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R. Baldini Ferroli

Publications and source records attributed to R. Baldini Ferroli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Atmospheric effects on cosmic-ray muon rate at high latitude (78.9°N)

Since 2019, three scintillator detectors of the EEE collaboration have been continuously measuring cosmic muon rates at 78.9°N at the Ny-Ålesund Research Station (Svalbard). The resulting six-year time series reveals a pronounced annual modulation, driven primarily by seasonal atmospheric variations. Utilizing routine radiosonde profiles collected above the same site, we applied several established techniques --along with a tailored analysis approach-- to investigate the relationship between muon rate and atmospheric temperature. The temperature-corrected muon-rates are analysed using the Lomb-Scargle periodogram technique in order to investigate the presence of remaining periodic structures. Finally, the temperature corrections coefficients of our analysis are compared with measurements in other stations located at lower latitudes.

astro-ph.IM↗

First results on new helium based eco-gas mixtures for the Extreme Energy Events Project

The Extreme Energy Events (EEE) Project, a joint project of the Centro Fermi (Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche "E.Fermi") and INFN, has a dual purpose: a scientific research program on cosmic rays at ground level and an intense outreach and educational program. The project consists in a network of about 60 tracking detectors, called telescopes, mostly hosted in Italian High Schools. Each telescope is made by three Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers, operated so far with a gas mixture composed by 98% C$_2$H$_2$F$_4$ and 2% SF$_6$. Due to its high Global Warming Potential, a few years ago the EEE collaboration has started an extensive R&D on alternative mixtures environmentally sustainable and compatible with the current experimental setup and operational environment. Among other gas mixtures, the one with helium and hydrofluoroolefin R1234ze gave the best result during the preliminary tests performed with two of the network telescopes. The detector has proved to reach performance levels comparable to those obtained with previous mixtures, without any modification of the hardware. We will discuss the first results obtained with the new mixture, tested with different percentages of the two components.

hep-ex↗

Observation of the Electromagnetic Dalitz Transition $h_c \rightarrow e^+e^-η_c$

Using $(27.12\pm 0.14)\times10^8$ $ψ(3686)$ decays and data samples of $e^+e^-$ collisions with $\sqrt{s}$ from 4.130 to 4.780~GeV collected with the BESIII detector, we report the first observation of the electromagnetic Dalitz transition $h_c\to e^+e^-η_c$ with a statistical significance of $5.4σ$. We measure the ratio of the branching fractions $\frac{\mathcal{B}(h_c\rightarrow e^+e^-η_c)}{\mathcal{B}(h_c\rightarrow γη_c)}$ separately for the $h_c$ samples produced via $ψ(3686)\toπ^0h_c$ and $e^+e^-\toπ^+π^-h_c$. The average ratio is determined to be $(0.59\pm0.10(\text{stat.})\pm0.04(\text{syst.}))\%$, where the uncertainty includes both statistical and systematic components.

hep-ex↗

Search for the leptonic decays $D^{*+}\to e^+ν_e$ and $D^{*+}\to μ^+ν_μ$

We present the first search for the leptonic decays $D^{*+}\to e^+ν_e$ and $D^{*+}\to μ^+ν_μ$ by analyzing a data sample of electron-positron collisions recorded with the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between 4.178 and 4.226 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6.32~fb$^{-1}$. No significant signal is observed. The upper limits on the branching fractions for $D^{*+}\to e^+ν_e$ and $D^{*+}\to μ^+ν_μ$ are set to be $1.1 \times 10^{-5}$ and $4.3 \times 10^{-6}$ at 90\% confidence level, respectively.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of $Λ$ transverse polarization in $e^{+}e^{-}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 3.68-3.71$ GeV

With data samples collected with the BESIII detector at seven energy points at $\sqrt{s}= 3.68 - 3.71$ GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 333 pb$^{-1}$, we present a study of the $Λ$ transverse polarization in the $e^+e^-\toΛ\barΛ$ reaction. The significance of polarization by combining the seven energy points is found to be 2.6$σ$ including the systematic uncertainty, which implies a non-zero phase between the transition amplitudes of the $Λ\barΛ$ helicity states. The modulus ratio and the relative phase of EM-$psionic$ form factors combined with all energy points are measured to be $R^Ψ =$ 0.71$^{+0.10}_{-0.10}$ $\pm$ 0.03 and $ΔΦ^Ψ$ = (23$^{+8.8}_{-8.0}$ $\pm$ 1.6$)^\circ$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

