arXiv subjects

S. Fegan

Publications and source records attributed to S. Fegan.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Observation of $ψ(3686) \to η' e^+ e^- $

Using a data sample of $448.1 \times 10^6$ $ψ(3686)$ events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we report the first observation of the electromagnetic Dalitz decay $ψ(3686) \to η' e^+ e^-$, with significances of 7.0$σ$ and 6.3$σ$ when reconstructing the $η'$ meson via its decay modes $η'\toγπ^+ π^-$ and $η'\toπ^+π^-η$ ($η\to γγ$), respectively. The weighted average branching fraction is determined to be $\mathcal{B}(ψ(3686) \to η' e^+ e^-)= (1.90 \pm 0.25 \pm 0.11) \times 10^{-6}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Observation of $ψ(3686) \to n\bar{n}$ and improved measurement of $ψ(3686) \to p \bar{p}$

We observe the decay $ψ(3686) \to n \bar{n}$ for the first time and measure $ψ(3686) \to p \bar{p}$ with improved accuracy by using $1.07\times 10^8$ $ψ(3686)$ events collected with the BESIII detector. The measured branching fractions are $\mathcal{B}(ψ(3686) \to n \bar{n}) = (3.06 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.14)\times 10^{-4}$ and $\mathcal{B}(ψ(3686) \to p \bar{p}) = (3.05 \pm 0.02 \pm 0.12) \times 10^{-4}$. Here, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones systematic. With the hypothesis that the polar angular distributions of the neutron and proton in the center-of-mass system obey $1+α\cos^2θ$, we determine the $α$ parameters to be $α_{n\bar{n}} = 0.68 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.11$ and $α_{p\bar{p}} = 1.03 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.03$ for $ψ(3686)\to n\bar{n}$ and $ψ(3686)\to p\bar{p}$, respectively.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

First Ground-based Measurement of Sub-20 GeV to 100 GeV $γ$-rays from the Vela Pulsar with H.E.S.S. II

We report on the measurement and investigation of pulsed high-energy $γ$-ray emission from the Vela pulsar, PSR B0833$-$45, based on 40.3 hours of observations with the largest telescope of H.E.S.S., CT5, in monoscopic mode, and on 8 years of data obtained with the Fermi-LAT. A dedicated very-low-threshold event reconstruction and analysis pipeline was developed and, together with the CT5 telescope response model, was validated using the Fermi-LAT data as reference. A pulsed $γ$-ray signal at a significance level of more than $15σ$ is detected from the P2 peak of the Vela pulsar light curve. Of a total of 15835 events, more than 6000 lie at an energy below 20 GeV, implying a significant overlap between H.E.S.S. II-CT5 and the Fermi-LAT. While the investigation of the pulsar light curve with the LAT confirms characteristics previously known up to 20 GeV, in the tens of GeV energy range, CT5 data show a change in the pulse morphology of P2, i.e., an extreme sharpening of its trailing edge, together with the possible onset of a new component at 3.4$σ$ significance level. Assuming a power-law model for the P2 spectrum, an excellent agreement is found for the photon indices ($Γ\simeq$ 4.1) obtained with the two telescopes above 10 GeV and an upper bound of 8% is derived on the relative offset between their energy scales. Using both instruments data, it is however shown that the spectrum of P2 in the 10-100 GeV has a pronounced curvature, i.e. a confirmation of the sub-exponential cutoff form found at lower energies with the LAT. This is further supported by the weak evidence for an emission above 100 GeV obtained with CT5. In contrast, converging indications are found from both CT5 and LAT data for the emergence of a hard component above 50 GeV in the leading wing (LW2) of P2, which possibly extends beyond 100 GeV.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

The $γ$-ray spectrum of the core of Centaurus A as observed with H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT

Centaurus A (Cen A) is the nearest radio galaxy discovered as a very-high-energy (VHE; 100 GeV-100 TeV) $γ$-ray source by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). It is a faint VHE $γ$-ray emitter, though its VHE flux exceeds both the extrapolation from early Fermi-LAT observations as well as expectations from a (misaligned) single-zone synchrotron-self Compton (SSC) description. The latter satisfactorily reproduces the emission from Cen A at lower energies up to a few GeV. New observations with H.E.S.S., comparable in exposure time to those previously reported, were performed and eight years of Fermi-LAT data were accumulated to clarify the spectral characteristics of the $γ$-ray emission from the core of Cen A. The results allow us for the first time to achieve the goal of constructing a representative, contemporaneous $γ$-ray core spectrum of Cen A over almost five orders of magnitude in energy. Advanced analysis methods, including the template fitting method, allow detection in the VHE range of the core with a statistical significance of 12$σ$ on the basis of 213 hours of total exposure time. The spectrum in the energy range of 250 GeV-6 TeV is compatible with a power-law function with a photon index $Γ=2.52\pm0.13_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm0.20_{\mathrm{sys}}$. An updated Fermi-LAT analysis provides evidence for spectral hardening by $ΔΓ\simeq0.4\pm0.1$ at $γ$-ray energies above $2.8^{+1.0}_{-0.6}$ GeV at a level of $4.0σ$. The fact that the spectrum hardens at GeV energies and extends into the VHE regime disfavour a single-zone SSC interpretation for the overall spectral energy distribution (SED) of the core and is suggestive of a new $γ$-ray emitting component connecting the high-energy emission above the break energy to the one observed at VHE energies.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Search for invisible decays of $ω$ and $ϕ$ with $J/ψ$ data at BESIII

