on H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, both at-rest and in-flight.

X-ray spectroscopy of light kaonic atoms is a unique tool to provide precise information on the fundamental K̄N interaction at the low-energy limit and the in-medium nuclear interaction of K−. The future experiments of kaonic deuterium strong-interaction shift and width (SIDDHARTA-2 and J-PARC E57) can extract the isospin dependent K−N interaction at threshold. The high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic helium with microcalorimeters (J-PARC E62) has the possibility to solve the long-standing potential-strength problem of the attractive K−-nucleus interaction. Here, the recent experimental results and the future projects of X-ray spectroscopy of light kaonic atoms are presented.

BGO-OD is a new meson photoproduction experiment at the ELSA facility of Bonn University. It aims at the investigation of non strange and strange baryon excitations, and is especially designed to be able to detect weekly bound meson-baryon type structures. The setup for the BGO-OD experiment is presented, the characteristics of the photon beam and the detector performances are shown and the initial experimental program is discussed.

In the exotic atoms where one atomic 1s electron is replaced by a K−, the strong interaction between the K− and the nucleus introduces an energy shift and broadening of the low-lying kaonic atomic levels which are determined by only the electromagnetic interaction. By performing X-ray spectroscopy for Z = 1,2 kaonic atoms, the SIDDHARTA experiment determined with high precision the shift and width for the 1s state of K− p and the 2p state of kaonic helium-3 and kaonic helium-4. These results provided unique information of the kaon-nucleus interaction in the low energy limit.

The strong interaction of antikaons (K−) with nucleons and nuclei in the low-energy regime represents an active research field connected intrinsically with few-body physics. There are important open questions like the question of antikaon nuclear bound states - the prototype system being K−pp. A unique and rather direct experimental access to the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths is provided by precision X-ray spectroscopy of transitions in low-lying states of light kaonic atoms like kaonic hydrogen isotopes. In the SIDDHARTA experiment at the electron-positron collider DAΦNE of LNF-INFN we measured the most precise values of the strong interaction observables, i.e. the strong interaction on the 1s ground state of the electromagnetically bound K−p atom leading to a hadronic shift ϵ1s and a hadronic broadening Γ1s of the 1s state. The SIDDHARTA result triggered new theoretical work which achieved major progress in the understanding of the low-energy strong interaction with strangeness. Antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths have been calculated constrained by the SIDDHARTA data on kaonic hydrogen. For the extraction of the isospin-dependent scattering lengths a measurement of the hadronic shift and width of kaonic deuterium is necessary. Therefore, new X-ray studies with the focus on kaonic deuterium are in preparation (SIDDHARTA2). Many improvements in the experimental setup will allow to measure kaonic deuterium which is challenging due to the anticipated low X-ray yield. Especially important are the data on the X-ray yields of kaonic deuterium extracted from a exploratory experiment within SIDDHARTA.

The AMADEUS experiment deals with the investigation of the low-energy kaon-nuclei hadronic interaction at the DAΦNE collider at LNF-INFN, fundamental to respond to longstanding open questions in the non-perturbative QCD in the strangeness sector. One of the most interesting aspects is to understand how hadron masses and interactions change in the nuclear environment. The antikaon-nucleon potential is investigated searching for signals from possible bound kaonic clusters, which would imply a strongly attractive antikaon-nucleon potential. AMADEUS step 0 consists in the analysis of 2004/2005 KLOE data, exploring K− absorptions in H, 4He, 9Be and 12C present in setup materials. The status of the various preliminary analyses is presented, together with future perspectives.

