P. Genova

Production and detection of cold antihydrogen atoms.

A theoretical underpinning of the standard model of fundamental particles and interactions is CPT invariance, which requires that the laws of physics be invariant under the combined discrete operations of charge conjugation, parity and time reversal. Antimatter, the existence of which was predicted by Dirac, can be used to test the CPT theorem—experimental investigations involving comparisons of particles with antiparticles are numerous. Cold atoms and anti-atoms, such as hydrogen and antihydrogen, could form the basis of a new precise test, as CPT invariance implies that they must have the same spectrum. Observations of antihydrogen in small quantities and at high energies have been reported at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and at Fermilab, but these experiments were not suited to precision comparison measurements. Here we demonstrate the production of antihydrogen atoms at very low energy by mixing trapped antiprotons and positrons in a cryogenic environment. The neutral anti-atoms have been detected directly when they escape the trap and annihilate, producing a characteristic signature in an imaging particle detector.

Positron plasma diagnostics and temperature control for antihydrogen production

Production of antihydrogen atoms by mixing antiprotons with a cold, confined, positron plasma depends critically on parameters such as the plasma density and temperature. We discuss nondestructive measurements, based on a novel, real-time analysis of excited, low-order plasma modes, that provide comprehensive characterization of the positron plasma in the ATHENA antihydrogen apparatus. The plasma length, radius, density, and total particle number are obtained. Measurement and control of plasma temperature variations, and the application to antihydrogen production experiments are discussed.

Exploring the WEP with a pulsed cold beam of antihydrogen

The AEGIS experiment, currently being set up at the Antiproton Decelerator at CERN, has the objective of studying the free fall of antimatter in the Earth?s gravitational field by means of a pulsed cold atomic beam of antihydrogen atoms. Both duration of free fall and vertical displacement of the horizontally emitted atoms will be measured, allowing a first test of the WEP with antimatter.

Evidence for heavy hyperhydrogen (Lambda)H-6

Evidence for the neutron-rich hypernucleus H-6(Lambda) is presented from the FINUDA experiment at DA Phi NE, Frascati, studying (pi(+), pi(-)) pairs in coincidence from the (K) over bar (-)(stop) + Li-6 -> H-6(Lambda) + pi(+) production reaction followed by H-6(Lambda) -> He-6 + pi(-) weak decay. The production rate of H-6(Lambda) undergoing this two-body pi(-) decay is determined to be (2.9 +/- 2.0) x 10(-6)/K-stop(-). Its binding energy, evaluated jointly from production and decay, is B-Lambda(H-6(Lambda)) = (4.0 +/- 1.1) MeV with respect to 5H + Lambda. A systematic difference of (0.98 +/- 0.74) MeV between B-Lambda values derived separately from decay and from production is tentatively assigned to the H-6(Lambda) 0(g.s)(+) excitationEvidence for the neutron-rich hypernucleus 6{\Lambda}H is presented from the FINUDA experiment at DA{\Phi}NE, Frascati, studying ({\pi}+, {\pi}-) pairs in coincidence from the K- +6Li \rightarrow 6 H+{\pi}+ production reaction followed by 6{\Lambda}H \rightarrow 6He + {\pi}- weak decay. The production rate of 6{\Lambda}H undergoing this two-body {\pi}- decay is determined to be (2.9\pm2.0)\cdot10-6/K-. Its binding energy, evaluated jointly from production and decay, is B{\Lambda}(6{\Lambda}H) = (4.0\pm1.1) MeV with respect to 5H+{\Lambda}. A systematic difference of (0.98 \pm 0.74) MeV between B{\Lambda} values derived separately from decay and from production is tentatively assigned to the 6{\Lambda}H 0+g.s. \rightarrow 1+ excitation.

Evidence for 6{\Lambda}H

Evidence for the neutron-rich hypernucleus H-6(Lambda) is presented from the FINUDA experiment at DA Phi NE, Frascati, studying (pi(+), pi(-)) pairs in coincidence from the (K) over bar (-)(stop) + Li-6 -> H-6(Lambda) + pi(+) production reaction followed by H-6(Lambda) -> He-6 + pi(-) weak decay. The production rate of H-6(Lambda) undergoing this two-body pi(-) decay is determined to be (2.9 +/- 2.0) x 10(-6)/K-stop(-). Its binding energy, evaluated jointly from production and decay, is B-Lambda(H-6(Lambda)) = (4.0 +/- 1.1) MeV with respect to 5H + Lambda. A systematic difference of (0.98 +/- 0.74) MeV between B-Lambda values derived separately from decay and from production is tentatively assigned to the H-6(Lambda) 0(g.s)(+) excitationEvidence for the neutron-rich hypernucleus 6{\Lambda}H is presented from the FINUDA experiment at DA{\Phi}NE, Frascati, studying ({\pi}+, {\pi}-) pairs in coincidence from the K- +6Li \rightarrow 6 H+{\pi}+ production reaction followed by 6{\Lambda}H \rightarrow 6He + {\pi}- weak decay. The production rate of 6{\Lambda}H undergoing this two-body {\pi}- decay is determined to be (2.9\pm2.0)\cdot10-6/K-. Its binding energy, evaluated jointly from production and decay, is B{\Lambda}(6{\Lambda}H) = (4.0\pm1.1) MeV with respect to 5H+{\Lambda}. A systematic difference of (0.98 \pm 0.74) MeV between B{\Lambda} values derived separately from decay and from production is tentatively assigned to the 6{\Lambda}H 0+g.s. \rightarrow 1+ excitation.