Using a data sample of $(1310.6 \pm 7.0)\times 10^6$ $J/ψ$ events collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, we perform the first experimental search for invisible decays of a light vector meson ($V=ω,ϕ$) via $J/ψ\to V η$ decays. The decay of $η\to π^+π^-π^0$ is utilized to tag the $V$ meson decaying into the invisible final state. No evidence for a significant invisible signal is observed, and the upper limits on the ratio of branching fractions at the 90\% confidence level are determined to be $\frac{\mathcal{B}(ω\rightarrow \rm{invisible})}{\mathcal{B}(ω\to π^+π^-π^0)} < 8.1 \times 10^{-5}$ and $\frac{\mathcal{B}(ϕ\to \rm{invisible})}{\mathcal{B}(ϕ\to K^+K^-)} < 3.4\times 10^{-4}$. By using the world average values of $\mathcal{B}(ω\to π^+π^-π^0)$ and $\mathcal{B}(ϕ\to K^+K^-)$, the upper limits on the decay branching fractions at the $90\%$ confidence level are set as $\mathcal{B}(ω\to \rm{invisible})< 7.3 \times 10^{-5}$ and $\mathcal{B}(ϕ\to \rm{invisible})< 1.7\times 10^{-4}$, respectively.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of e+e- --> D Dbar Cross Sections at the psi(3770) Resonance

We report new measurements of the cross sections for the production of D Dbar final states at the psi(3770) resonance. Our data sample consists of an integrated luminosity of 2.93/fb of e+e- annihilation data produced by the BEPCII collider and collected and analyzed with the BESIII detector. We exclusively reconstruct three D0 and six D+ hadronic decay modes and use the ratio of the yield of fully reconstructed D Dbar events ("double tags") to the yield of all reconstructed D or Dbar mesons ("single tags") to determine the number of D0 D0bar and D+D- events, benefiting from the cancellation of many systematic uncertainties. Combining these yields with an independent determination of the integrated luminosity of the data sample, we find the cross sections to be σ(e+e- --> D0 D0bar)=(3.615 +- 0.010 +- 0.038) nb and σ(e+e- --> D+D-)=(2.830 +- 0.011 +- 0.026) nb, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Observation of $a^{0}_{0}(980)$-$f_{0}(980)$ Mixing

We report the first observation of $a^{0}_{0}(980)$-$f_{0}(980)$ mixing in the decays of $J/ψ\toϕf_{0}(980)\toϕa^{0}_{0}(980)\toϕηπ^{0}$ and $χ_{c1}\to a^{0}_{0}(980)π^{0}\to f_{0}(980)π^{0}\toπ^{+}π^{-}π^{0}$, using data samples of $1.31\times10^{9}$ $J/ψ$ events and $4.48\times10^{8}$ $ψ(3686)$ events accumulated with the BESIII detector. The signals of $f_{0}(980)\to a^{0}_{0}(980)$ and $a^{0}_{0}(980)\to f_{0}(980)$ mixing are observed at levels of statistical significance of $7.4σ$ and $5.5σ$, respectively. The corresponding branching fractions and mixing intensities are measured and the constraint regions on the coupling constants, $g_{a_{0}K^{+}K^{-}}$ and $g_{f_{0}K^{+}K^{-}}$, are estimated. The results improve the understanding of the nature of $a^{0}_{0}(980)$ and $f_{0}(980)$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Precision Study of $η^\prime\rightarrowγπ^+π^-$ Decay Dynamics

Using a low background data sample of $9.7\times10^{5}$ $Jψ\rightarrowγη^\prime$, $η^\prime\rightarrowγπ^+π^-$ events, which are 2 orders of magnitude larger than those from the previous experiments, recorded with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, the decay dynamics of $η^\prime\rightarrowγπ^+π^-$ are studied with both model-dependent and model-independent approaches. The contributions of $ω$ and the $ρ(770)-ω$ interference are observed for the first time in the decays $η^\prime\rightarrowγπ^+π^-$ in both approaches. Additionally, a contribution from the box anomaly or the $ρ(1450)$ resonance is required in the model-dependent approach, while the process specific part of the decay amplitude is determined in the model-independent approach.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Measurements of Absolute Branching Fractions for $Λ^+_c\toΞ^0K^+$ and $Ξ(1530)^0K^+$