The X-ray measurements of kaonic atoms play an important role for understanding the low-energy QCD in the strangeness sector. The SIDDHARTA experiment studied the X-ray transitions of 4 light kaonic atoms (H, D, 3He, and 4He) using the DAFNE electron-positron collider at LNF (Italy). Most precise values of the shift and width of the kaonic hydrogen 1s state were determined, which have been now used as fundamental information for the low-energy K−p interaction in theoretical studies. An upper limit of the X-ray yield of kaonic deuterium was derived, important for future K−d experiments. The shifts and widths of the kaonic 3He and 4He 2p states were obtained, confirming the end of the “kaonic helium puzzle”. In this contribution also the plans for new experiments of kaonic deuterium are being presented.

The only recent η′ photoproduction data off proton available in literature are the differential and total cross sections published by the CLAS and CB-ELSA-TAPS Collaborations. However, the wide information about reaction cross sections are not sufficient to understand the role of resonances involved in the process. Different theoretical works stressed the importance to measure also polarization observables in order to solve the ambiguities in the choice of the parameters used in their models. We present the analysis of η′ photoproduction off the proton analysis, identifying the investigated meson by the π+π−η, π0π0η, and γγ decay modes by using the GRAAL apparatus; and we show the preliminary GRAAL results on the beam asymmetry Σ at beam energy of 1475 MeV.

Differential and total cross section measurements on η′ photoproduction were published by the CLAS Collaboration (M. Dugger et al., Phys.Rev.Lett.96, 062001 (2006) and M. Williams et al., Phys.Rev.C80, 045213 (2009)) for center-of-mass energies from near the threshold up to 2.84 GeV, and by the CB-ELSA-TAPS Collaboration (V. Crede et al., Phys.Rev.C80, 055202 (2009)) up to 2.36 GeV and also making a precise threshold scan of the differential cross section in the 1446 – 1527.4 MeV γ beam energy range. However, the wide information about reaction cross sections are not sufficient to understand the role of resonances involved in the process. Different theoretical works stressed the importance to have also polarization observables in order to solve the ambiguity in the choice of the parameters used in their models. We present the analysis of the η′ photoproduction off the proton, identifying the meson via the γγ, π0π0η, and π+π−η decay modes by using the GRAAL apparatus; and we show the preliminary GRAAL results on the beam asymmetry Σ from the threshold (1.446 GeV) up to 1.5 GeV.

We measured K-series kaonic hydrogen X-rays in the SIDDHARTA experiment performed at the DAΦNE electron-positron collider of Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati. With a gaseous hydrogen target of density 15 ρSTP, preliminary values of the absolute yields, defined as the number of atomic X-rays emitted per kaon stopped inside the target, were determined to be 0.012−0.004+0.003 for Kα transition and 0.045−0.012+0.009 for Ktot, the summation of all the emitted K-series transitions.

The strong-interaction shifts and widths of kaonic hydrogen, deuterium, 3He, and 4He were measured in the SIDDHARTA experiment. The most precise values of the shift and width of the kaonic hydrogen 1s state were determined to be ϵ1s = −283 ± 36(stat)±6(syst) eV and Γ1s = 541±89(stat)±22(syst) eV. The upper limit of the kaonic deuterium Kα yield was found to be ≤ 0.39%. In addition, the shifts and widths of the kaonic 3He and 4He 2p states were determined to be ϵ2p(3He) = −2 ± 2(stat) ± 4(syst) eV and Γ2p(3He) = 6 ± 6(stat) ± 7(syst) eV; ϵ2p(4He) = +5 ± 3(stat) ± 4(syst) eV and Γ2p(4He) = 14 ± 8(stat) ± 5(syst) eV. These values are important for the constraints of the low-energy K¯N$\bar KN$ interaction in theoretical approaches.

The DAΦNE electron-positron collider at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati of INFN, Italy has made available a unique quality low-energy negatively charged kaons “beam”, which is used to unveil the secrets of the kaon-nucleon/nuclei interactions at low energies by the SIDDHARTA-2 and AMADEUS experiments. SIDDHARTA has already performed unprecedented precision measurements of kaonic atoms, and is being presently upgraded, as SIDDHARTA-2, to approach new frontiers. The AMADEUS experiment plans to perform in the coming years precision measurements on kaon-nuclei interactions at low-energies, to study the possible formation of kaonic nuclei, of the Λ(1405) and of many other processes involving strangeness.

