V. Filippini

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.

First results on 12ΛC production at DAΦNE

Lambda-hypernuclei are produced and studied, with the FINUDA spectrometer, for the first time at an e+e- collider: DAPHNE, the Frascati phi-factory. The slow negative kaons from phi(1020) decay are stopped in thin (0.2 g/cm^2) nuclear targets, and Lambda-hypernuclei formation is detected by measuring the momentum of the outgoing pi^-. A preliminary analysis on 12Lambda-C shows an energy resolution of 1.29 MeV FWHM on the hypernuclear levels, the best obtained so far with magnetic spectrometers at hadron facilities. Capture rates for the ground state and the excited ones are reported, and compared with previous experiments.

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.

Low-energy Antiproton Neon Interaction

Abstract By means of a streamer chamber exposed to the LEAR antiproton beams, the total reaction cross sections, the charged-prong multiplicity distributions and lower limits for the production of negative pions and K s 0 in the p-Ne interaction were measured at 19.6, 48.7 and 179.6 MeV. Annihilation was found to be dominant over all other non-elastic p-Ne processes. An analysis of Ne and other nuclei data in the frame of the Glauber theory allowed us to determine the ratio between the p-n and the p-p cross sections. An analysis in the light of INC model predictions allowed us to show up events which can be interpreted as annihilations having occurred deeply inside the nuclei.

Inelastic interaction of antiprotons with 4He nuclei between 200 and 600 MeV/c

The antiproton-helium reaction cross section has been measured at 19.6 and 48.7 MeV with a streamer chamber in a magnetic field. Charged prongs and negative pion multiplicities and cross sections for the production of 3He are given. A comparison with p 2H is performed. he previously obtained 179.6 MeV results are also taken into account.

Meson spectroscopy with antineutrons

Abstract First results on meson spectroscopy using antineutrons as projectiles are reported. Three-body (π + π + π − ) and five-body (π + π + π + π − π − ) final states following the annihilation of 100 to 290 MeV/ c antineutrons on hydrogen were analyzed. The (π + π − ) invariant mass spectrum in the three-body reaction is accounted for by the ϱ 0 anf f 2 (1270) resonances, together with an enhancement around 1540 MeV, in the region of the AX (1565) and the f 2 (1515) resonances, whereas the best fit for the (π + π + π − π − ) invariant mass in five-body events shows the already reported structure ζ(1480) and suggests the presence of a second structure around 1650 MeV.

Experimental apparatus for studying the interaction of antiprotons with light nuclei

Abstract A description is given of the detector system (self-shunted streamer chamber in a magnetic field) used in the PS-179 experiment at LEAR for studying antiproton interactions with light nuclei.

p4He reaction cross section at 610 MeV/c

Abstract Antiproton helium reaction cross section has been measured at 179.6 MeV with a self shunted streamer chamber in a magnetic field. Charged prong multiplicity, branching ratios and 3He production probability are given. Comparison with p 2 H data is performed.

φ and ω meson production in n¯p annihilation and the OZI rule

Abstract The φπ + /ωπ + ratio from n ¯ p annihilations on a liquid hydrogen target, for n ¯ momenta between 64 and 297 MeV/ c , was measured using the OBELIX spectrometer at LEAR. The ratio R ( ϕ π / ω π ) = σ ( n ¯ p → ϕ π + ) / σ ( n ¯ p → ω π + ) turned out 0.110±0.015 stat ±0.006 syst . Implications of this result on the OZI rule are discussed.

Search for HΛ6 and HΛ7 with the (Kstop−,π+) reaction

The production of neutron rich