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S. Asai

Publications and source records attributed to S. Asai.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Precise measurement of positronium hyperfine splitting using the Zeeman effect

Positronium is an ideal system for the research of the quantum electrodynamics (QED) in bound state. The hyperfine splitting (HFS) of positronium, $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}}$, gives a good test of the bound state calculations and probes new physics beyond the Standard Model. A new method of QED calculations has revealed the discrepancy by 15\,ppm (3.9$σ$) of $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}}$ between the QED prediction and the experimental average. There would be possibility of new physics or common systematic uncertainties in the previous all experiments. We describe a new experiment to reduce possible systematic uncertainties and will provide an independent check of the discrepancy. We are now taking data and the current result of $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}} = 203.395\,1 \pm 0.002\,4 (\mathrm{stat.}, 12\,\mathrm{ppm}) \pm 0.001\,9 (\mathrm{sys.}, 9.5\,\mathrm{ppm})\,\mathrm{GHz} $ has been obtained so far. A measurement with a precision of $O$(ppm) is expected within a year.

physics.atom-ph↗

First direct measurement of positronium hyperfine splitting with sub-THz light

Positronium is an ideal system for the research of the bound state QED. The hyperfine splitting of positronium (Ps-HFS, about 203 GHz) is an important observable but all previous measurements of Ps-HFS had been measured indirectly using Zeeman splitting. There might be the unknown systematic errors on the uniformity of magnetic field. We are trying to measure Ps-HFS directly using sub-THz radiation. We developed an optical system to accumulate high power (about 10 kW) radiation in a Fabry-Pérot resonant cavity and observed the positronium hyperfine transition for the first time.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of Positronium hyperfine splitting with quantum oscillation

Interference between different energy eigenstates in a quantum system results in an oscillation with a frequency which is proportional to the difference in energy between the states. Such an oscillation is observable in polarized positronium when it is placed in a magnetic field. In order to measure the hyperfine splitting of positronium, we perform the precise measurement of this oscillation using a high quality superconducting magnet and fast photon-detectors. A result of $203.324 \pm 0.039\rm{~(stat.)} \pm 0.015\rm{(~sys.)}$~GHz is obtained which is consistent with both theoretical calculations and previous precise measurements.

physics.atom-ph↗

New method of precise measurement of positronium hyperfine splitting

The ground state hyperfine splitting of positronium, $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}}$, is sensitive to high order corrections of QED. A new calculation up to $\mathrm{O}(α^3 \ln α)$ has revealed a $3.9σ$ discrepancy between the QED prediction and the experimental results. This discrepancy might either be due to systematic problems in the previous experiments or to contributions beyond the Standard Model. We propose an experiment to measure $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}}$ employing new methods designed to remedy the systematic errors which may have affected the previous experiments. Our experiment will provide an independent check of the discrepancy. The prototype run has been finished and a result of $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}} = 203.380 4 \pm 0.008 4 \mathrm{GHz} (41 \mathrm{ppm})$ has been obtained. A measurement with a precision of O(ppm) is expected within a few years.

hep-ex↗

Precise measurement of Hyper Fine Structure of positronium using sub-THz light

Positronium is an ideal system for the research of the QED, especially for the QED in bound state. The discrepancy of 3.9σis found recently between the measured HFS values and the QED prediction ($O(α^3)$). It might be due to the contribution of the unknown new physics or the systematic problems in the previous all measurements. We propose new method to measure HFS precisely and directly. A gyrotron, a novel sub-THz light source is used with a high-finesse Fabry-Pérot cavity to obtain enough radiation power at 203 GHz. The present status of the optimization studies and current design of the experiment are described.

hep-ex↗

Search for CP-violation in Positronium Decay

CP-violation in the quark sector has been well established over the last decade, but has not been observed in the lepton sector. We search for CP-violating decay processes in positronium, using the angular correlation of (\vec{S}\cdot\vec{k_{1}})(\vec{S}\cdot\vec{k_{1}}\times\vec{k_{2}}), where \vec{S} is the the positronium spin and \vec{k_{1}}, \vec{k_{2}} are the directions of the positronium decay photons. To a sensitivity of 2.2\times10^{-3}, no CP-violation has been found, which is at the level of the CP-violation amplitude in the K meson. A 90% confidence interval of the CP-violation parameter (C_{CP}) was determined to be -0.0023 < C_{CP} < 0.0049. This result is a factor 7 more strict than that of the previous experiment.

hep-ex↗

Precise measurement of HFS of positronium

The ground state hyperfine splitting in positronium, $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}}$, is sensitive to high order corrections of QED. A new calculation up to $O(α^3)$ has revealed a $3.9 σ$ discrepancy between the QED prediction and the experimental results. This discrepancy might either be due to systematic problems in the previous experiments or to contributions beyond the Standard Model. We propose an experiment to measure $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}}$ employing new methods designed to remedy the systematic errors which may have affected the previous experiments. Our experiment will provide an independent check of the discrepancy. The measurement is in progress and a preliminary result of $Δ_{\mathrm{HFS}} = 203.399 \pm 0.029 \mathrm{GHz} (143 \mathrm{ppm})$ has been obtained. A measurement with a precision of O(1) ppm is expected within a few years.