New results on mesonic weak decay of p-shell Lambda-hypernuclei

Abstract The FINUDA experiment performed a systematic study of the charged mesonic weak decay channel of p -shell Λ -hypernuclei. Negatively charged pion spectra from mesonic decay were measured with magnetic analysis for the first time for 7 Λ Li, 9 Λ Be, 11 Λ B and 15 Λ N. The shape of the π − spectra was interpreted through a comparison with pion distorted wave calculations that take into account the structure of both hypernucleus and daughter nucleus. Branching ratios Γ π − / Γ tot were derived from the measured spectra and converted to π − decay rates Γ π − by means of known or extrapolated total decay widths Γ tot of p -shell Λ -hypernuclei. Based on these measurements, the spin-parity assignment 1 / 2 + for 7 Λ Li and 5 / 2 + for 11 Λ B ground-state are confirmed and a spin-parity 3 / 2 + for 15 Λ N ground-state is assigned for the first time.

First observation of the hyper superheavy hydrogen HΛ6

Abstract Three candidate events of the neutron-rich hypernucleus H Λ 6 were uniquely identified in the FINUDA experiment at DAΦNE, Frascati, by observing π + mesons from the ( K stop − , π + ) production reaction on 6 Li targets, in coincidence with π − mesons from H Λ 6 → He 6 + π − weak decay. Details of the experiment and the analysis of its data are reported, leading to an estimate of ( 2.9 ± 2.0 ) ⋅ 10 − 6 / K stop − for the H Λ 6 production rate times the two-body π − weak decay branching ratio. The H Λ 6 binding energy with respect to H 5 + Λ was determined jointly from production and decay to be B Λ = ( 4.0 ± 1.1 ) MeV , assuming that 5 H is unbound with respect to H 3 + 2 n by 1.7 MeV. The binding energy determined from production is higher, in each one of the three events, than that determined from decay, with a difference of ( 0.98 ± 0.74 ) MeV here assigned to the 0 g.s. + → 1 + excitation. The consequences of this assignment to Λ hypernuclear dynamics are briefly discussed.

Proton spectra from Non-Mesonic Weak Decay of p-shell Λ-hypernuclei and evidence for the two-nucleon induced process

Abstract New spectra from the FINUDA experiment of the Non-Mesonic Weak Decay (NMWD) proton kinetic energy for Be Λ 9 , B Λ 11 , C Λ 12 , C Λ 13 , N Λ 15 and O Λ 16 are presented and discussed along with the published data on He Λ 5 and Li Λ 7 . Exploiting the large mass number range and the low energy threshold (15 MeV) for the proton detection of FINUDA, an evaluation of both Final State Interactions (FSI) and the two-nucleon induced NMWD contributions to the decay process has been done. Based on this evaluation, a linear dependence of FSI on the hypernuclear mass number A is found and for the two-nucleon stimulated decay rate the experimental value of Γ 2 / Γ p = 0.43 ± 0.25 is determined for the first time. A value for the two-nucleon stimulated decay rate to the total decay rate Γ 2 / Γ NMWD = 0.24 ± 0.10 is also extracted.

Hypernuclear spectroscopy with K− at rest on 7Li, 9Be, 13C and 16O

Abstract The FINUDA experiment collected data to study the production of hypernuclei on different nuclear targets. The hypernucleus formation occurred through the strangeness-exchange reaction K stop − + Z A → Z Λ A + π − . From the analysis of the momentum of the emerging π − , binding energies and formation probabilities of Li Λ 7 , Be Λ 9 , C Λ 13 and O Λ 16 have been measured and are here presented. The behavior of the formation probability as a function of the atomic mass number A is also discussed.

A moiré deflectometer for antimatter

The precise measurement of forces is one way to obtain deep insight into the fundamental interactions present in nature. In the context of neutral antimatter, the gravitational interaction is of high interest, potentially revealing new forces that violate the weak equivalence principle. Here we report on a successful extension of a tool from atom optics—the moiré deflectometer—for a measurement of the acceleration of slow antiprotons. The setup consists of two identical transmission gratings and a spatially resolving emulsion detector for antiproton annihilations. Absolute referencing of the observed antimatter pattern with a photon pattern experiencing no deflection allows the direct inference of forces present. The concept is also straightforwardly applicable to antihydrogen measurements as pursued by the AEgIS collaboration. The combination of these very different techniques from high energy and atomic physics opens a very promising route to the direct detection of the gravitational acceleration of neutral antimatter.