arXiv subjects

F. Bossi

Publications and source records attributed to F. Bossi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Search for a new 17 MeV resonance via $e^+e^-$ annihilation with the PADME Experiment

The PADME Experiment at the Frascati DA$\Phi$NE LINAC has searched for a hypothetical particle with mass around 17 MeV, commonly referred to as the X17, using a positron beam incident on a fixed target. The beam energy was varied between 262 and 296 MeV, corresponding to center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s}$ between 16.4 and 17.4 MeV. The X17 should be produced resonantly via $e^+e^-$ annihilation when $\sqrt{s}$ approaches its mass, inducing an excess of events with a two-body final state over the background expectation. The beam energy spacing was fixed to less than half the expected width of the resonance's line shape. Uncertainties below 1% per $\sqrt{s}$ point were achieved. A blind analysis has been performed. The data are consistent with the expected background in most of the explored energy range, and limits are set in previously unexplored regions of the available parameter space. The most significant deviation is found for $\sqrt{s} \approx 16.90$ MeV, corresponding to a global significance of approximately 2 standard deviations over the null hypothesis expectation.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of $\eta\to\pi^{0}\gamma\gamma$ branching fraction with the KLOE detector

We present a measurement of the radiative decay $\eta\to\pi^0\gamma\gamma$ using 82 million $\eta$ mesons produced in $e^+e^-\to\phi\to\eta\gamma$ process at the Frascati $\phi$-factory DA$\Phi$NE. From the data analysis $1246\pm133$ signal events are observed. By normalising the signal to the well-known $\eta\to3\pi^0$ decay the branching fraction ${\cal B}(\eta\to\pi^0\gamma\gamma)$ is measured to be $(0.98\pm 0.11_\text{stat}\pm 0.14_\text{syst})\times10^{-4}$. This result agrees with a preliminary KLOE measurement, but is twice smaller than the present world average. Results for $d\Gamma(\eta\to\pi^0\gamma\gamma)/dM^2(\gamma\gamma)$ are also presented and compared with latest theory predictions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2024

Characterization of the PADME positron beam for the X17 measurement

This paper presents a detailed characterization of the positron beam delivered by the Beam Test Facility at Laboratori Nazionali of Frascati to the PADME experiment during Run III, which took place from October to December 2022. It showcases the methodology used to measure the main beam parameters such as the position in space, the absolute momentum scale, the beam energy spread, and its intensity through a combination of data analysis and Monte Carlo simulations. The results achieved include an absolute precision in the momentum of the beam to within $\sim$ 1-2 MeV$/c$, a relative beam energy spread below 0.25\%, and an absolute precision in the intensity of the beam at the level of 2\% percent.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Direct tests of T, CP, CPT symmetries in transitions of neutral K mesons with the KLOE experiment

Tests of the T, CP and CPT symmetries in the neutral kaon system are performed by the direct comparison of the probabilities of a kaon transition process to its symmetry-conjugate. The exchange of in and out states required for a genuine test involving an anti-unitary transformation implied by time-reversal is implemented exploiting the entanglement of $K^0\bar{K}{}^0$ pairs produced at a $\phi$-factory. A data sample collected by the KLOE experiment at DA$\Phi$NE corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 1.7 fb$^{-1}$ is analysed to study the $\Delta$t distributions of the $\phi\to K_{S}K_{L}\to \pi^+\pi^- \: \pi^{\pm}e^{\mp}\nu$ and $\phi\to K_{S}K_{L}\to \pi^{\pm}e^{\mp}\nu \: 3\pi^0$ processes, with $\Delta$t the difference of the kaon decay times. A comparison of the measured $\Delta$t distributions in the asymptotic region $\Delta t \gg \tau_{S}$ allows to test for the first time T and CPT symmetries in kaon transitions with a precision of few percent, and to observe CP violation with this novel method.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Cross-section measurement of two-photon annihilation in-flight of positrons at $\sqrt{s}=20$ MeV with the PADME detector