The AMADEUS experiment has the aim to perform studies of the low energy hadronic interactions of negatively charged kaons with nucleons and nuclei, which are fundamental to solve longstanding open questions in the non-perturbative QCD in the strangeness sector. The DAΦNE collider provides a unique source of monochromatic low-momentum kaons, whose nuclear interaction with the materials of the KLOE detector (used as an active target) provide us excellent acceptance and resolution data for K− capture on H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, both at-rest and in-flight. AMADEUS step 0 consisted in the analysis of the 2004-2005 KLOE data. A second step consisted in the implementation in the central region of the KLOE detector of a pure graphite target, providing a high statistic sample of K− 12C nuclear captures at rest. For the future, new setups for various dedicated targets are under preparation. The aim of such investigations is to face the major open questions in hadron nuclear physics in the strangeness sector, such as the nature of the Λ(1405) state and the resonant versus non-resonant yield in nuclear K− capture, the possible existence of kaonic nuclear clusters, strongly related to a quantitative understanding of single versus multi-nucleon K− absorption.

The strong interaction of charged antikaons (K−) with nucleons and nuclei in the low-energy regime is a fascinating topic. The antikaon plays a peculiar role in hadron physics due to the strong attraction antikaon-nucleon which is a key question for possible kaonic nuclear bound states. A rather direct experimental access to the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths is provided by precision X-ray spectroscopy of transitions to low-lying states in light kaonic atoms like kaonic hydrogen and deuterium. After the successful completion of precision measurements on kaonic hydrogen and helium isotopes by SIDDHARTA at DAΦNE/LNF, new X-ray studies with the focus on kaonic deuterium are in preparation (SIDDHARTA2). In the future with kaonic deuterium data the antikaon-nucleon isospin-dependent scattering lengths can be extracted for the first time. An overview of the experimental results of SIDDHARTA and an outlook to future perspectives in the SIDDHARTA2 experiments in this frontier research field will be given.

The AMADEUS experiment aims to perform dedicated precision studies in the sector of low-energy kaon-nuclei interaction at the DAΦNE collider at LNF-INFN. In particular, the experiment plans to perform measurements of the debated deeply bound kaonic nuclear states, to deepen our knowledge about the controversial state Λ(1405) and to measure the low energy cross section of K− on light nuclei. AMADEUS will exploit the process of stopped kaons in cryogenic gaseous targets, measuring both charged and neutral particles produced in a 4π geometry, so performing a full study of the various interaction channels. Taking advantage of the fact that the KLOE drift chamber is mainly filled with 4He (90% helium 10% isobutane) according to Monte Carlo simulations about 0.1% of kaons from DAΦNE should stop in the inner volume of the drift chamber; the analysis of the existing KLOE data (run from 2002 to 2005) is presently going on, searching for hadronic interactions of K− in such an active target. The AMADEUS physics program and preliminary results from the analysis of KLOE data will be discussed.

The SIDDHARTA collaboration measured kaonic 3He and 4He 3d → 2p X-rays with gaseous targets at the DAΦNE e+e− collider. The 2p-state strong-interaction shifts and widths were precisely determined by using 144 high-resolution silicon drift detectors. The shift of K−4He is in good agreement with theoretical calculations and consistent with the recent experimental result of KEK-PS E570. The shift of K−3He is also determined for the first time. The newly determined widths are in agreement with optical model calculations.

A preliminar study of these kind of hadronic interactions is being done by the AMADEUS collaboration by analyzing the existent KLOE data.

The SIDDHARTA experiment aims at a precise measurement of K -series kaonic hydrogen x-rays and the first-ever measurement of the kaonic deuterium x-rays to determine the strong-interaction energy-level shift and width of the lowest lying atomic states. These measurements offer a unique possibility to precisely determine the isospin-dependent $ar{K}$-nucleon scattering lengths.