Study of light scalar mesons through $D_s^+ \to π^0 π^0 e^+ ν_e$ and $K_S^0 K_S^0 e^+ ν_e$ decays

Using 6.32~fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ collision data recorded by the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between $4.178$ to $4.226$ GeV, we present the first measurement of the decay $D_s^+\to f_0(980)e^+ν_e,\,f_0(980)\to π^0π^0$. The product branching fraction of $D_s^+\to f_0(980)e^+ν_e,\,f_0(980)\to π^0π^0$ is measured to be $(7.9\pm1.4_{\rm stat} \pm0.3_{\rm syst})\times 10^{-4}$, with a statistical significance of $7.8σ$. Furthermore, the upper limits on the product branching fractions of $D_s^+\to f_0(500)e^+ν_e$ with $f_0(500)\to π^0π^0$ and the branching fraction of $D_s^+\to K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}e^+ν_e$ are set to be $7.3\times 10^{-4}$ and $3.8\times 10^{-4}$ at 90\% confidence level, respectively. Our results provide valuable inputs to the understanding of the structures of light scalar mesons.

hep-ex↗

Observation of the hindered electromagnetic Dalitz decay $ψ(3686) \to e^+ e^- η_c$

Using a data sample of $(448.1 \pm 2.9)\times10^6 ~ψ(3686)$ decays collected at an $e^+ e^-$ center-of-mass energy of $3.686~\rm{GeV}$ by the BESIII detector at BEPCII, we report an observation of the hindered electromagnetic Dalitz decay $ψ(3686) \to e^+ e^- η_c$ with a significance of $7.9σ$. The branching fraction is determined to be $\mathcal{B} (ψ(3686) \to e^+ e^- η_c) = (3.77 \pm 0.40_{\rm stat.} \pm 0.18_{\rm syst.})\times 10^{-5}$, agreeing well with the prediction of the vector meson dominance model. This is the first measurement of the electromagnetic Dalitz transition between the $ψ(3686)$ and the $η_c$, which provides new insight into the electromagnetic properties of this decay, and offers new opportunities to measure the absolute branching fractions of $η_c$ decays.

hep-ex↗

Ecological transition for the gas mixtures of the MRPC cosmic ray telescopes of the EEE Project

The Extreme Energy Events (EEE) Collaboration is fully involved in an ecological transition. The use of the standard gas mixture, \ce{C_{2}H_{2}F_{4}}+ \ce{SF_{6}}, has stopped in favor of an alternative green mixture based on \ce{C_{3}H_{2}F_{4}} with the addition of He or \ce{CO_{2}}. The choise of these new mixtures is motivated by the significant lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) to reduce the emission of gases potentially contributing to the greenhouse effect. The EEE experiment consists of 61 muon telescopes based on Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs), each telescope composed of 3 chambers filled with gas. Several EEE detectors are today completely fluxed with the new ecological mixture. This contribution will report recent results about the telescope performance obtained from studies with the eco-friendly alternative mixture carried out in the last years.

hep-ex↗

Observation of $J/ψ$ decays to $e^{+}e^{-}e^{+}e^{-}$ and $e^{+}e^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-}$

Using a data sample of $4.481\times 10^8 ψ^\prime$ events collected with the BESIII detector, we report the first observation of the four-lepton-decays $J/ψ\to e^+e^-e^+e^-$ and $J/ψ\to e^+e^-μ^+μ^-$ utilizing the process $ψ^\prime\to π^+π^- J/ψ$. The branching fractions are determined to be $[5.48\pm0.31~(\rm stat)\pm0.45~(\rm syst)]\times 10^{-5}$ and $[3.53~\pm0.22~(\rm stat)\pm0.13~(\rm syst)]\times 10^{-5}$, respectively. The results are consistent with theoretical predictions. No significant signal is observed for $J/ψ\to μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$, and an upper limit on the branching fraction is set at $1.6\times 10^{-6}$ at the 90$\%$ confidence level. A CP asymmetry observable is constructed for the first two channels, which is measured to be $(-0.012\pm0.054\pm0.010)$ and $(0.062\pm0.059\pm0.006)$, respectively. No evidence for CP violation is observed in this process.