The inclusive cross-section of annihilation in flight $e^+e^-\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$ of 430 MeV positrons with atomic electrons of a thin diamond target has been measured with the PADME detector at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati. The two photons produced in the process were detected by an electromagnetic calorimeter made of BGO crystals. This measurement is the first one based on the direct detection of the photon pair and one of the most precise for positron energies below 1 GeV. This measurement represents a necessary step to search for dark sector particles and mediators weakly coupled to photons and/or electrons with masses ranging from 1 MeV to 20 MeV with PADME. The measurement agrees with the Next to Leading Order QED prediction within the overall 6% uncertainty.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Measurement of the $K_S \to \pi e \nu$ branching fraction with the KLOE experiment

The branching fraction for the decay $K_S \to \pi e \nu$ has been measured with a sample of 300 million $K_S$ mesons produced in $\phi \to K_L K_S$ decays recorded by the KLOE experiment at the DA$\Phi$NE $e^+e^-$ collider. Signal decays are selected by a boosted decision tree built with kinematic variables and time-of-flight measurements. Data control samples of $K_L \to \pi e \nu$ decays are used to evaluate signal selection efficiencies. A fit to the reconstructed electron mass distribution finds 49647$\pm$316 signal events. Normalising to the $K_S \to \pi^+\pi^-$ decay events the result for the branching fraction is $\mathcal{B}(K_S \to \pi e \nu) = (7.211 \pm 0.046_{\rm stat} \pm 0.052_{\rm syst}) \times10^{-4}$. The combination with our previous measurement gives $\mathcal{B}(K_S \to \pi e \nu) = (7.153 \pm 0.037_{\rm stat} \pm 0.043_{\rm syst}) \times10^{-4}$. From this value we derive $f_+(0)|V_{us}| = 0.2170 \pm 0.009$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Commissioning of the PADME experiment with a positron beam

The PADME experiment is designed to search for a hypothetical dark photon $A^{\prime}$ produced in positron-electron annihilation using a bunched positron beam at the Beam Test Facility of the INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati. The expected sensitivity to the $A^{\prime}$-photon mixing parameter $\epsilon$ is 10$^{-3}$, for $A^{\prime}$ mass $\le$ 23.5 MeV/$c^{2}$ after collecting $\sim 10^{13}$ positrons-on-target. This paper presents the PADME detector status after commissioning in July 2019. In addition, the software algorithms employed to reconstruct physics objects, such as photons and charged particles, and the calibration procedures adopted are illustrated in detail. The results show that the experimental apparatus reaches the design performance, and is able to identify and measure standard electromagnetic processes, such as positron Bremsstrahlung, electron-positron annihilation into two photons.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

The PADME beam line Monte Carlo simulation

The PADME experiment at the DA$\Phi$NE Beam-Test Facility (BTF) of the INFN Laboratory of Frascati is designed to search for invisible decays of dark sector particles produced in electron-positron annihilation events with a positron beam and a thin fixed target, by measuring the missing mass of single-photon final states. The presence of backgrounds originating from beam halo particles can significantly reduce the sensitivity of the experiment. To thoroughly understand the origin of the beam background contribution, a detailed Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation has been developed, containing a full description of the detector together with the beam line and its optical elements. This simulation allows the full interactions of each particle to be described, both during beam line transport and during detection, a possibility which represents an innovative way to obtain reliable background predictions

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

European Strategy for Particle Physics -- Accelerator R&D Roadmap

The 2020 update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics emphasised the importance of an intensified and well-coordinated programme of accelerator R&D, supporting the design and delivery of future particle accelerators in a timely, affordable and sustainable way. This report sets out a roadmap for European accelerator R&D for the next five to ten years, covering five topical areas identified in the Strategy update. The R&D objectives include: improvement of the performance and cost-performance of magnet and radio-frequency acceleration systems; investigations of the potential of laser / plasma acceleration and energy-recovery linac techniques; and development of new concepts for muon beams and muon colliders. The goal of the roadmap is to document the collective view of the field on the next steps for the R&D programme, and to provide the evidence base to support subsequent decisions on prioritisation, resourcing and implementation.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2021

Precision tests of Quantum Mechanics and CPT symmetry with entangled neutral kaons at KLOE