Abstract: At the DAΦNE electron-positron collider of Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati we study kaonic atoms, taking advantage of the low-energy kaons produced in the Φ-meson decay. The low-energy kaon-nucleon interaction [...]

The BGOOD photoproduction experiment accesses forward meson angles and low momentum exchange kinematics in the uds sector, which may be sensitive to molecular-like hadron structure. Recent results are presented, including strangeness photoproduction at forward meson angles, and π0π0 coherent photoproduction off the deuteron.

The BGOOD photoproduction experiment accesses forward meson angles and low momentum exchange kinematics in the uds sector, which may be sensitive to molecular-like hadronic structure. Recent highlights are summarised in these proceedings.

Using a Deuterium target, the GRAAL experiment has collected meson photoproduction data. The data have been analysed in the quasi free regime. The results of the quasi free process on the proton reproduce quite well the results previously obtained with a Hydrogen target. The preliminary results on the quasi free neutron for π0 and η photoproduction are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we will present our first preliminary measurement of the differential cross section for the reaction γn → ηn. Comparison of the reactions γ → ηp for free and bound proton (D2 target) will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unexpected nodal structure of the beam asymmetry recently reported by the GRAAL collaboration in η′ photoproduction very close to threshold could be explained by a previously unobserved narrow resonance. The BGO-OD experiment is ideally suited to verify this measurement via the detection of forward going charged particles which in the threshold region of interest allows the identification of the reaction γp → η′ p solely based on the proton going in the forward direction. This yields unprecedented statistics if, in the missing mass analysis of the η′ meson, the background can be sufficiently well controlled. Preliminary results using a linearly polarised photon beam are shown. The reaction γp → η′ p was identified in the BGO forward spectrometer, with simulated data used to seperate signal and background.

The BGO-OD experiment at the ELSA accelerator facility uses an energy tagged bremsstrahlung photon beam to investigate the excitation structure of the nucleon. The setup consists of a highly segmented BGO calorimeter surrounding the target, with a particle tracking magnetic spectrometer at forward angles. BGO-OD is ideal for investigating low momentum transfer processes due to the acceptance and high momentum resolution at forward angles. In particular, this enables the investigation of strangeness photoproduction where t-channel exchange mechanisms play an important role. This also allows access to low momentum exchange kinematics where extended, molecular structure may manifest in reaction mechanisms. First key results at low t indicate a cusp-like structure in K+Σ0 photoproduction at W = 1900 MeV, line shapes and differential cross sections for K+Λ(1405)→ K+Σ0π0, and a peak structure in K0SΣ0 photoproduction. The peak in the K0SΣ0 channel appears consistent with meson-baryon generated states, where equivalent models have been used to describe the PC pentaquark candidates in the heavy charmed quark sector.

Since the discovery of the Λ(1405), it remains poorly described by conventional constituent quark models, and it is a candidate for having an “exotic” meson-baryon or “penta-quark” structure, similar to states recently reported in the hidden charm sector. The Λ(1405) can be produced in the reaction γp K+Λ(1405). The pure I=0 decay mode into Σ0π0 is prohibited for the mass-overlapping Σ(1385). Combining a large aperture forward magnetic spectrometer and a central BGO crystal calorimeter, the BGO-OD experiment is ideally suited to measure this decay with the K+ in the forward direction. Preliminary results are presented. *Supported by DFG (PN 388979758, 405882627)

Abstract: New experimental approach to study meson photoproduction in nuclei is discussed. It is based on the measurement of the recoil nucleon as a tagger for identification of the initial step of reaction. Propagation of mesons and nucleons within a nucleus is described by the Intra-Nuclear Cascade (INC) model. Simulations and preliminary experimental data for the deuteron target obtained at GRAAL are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]