hep-ex↗

Novel method to extract the femtometer structure of strange baryons using the vacuum polarization effect

One of the fundamental goals of particle physics is to gain microscopic understanding of the strong interaction. Electromagnetic form factors quantify the structure of hadrons in terms of charge and magnetization distributions. While the nucleon structure has been investigated extensively, data on hyperons is still scarce. It has recently been demonstrated that electron-positron annihilations into hyperon-antihyperon pairs provide a powerful tools to investigate their inner structure. We present a novel method useful for hyperon-antihyperon pairs of different types which exploits the cross section enhancement due to the vacuum polarization effect at the $J/ψ$ resonance. Using the 10 billion $J/ψ$ events collected with the BESIII detector, this allows a thorough determination of the hyperon structure . The result is essentially a precise snapshot of a $\barΛΣ^0$~($Λ\barΣ^0$) pair in the making, encoded in the form factor ratio and the phase. Their values are measured to be $R = 0.860\pm0.029({\rm stat.})\pm0.010({\rm syst.})$, $ΔΦ_1=(1.011\pm0.094({\rm stat.})\pm0.010({\rm syst.}))~\rm rad$ for $\barΛΣ^0$ and $ΔΦ_2=(2.128\pm0.094({\rm stat.})\pm0.010({\rm syst.}))~\rm rad$ for $Λ\barΣ^0$, respectively. Furthermore, charge-parity (CP) breaking is investigated for the first time in this reaction and found to be consistent with CP symmetry.

hep-ex↗

Observation of $χ_{cJ}\to Λ\bar Λη$

By analyzing $(448.1\pm2.9)\times10^6$ $ψ(3686)$ events collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, the decays of $χ_{cJ} \to Λ\bar Λη$ ($J=0$, 1 and 2) are observed for the first time with statistical significances of $13.9σ$, $6.7σ$, and $8.2σ$, respectively. The product branching fractions of $ψ(3686)\toγχ_{cJ}$ and $χ_{cJ}\to Λ\bar Λη$ are measured. Dividing by the world averages of the branching fractions of $ψ(3686)\toγχ_{cJ}$, the branching fractions of $χ_{cJ}\to Λ\bar Λη$ decays are determined to be $(2.31\pm0.30\pm0.21)\times10^{-4}$, $(5.86\pm1.38\pm0.68)\times10^{-5}$, and $(1.05\pm0.21\pm0.15)\times10^{-4}$ for $J=0$, 1 and 2, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

Measurements of the branching fractions of the inclusive decays $D^{0}(D^{+})\to π^+π^+π^-X$

Using $e^+e^-$ annihilation data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb$^{-1}$ taken at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, we report the first measurements of the branching fractions of the inclusive decays $D^0\to π^+π^+π^-X$ and $D^+\to π^+π^+π^-X$, where pions from $K^0_S$ decays have been excluded from the $π^+π^+π^-$ system and $X$ denotes any possible particle combination. The branching fractions of $D^0(D^+)\to π^+π^+π^-X$ are determined to be ${\mathcal B}(D^0\to π^+π^+π^-X)=(17.60\pm0.11\pm0.22)\%$ and ${\mathcal B}(D^+\to π^+π^+π^-X)=(15.25\pm0.09\pm0.18)\%$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

Search for $\barΛ$-$Λ$ oscillations in the decay $J/ψ\to p K^- \barΛ+c.c.$

We report the first search for $\barΛ$--$Λ$ oscillations in the decay $J/ψ\to p K^- \barΛ + c.c.$ by analyzing $1.31\times10^9$ $J/ψ$ events accumulated with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The $J/ψ$ events are produced using $e^+e^-$ collisions at a center of mass energy $\sqrt{s}= 3.097$~GeV. No evidence for hyperon oscillations is observed. The upper limit for the oscillation rate of $\barΛ$ to $Λ$ hyperons is determined to be $\mathcal{P}(Λ)=\frac{\mathcal{B}(J/ψ\to pK^-Λ+c.c.)}{\mathcal{B}(J/ψ\to pK^-\barΛ+c.c.)}<4.4\times10^{-6}$ corresponding to an oscillation parameter $δm_{Λ\barΛ}$ of less than $3.8\times10^{-18}$~GeV at the 90\% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the $e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrowωπ^{0}π^{0}$ cross section at center-of-mass energies from 2.0 to 3.08 GeV