The quantum interference between the decays of entangled neutral kaons is studied in the process $\phi\rightarrow K_S K_L \rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$, which exhibits the characteristic Einstein--Podolsky--Rosen correlations that prevent both kaons to decay into $\pi^+\pi^-$ at the same time. This constitutes a very powerful tool for testing at the utmost precision the quantum coherence of the entangled kaon pair state, and to search for tiny decoherence and CPT violation effects, which may be justified in a quantum gravity framework. The analysed data sample was collected with the KLOE detector at DA$\Phi$NE, the Frascati $\phi$-factory, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of about 1.7 fb$^{-1}$, i.e. to about $1.7 \times 10^9$ $\phi\rightarrow K_S K_L$ decays produced. From the fit of the observed $\Delta t$ distribution, being $\Delta t$ the difference of the kaon decay times, the decoherence and CPT violation parameters of various phenomenological models are measured with a largely improved accuracy with respect to previous analyses. The results are consistent with no deviation from quantum mechanics and CPT symmetry, while for some parameters the precision reaches the interesting level at which -- in the most optimistic scenarios -- quantum gravity effects might show up. They provide the most stringent limits up to date on the considered models.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Characterisation and performance of the PADME electromagnetic calorimeter

The PADME experiment at the LNF Beam Test Facility searches for dark photons produced in the annihilation of positrons with the electrons of a fix target. The strategy is to look for the reaction $e^{+}+e^{-}\rightarrow \gamma+A'$, where $A'$ is the dark photon, which cannot be observed directly or via its decay products. The electromagnetic calorimeter plays a key role in the experiment by measuring the energy and position of the final-state $\gamma$. The missing four-momentum carried away by the $A'$ can be evaluated from this information and the particle mass inferred. This paper presents the design, construction, and calibration of the PADME's electromagnetic calorimeter. The results achieved in terms of equalisation, detection efficiency and energy resolution during the first phase of the experiment demonstrate the effectiveness of the various tools used to improve the calorimeter performance with respect to earlier prototypes.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Upper limit on the $\eta\to\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ branching fraction with the KLOE experiment

Based on an integrated luminosity of 1.61 fb$^{-1}$ $e^+e^-$ collision data collected with the KLOE detector at DA$\Phi$NE, the Frascati $\phi$-factory, a search for the $P$- and $CP$-violating decay $\eta\to\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ has been performed. Radiative $\phi\to\eta\gamma$ decay is exploited to access the $\eta$ mesons. No signal is observed in the $\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ invariant mass spectrum, and the upper limit on the branching fraction at 90\% confidence level is determined to be ${\mathcal B}(\eta\to\pi^{+}\pi^{-})<4.9\times10^{-6}$, which is approximately three times smaller than the previous KLOE result. From the combination of these two measurements we get ${\mathcal B}(\eta\to\pi^{+}\pi^{-}) < 4.4\times10^{-6}$ at 90\% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Measurement of the branching fraction for the decay $K_S \to \pi \mu \nu$ with the KLOE detector

Based on a sample of 300 million $K_S$ mesons produced in $\phi \to K_L K_S$ decays recorded by the KLOE experiment at the DA$\Phi$NE $e^+e^-$ collider we have measured the branching fraction for the decay $K_S \to \pi \mu \nu$. The $K_S$ mesons are identified by the interaction of $K_L$ mesons in the detector. The $K_S \to \pi \mu \nu$ decays are selected by a boosted decision tree built with kinematic variables and by a time-of-flight measurement. Signal efficiencies are evaluated with data control samples of $K_L \to \pi \mu \nu$ decays. A fit to the reconstructed muon mass distribution finds $7223 \pm 180$ signal events. Normalising to the $K_S \to \pi^+ \pi^-$ decay events the result for the branching fraction is $\mathcal{B}(K_S \to \pi \mu \nu) = (4.56 \pm 0.11_{\rm stat} \pm 0.17_{\rm syst})\times10^{-4}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

KLASH Conceptual Design Report

The last decade witnessed an increasing interest in axions and axion-like particles with many theoretical works published and many new experimental proposals that started a real race towards their discovery. This paper is the Conceptual Design Report of the KLASH (KLoe magnet for Axion SearcH) experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (LNF). The idea of this experiment has been stimulated by the availability of the large volume superconducting magnet, with a moderate magnetic field of 0.6 T, used in the KLOE detector at the DAFNE collider. The main conclusion we draw from this report is the possibility to build and put in operation at LNF in 2-3 years a large haloscope with the sensitivity to KSVZ axions in the low mass range between 0.2 and 1 $\mu$eV, complementary to that of other experiments. Timeline and cost are competitive with respect to other proposals in the same mass region thanks to the availability of most of the infrastructure, in particular the superconducting magnet and the cryogenics plant.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Combined limit on the production of a light gauge boson decaying into $\mu^+\mu^-$ and $\pi^+\pi^-$