hep-ex↗

Expected Performance of the ATLAS Experiment - Detector, Trigger and Physics

A detailed study is presented of the expected performance of the ATLAS detector. The reconstruction of tracks, leptons, photons, missing energy and jets is investigated, together with the performance of b-tagging and the trigger. The physics potential for a variety of interesting physics processes, within the Standard Model and beyond, is examined. The study comprises a series of notes based on simulations of the detector and physics processes, with particular emphasis given to the data expected from the first years of operation of the LHC at CERN.

hep-ex↗

First test of $O(α^{2})$ correction of the orthopositronium decay rate

Positronium is an ideal system for the research of the bound state QED. New precise measurement of orthopositronium decay rate has been performed with an accuracy of 150 ppm. This result is consistent with the last three results and also the 2nd order correction. The result combined with the last three is 7.0401$\pm0.0007μ\mathrm{sec}^{-1}$ (100 ppm), which is consistent with the 2nd order correction and differs from the 1st order calculation by 2.6$σ$ It is the first test to validate the 2nd order correction.

hep-ex↗

Precision measurements of positronium decay rate and energy level

Positronium is an ideal system for the research of the bound state QED. New precise measurement of orthopositronium decay rate has been performed with an accuracy of 150 ppm, and the result combined with the last three is 7.0401 +- 0.0007 mu s^-1. It is the first result to validate the 2nd order correction. The Hyper Fine Splitting of positronium is sensitive to the higher order corrections of the QED prediction and also to the new physics beyond Standard Model via the quantum oscillation into virtual photon. The discrepancy of 3.5 sigma is found recently between the measured values and the QED prediction (O(alpha^3)). It might be due to the contribution of the new physics or the systematic problems in the previous measurements: (non-thermalized Ps and non-uniformity of the magnetic field). We propose new methods to measure HFS precisely without the these uncertainties.

hep-ex↗

Tevatron-for-LHC Report: Preparations for Discoveries

This is the "TeV4LHC" report of the "Physics Landscapes" Working Group, focused on facilitating the start-up of physics explorations at the LHC by using the experience gained at the Tevatron. We present experimental and theoretical results that can be employed to probe various scenarios for physics beyond the Standard Model.

hep-ph↗

Prospects for the Search for a Standard Model Higgs Boson in ATLAS using Vector Boson Fusion

The potential for the discovery of a Standard Model Higgs boson in the mass range m_H < 2 m_Z in the vector boson fusion mode has been studied for the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. The characteristic signatures of additional jets in the forward regions of the detector and of low jet activity in the central region allow for an efficient background rejection. Analyses for the H -> WW and H -> tau tau decay modes have been performed using a realistic simulation of the expected detector performance. The results obtained demonstrate the large discovery potential in the H -> WW decay channel and the sensitivity to Higgs boson decays into tau-pairs in the low-mass region around 120 GeV.

hep-ph↗

Solution of Orthopositronium lifetime Puzzle

The intrinsic decay rate of orthopositronium formed in ${\rm SiO_2}$ powder is measured using the direct $2γ$ correction method such that the time dependence of the pick-off annihilation rate is precisely determined. The decay rate of orthopositronium is found to be $7.0396\pm0.0012 (stat.)\pm0.0011 (sys.)μs^{-1}$, which is consistent with our previous measurements with about twice the accuracy. Results agree well with the $O(α^2)$ QED prediction, and also with a result reported very recently using nanoporous film.

hep-ex↗

Precision Measurement of Orthopositronium Decay Rate Using SiO_2 Powder

The intrinsic decay rate of orthopositronium formed in ${\rm SiO_2}$ powder is measured using the direct $2γ$ correction method such that the time dependence of the pick-off annihilation rate is precisely determined using high energy-resolution germanium detectors. As a systematic test, two different types of ${\rm SiO_2}$ powder are used with consistent findings. The intrinsic decay rate of orthopositronium is found to be $7.0396\pm0.0012 (stat.)\pm0.0011 (sys.)μs^{-1}$, which is consistent with previous measurements using ${\rm SiO_2}$ powder with about twice the accuracy. Results agree well with a recent $O(α^2)$ QED prediction, varying $3.8-5.6$ experimental standard deviations from other measurements.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of Orthopositronium Decay Rate Using SiO2 Powder: Integration of Thermalization into Time Spectrum

The intrinsic decay rate of orthopositronium (o-Ps) formed in SiO_2 powder was measured using a modified method which determined the time dependence of the pick-off annihilation rate using high-energy-resolution germanium detectors. That is, the main systematic error due to thermalization was accounted for and integrated into the time spectrum fitting procedure. The averaged value was found to be lambda_(o-Ps)=7.0399+0.0020-0.0021(stat.) +-0.0015(sys.) mu s^{-1}, which agrees well with the O(alpha^2) QED prediction; varying 2.8-4.2 experimental standard deviations from other measurements.

hep-ex↗

Searches For New Physics

Review of prospects for discovery of new physics signals at LEP2. The areas covered include SUSY, exotic fermions, BESS models, leptoquarks, virtual effects and CP violating observables.

hep-ph↗