arXiv subjects

M. Zhabitsky

Publications and source records attributed to M. Zhabitsky.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

Measurement of the $πK$ atom lifetime and the $πK$ scattering length

After having announced the statistically significant observation (5.6~$σ$) of the new exotic $πK$ atom, the DIRAC experiment at the CERN proton synchrotron presents the measurement of the corresponding atom lifetime, based on the full $πK$ data sample: $τ= (5.5^{+5.0}_{-2.8}) \cdot 10^{-15}s$. By means of a precise relation ($<1\%$) between atom lifetime and scattering length, the following value for the S-wave isospin-odd $πK$ scattering length $a_0^{-}~=~\frac{1}{3}(a_{1/2}-a_{3/2})$ has been derived: $\left|a_0^-\right| = (0.072^{+0.031}_{-0.020}) M_π^{-1}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of spin observables in the quasi-free np-> {pp}_s pi- reaction at 353 MeV

The transverse spin correlations A_{x,x} and A_{y,y} have been measured in the pol{d} pol{p} -> p_spec {pp}_s pi- reaction at COSY-ANKE at 353 MeV per nucleon. Here {pp}_s denotes a proton-proton pair with low excitation energy, which is dominantly in the 1S0 state. By measuring three protons in the final state it was possible to extract events where there was a spectator proton p_spec so that the reaction could be interpreted in terms of quasi-free pol{n} pol{p} -> {pp}_s pi-. The proton analyzing power in this reaction was also deduced from this data set by averaging over the polarization of the deuteron beam. The values of A_y^p were shown to be consistent with a refined analysis of our earlier results obtained with a polarized proton incident on a deuterium target. Taking these data in combination with our earlier measurements of the differential cross sections and analyzing powers in the pol{p} p -> {pp}_s pi^0 reaction, a more robust partial wave decomposition was achieved. Three different acceptable solutions were found and the only way of resolving this ambiguity without further theoretical input would be through a measurement of the mixed spin-correlation parameter A_{x,z}.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

First $πK$ atom lifetime and $πK$ scattering length measurements

The results of a search for hydrogen-like atoms consisting of $π^{\mp}K^{\pm}$ mesons are presented. Evidence for $πK$ atom production by 24 GeV/c protons from CERN PS interacting with a nickel target has been seen in terms of characteristic $πK$ pairs from their breakup in the same target ($178 \pm 49$) and from Coulomb final state interaction ($653 \pm 42$). Using these results the analysis yields a first value for the $πK$ atom lifetime of $τ=(2.5_{-1.8}^{+3.0})$ fs and a first model-independent measurement of the S-wave isospin-odd $πK$ scattering length $\left|a_0^-\right|=\frac{1}{3}\left|a_{1/2}-a_{3/2}\right|= \left(0.11_{-0.04}^{+0.09} \right)M_π^{-1}$ ($a_I$ for isospin $I$).

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2011

Determination of $ππ$ scattering lengths from measurement of $π^+π^-$ atom lifetime

The DIRAC experiment at CERN has achieved a sizeable production of $π^+π^-$ atoms and has significantly improved the precision on its lifetime determination. From a sample of 21227 atomic pairs, a 4% measurement of the S-wave $ππ$ scattering length difference $|a_0-a_2| = (.0.2533^{+0.0080}_{-0.0078}|_\mathrm{stat}.{}^{+0.0078}_{-0.0073}|_\mathrm{syst})M_{π^+}^{-1}$ has been attained, providing an important test of Chiral Perturbation Theory.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2009

Evidence for $πK$-atoms with DIRAC

We present evidence for the first observation of electromagnetically bound $π^\pm K^\mp$-pairs ($πK$-atoms) with the DIRAC experiment at the CERN-PS. The $πK$-atoms are produced by the 24 GeV/c proton beam in a thin Pt-target and the $π^\pm$ and $K^\mp$-mesons from the atom dissociation are analyzed in a two-arm magnetic spectrometer. The observed enhancement at low relative momentum corresponds to the production of 173 $\pm$ 54 $πK$-atoms. The mean life of $πK$-atoms is related to the s-wave $πK$-scattering lengths, the measurement of which is the goal of the experiment. From these first data we derive a lower limit for the mean life of 0.8 fs at 90% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2008

Measurement of the pionium lifetime

We report the progress in the measurement of the pionium lifetime by the DIRAC Collaboration at CERN (PS212). Based on data collected in 2001-2003 on Ni targets we have achieved the precision of 11% in the measurement of the pionium lifetime, which corresponds to the measurement of S-wave pion-pion scattering lengths difference |a0-a2| with the accuracy of 6%.

hep-ex↗