The cross section of the process $e^{+}e^{-}\toωπ^{0}π^{0}$ is measured at nineteen center-of-mass energies from 2.0 to 3.08 GeV using data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII storage ring. A resonant structure around 2.20 GeV is observed with statistical significance larger than $5σ$. Using a coherent fit to the cross section line shape, the mass and width are determined to be $M=2222\pm7\pm2~{\rm MeV}/c^2$ and $\varGamma=59\pm30\pm6~{\rm MeV}$, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones are systematic.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the $C\!P$-even fraction of $D^0\to K^+K^-π^+π^-$

A determination of the $C\!P$-even fraction $F_+$ in the decay $D^0 \to K^+K^-π^+π^-$ is presented. Using $2.93$ fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-\toψ(3770)\to D\bar{D}$ data collected by the BESIII detector, one charm meson is reconstructed in the signal mode and the other in a $C\!P$ eigenstate or the decay $D\to K_{S, L}^0π^+π^-$. Analysis of the relative rates of these double-tagged events yields the result $F_+ = 0.730 \pm 0.037 \pm 0.021$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This is the first model-independent measurement of $F_+$ in $D^0 \to K^+K^-π^+π^-$ decays.

hep-ex↗

Production of doubly-charged $Δ$ baryon in $e^{+}e^{-}$ annihilation at energies from 2.3094 to 2.6464 GeV

The processes $e^{+}e^{-} \to Δ^{++}\barΔ^{--}$ and $e^{+}e^{-}\to Δ^{++} \bar{p} π^{-} + c.c.$ are studied for the first time with $179~{\rm pb}^{-1}$ of $e^{+}e^{-}$ annihilation data collected with the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies from $2.3094$ GeV to $2.6464$ GeV. No significant signal for the $e^{+}e^{-}\to Δ^{++}\barΔ^{--}$ process is observed and the upper limit of the Born cross section is estimated at each energy point. For the process $e^{+}e^{-} \to Δ^{++} \bar{p} π^{-} + c.c.$, a significant signal is observed at center-of-mass energies near 2.6454 GeV and the corresponding Born cross section is reported.

hep-ex↗

PARSIFAL: a toolkit for triple-GEM parametrized simulation

PARSIFAL (PARametrized SImulation by Farinelli And Lavezzi) is a fast and reliable software tool that reproduces the complete response of a triple-GEM detector to the passage of a charged particle, taking into account the main physical effects. Starting from the detector configuration and the particle information, PARSIFAL reproduces ionization, spatial and temporal diffusion, effect of magnetic field, if present, and GEM amplification to provide the dependable triple-GEM detector response. In the design and optimization stages of this kind of detectors, simulations play an important role. Accurate and robust software programs, such as GARFIELD++, can simulate the transport of electrons and ions in a gas medium and their interaction with the electric field, but they are CPU-time consuming. The necessity to reduce the processing time while maintaining the precision of a full simulation is the main driver of this work. For a given set of geometrical and electrical settings, GARFIELD++ is run once-and-for-all to provide the input parameters for PARSIFAL. Once PARSIFAL is initialized and run, it produces the detector output, including the signal induction and the output of the electronics. The results of the analysis of the simulated data obtained with PARSIFAL are compared with the results of the experimental data collected during a testbeam: some tuning factors are applied to the simulation to improve the agreement. This paper describes the structure of the code and the methodology used to match the output to the experimental data.

physics.ins-det↗

Measurements of Differential Cross Sections of Inclusive $π^0$ and $K^0_S$ Production in $e^{+}e^{-}$ Annihilation at Energies from 2.2324 to 3.6710 GeV

Based on electron positron collision data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage rings, the differential cross sections of inclusive $π^0$ and $K^0_S$ production as a function of hadron momentum, normalized by the total cross section of the $e^{+}e^{-} \to$ hadrons process, are measured at six center-of-mass energies from 2.2324 to 3.6710 GeV. Our results with a relative hadron energy coverage from 0.1 to 0.9 significantly deviate from several theoretical calculations based on existing fragmentation functions, especially at lower energies.

hep-ex↗