R. Landua

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.

The Crystal Barrel spectrometer at LEAR

The crystal Barrel spectrometer used at LEAR, CERN to study the products of pd annihilations is described. A 1380 element array of Csl crystals measures photons from the decay of π0, η, η′ and ω mesons. A segmented drift chamber in a 1.5T magnetic field is used to identify and measure charged particles. A fast on-line trigger on charged and neutral multiplicities and on the invariant mass of secondary particles is available. The performance of the detector is discussed.

Observation of two JPC=0++ isoscalar resonances at 1365 and 1520 MeV

From a simultaneous analysis of data on pp → π0π0π0 and pp → ηηπ0 at rest, two I = 0, JPC = 0++ resonances are identified above 1 GeV. The first has mass M = 1365−55+20 MeV and width г = 268 ± 70 MeV, close to the ƒ0(1400) of the Particle Data Group. The second has M = 1520 ± 25 MeV, г = 148−25+20 MeV.

High-statistics study of f0(1500) decay into π0π0

Abstract A partial-wave analysis of the reaction p p →π 0 π 0 π 0 has been performed using a high-quality high-statistics data set of 712 000 events. In addition to the f0(975) and f0(1300), the scalar resonance with mass m = (1500 ± 15) MeV and width Γ = (120 ± 25) MeV is necessary to describe the data.

Coupled channel analysis of pp annihilation into π0π0π0, π0ηη and π0π0η

We confirm the existence of the two IG(JPC) = 0+(0++) resonances f0(1370) and f0(1500) reported by us in earlier analyses. The analysis presented here couples the final states π0π0π0, π0π0η and π0ηη of pp annihilation at rest. It is based on a 3 × 3 K-matrix. We find masses and widths of M = (1390±30) MeV, Γ = (380±80) MeV; and M = (1500±10) MeV, Γ = (154 ± 30) MeV, respectively. The product branching ratios for the production and decay into π0π0 and ηη of the f0(1500) are (1.27 ± 0.33) · 10−3 and (0.60 ± 0.17) · 10−3, respectively.

Observation of a new IG(JPC)=1−(0++) resonance at 1450 MeV

Abstract A new IG=1− JPC=0++πη resonance is observed in pp annihilation at rest into π0π0η. It has a mass M=(1450±40)MeV and a width Γ=(270±40)MeV.

pp annihilation into π+π− and K+K− from atomic p states

Abstract We have obtained the branching ratios for p p annihilation at rest into π+π− and K+K− in a pure p p initial angular momentum state L = 1. A gaseous hydrogen target at normal pressure and temperature was used and events associated with transitions of the antiprotonic atom to the 2p level were selected by detecting the Balmer X-ray series. The branching ratios for p p annihilation into π+π− and K+K− from the 2p state are (4.81 ± 0.49) × 10−3 and (2.87 ± 0.51) × 10−4, respect The pion yield is slightly larger than in liquid hydrogen, where L = 0 annihilation dominates, while the kaon yield is suppressed by a factor of four. Using these and previous data, we derive the branching ratios for pp annihilation into all ππ and K K modes from S and P states. A measurement in gaseous hydrogen, without X-ray requirement, yields the branching ratios (4.30 ± 0.14) × 10−3 and (6.92 ± 0.41) × 10−4. With the known branching ratios of (3.33 ± 0.17) × 10−3 and (1.01 ± 0.05) × 10−3 in liquid hydrogen, we find that (50.3 ± 6.4)% of all annihilations in gas at NTP occur in the initial angular momentum state L = 1.

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.

Observation of a 2+ + resonance at 1515 MeV in proton-antiproton annihilations into 3π0

Abstract Antiproton-proton annihilations at rest into 3 π 0 are analyzed in terms of π 0 π 0 final state interactions. A J PC = 2 + + resonance at a mass of 1515 ± 10 MeV with a width of 120 ± 10 MeV is required to explain the data. This result is supported by previous observations made on the ππ system in p p and p n annihilations which show that the resonance has I = 0. This resonance is practically degenerate in mass with the f′ 2 (1525) but the two resonances have very different production and decay characteristics.

Observation of an isoscalar meson ax(1565) in annihilation of the pp-atom from P states

Abstract A new isoscalar ππ resonance AX(1565) has been observed at a mass of 1565±10 MeV/c2 and a width of 170±20 MeV/c2. The resonance is produced in p p annihilation at rest into π+π−π0 from P states of antiprotonic hydrogen atoms formed b y stopping antiprotons in hydrogen gas at normal temperature and pressure. Annihilation from P states is identified by coincident observations of the LX-ray series emitted in the cascade of p p atoms. The resonance is seen as striking peak in the π+π− invariant mass spectrum. The phase of the π+π− D wave shows a resonance-like behaviour. Hence we assign the quantum numbers IG(JPC) = 0+(2++) to the resonance.