We searched for the $\mu^+\mu^-$ decay of a light vector gauge boson, also known as dark photon, in the $e^+ e^- \to \mu^+ \mu^- \gamma_{\rm ISR}$ process by means of the Initial State Radiation (ISR) method. We used 1.93~fb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the KLOE experiment at the DA$\Phi$NE $\phi$-factory. No structures have been observed over the irreducible $\mu^+ \mu^-$ background. A 90\% CL limit on the ratio $\varepsilon^2=\alpha^{\prime}/\alpha$ between the dark coupling constant and the fine structure constant of $ 3\times 10^{-6}-2\times 10^{-7}$ has been set in the dark photon mass region between 519 MeV and 973 MeV. This new limit has been combined with the published result obtained investigating the hypothesis of the dark photon decaying into hadrons in $e^+ e^- \to \pi^+ \pi^- \gamma_{\rm ISR}$ events. The combined 90\% CL limit increases the sensitivity especially in the $\rho-\omega$ interference region and excludes $\varepsilon^2$ greater than $(13-2)\times 10^{-7}$. For dark photon masses greater than 600 MeV the combined limit is lower than 8~$\times\, 10^{-7}$ resulting more stringent than present constraints from other experiments.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of the charge asymmetry for the $K_S \rightarrow \pi e \nu$ decay and test of CPT symmetry with the KLOE detector

Using 1.63 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected by the KLOE experiment about $7\times 10^4$ $K_S \rightarrow \pi^{\pm}e^{\mp}\nu$ decays have been reconstructed. The measured value of the charge asymmetry for this decay is $A_S = (-4.9 \pm 5.7_{stat} \pm 2.6_{syst}) \times 10^{-3}$, which is almost twice more precise than the previous KLOE result. The combination of these two measurements gives $A_S = (-3.8 \pm 5.0_{stat} \pm 2.6_{syst}) \times 10^{-3}$ and, together with the asymmetry of the $K_L$ semileptonic decay, provides significant tests of the CPT symmetry. The obtained results are in agreement with CPT invariance.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Combination of KLOE $\sigma\big(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-\gamma(\gamma)\big)$ measurements and determination of $a_{\mu}^{\pi^+\pi^-}$ in the energy range $0.10 < s < 0.95$ GeV$^2$

The three precision measurements of the cross section $\sigma\big(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-\gamma(\gamma)\big)$ using initial state radiation by the KLOE collaboration provide an important input for the prediction of the hadronic contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. These measurements are correlated for both statistical and systematic uncertainties and, therefore, the simultaneous use of these measurements requires covariance matrices that fully describe the correlations. We present the construction of these covariance matrices and use them to determine a combined KLOE measurement for $\sigma\big(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-\gamma(\gamma)\big)$. We find, from this combination, a two-pion contribution to the muon magnetic anomaly in the energy range $0.10 < s < 0.95$ GeV$^2$ of $a_{\mu}^{\pi^+\pi^-} = (489.8 \pm 1.7_{\rm stat} \pm 4.8_{\rm sys} ) \times 10^{-10}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of the running of the fine structure constant below 1 GeV with the KLOE Detector

We have measured the running of the effective QED coupling constant $\alpha(s)$ in the time-like region $0.6<\sqrt s< 0.975$ GeV with the KLOE detector at DA$\Phi$NE using the Initial State Radiation process $e^+e^-\to\mu^+ \mu^-\gamma$. It represents the first measurement of the running of $\alpha(s)$ in this energy region. Our results show a more than 5$\sigma$ significance of the hadronic contribution to the running of $\alpha(s)$, which is the strongest direct evidence both in time- and space-like regions achieved in a single measurement. By using the $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-$ cross section measured by KLOE, the real and imaginary part of the shift $\Delta\alpha(s)$ has been extracted. By a fit of the real part of $\Delta\alpha(s)$ and assuming the lepton universality the branching ratio $BR(\omega\to\mu^+\mu^-) = (6.6\pm1.4_{stat}\pm1.7_{syst})\cdot 10^{-5} $ has been determined.

hep-ex↗