We report the first measurements of absolute branching fractions for the $W$-exchange-only processes $Λ^+_c\toΞ^0K^+$ and $Λ^+_c\toΞ(1530)^0K^+$ with the double-tag technique, by analyzing an $e^{+}e^{-}$ collision data sample, that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 567 pb$^{-1}$ collected at a center-of-mass energy of 4.6 GeV by the BESIII detector. The branching fractions are measured to be $\mathcal{B}(Λ^+_c\toΞ^0K^+)=(5.90\pm0.86\pm0.39)\times10^{-3}$ and $\mathcal{B}(Λ^+_c\toΞ(1530)^0K^+)=(5.02\pm0.99\pm0.31)\times10^{-3}$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. Our results are more precise than the previous relative measurements.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

The starburst galaxy NGC 253 revisited by H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT

(Abridged) Context. NGC 253 is one of only two starburst galaxies found to emit $γ$-rays from hundreds of MeV to multi-TeV energies. Accurate measurements of the very-high-energy (VHE) (E $>$ 100 GeV) and high-energy (HE) (E $>$ 60 MeV) spectra are crucial to study the underlying particle accelerators and cosmic-ray interaction and transport. Aims. The measurement of the VHE $γ$-ray emission of NGC 253 published in 2012 by H.E.S.S. was limited by large systematic uncertainties. Here, a measurement of the $γ$-ray spectrum of NGC 253 is investigated in both HE and VHE $γ$-rays. Methods. The data of H.E.S.S. observations are reanalysed using an updated calibration and analysis chain. The $Fermi$-LAT analysis employs more than 8 years of data processed using pass 8. The cosmic-ray particle population is evaluated from the combined HE--VHE $γ$-ray spectrum using NAIMA. Results. The VHE $γ$-ray energy spectrum is best fit by a power-law with a flux normalisation of $(1.34\,\pm\,0.14^{\mathrm{stat}}\,\pm\,0.27^{\mathrm{sys}}) \times 10^{-13} \mathrm{cm^{-2} s^{-1} TeV^{-1}}$ at 1 TeV -- about 40 \% above, but compatible with the value obtained in Abramowski et al. (2012). The spectral index $Γ= 2.39 \pm 0.14^{\mathrm{stat}} \pm 0.25^{\mathrm{sys}}$ is slightly softer than but consistent with the previous measurement. At energies above $\sim$3 GeV the HE spectrum is consistent with a power-law ranging into the VHE part of the spectrum measured by H.E.S.S. Conclusions. Two scenarios for the starburst nucleus are tested, in which the gas in the starburst nucleus acts as a target for hadronic cosmic rays. In these two models, the level to which NGC\,253 acts as a calorimeter is estimated to a range of $f_{\rm cal} = 0.1$ to $1$ while accounting for the measurement uncertainties.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of the absolute branching fraction of the inclusive semileptonic $Λ_c^+$ decay

Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 567 pb$^{-1}$ collected at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=4.6$ GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure the absolute branching fraction of the inclusive semileptonic $Λ_c^+$ decay with a double-tag method. We obtain $\mathcal{B}(Λ_c^+ \rightarrow X e^+ ν_e) = (3.95\pm0.34\pm0.09)\%$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. Using the known $Λ_c^+$ lifetime and the charge-averaged semileptonic decay width of nonstrange charmed measons ($D^0$ and $D^+$), we obtain the ratio of the inclusive semileptonic decay widths $Γ(Λ_c^+ \rightarrow X e^+ ν_e)/\barΓ(D\rightarrow X e^+ ν_e)= 1.26\pm0.12$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of the Integrated Luminosities of Cross-section Scan Data Samples Around the $ψ(3770)$ Mass Region

To investigate the nature of the $ψ(3770)$ resonance and to measure the cross section for $e^+e^- \to D\bar{D}$, a cross-section scan data sample, distributed among 41 center-of-mass energy points from 3.73 to 3.89~GeV, was taken with the BESIII detector operated at the BEPCII collider in the year 2010. By analyzing the large angle Bhabha scattering events, we measure the integrated luminosity of the data sample at each center-of-mass energy point. The total integrated luminosity of the data sample is $76.16\pm0.04\pm0.61$~pb$^{-1}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Search for $γ$-ray line signals from dark matter annihilations in the inner Galactic halo from ten years of observations with H.E.S.S

Spectral lines are among the most powerful signatures for dark matter (DM) annihilation searches in very-high-energy $γ$-rays. The central region of the Milky Way halo is one of the most promising targets given its large amount of DM and proximity to Earth. We report on a search for a monoenergetic spectral line from self-annihilations of DM particles in the energy range from 300 GeV to 70 TeV using a two-dimensional maximum likelihood method taking advantage of both the spectral and spatial features of signal versus background. The analysis makes use of Galactic Center (GC) observations accumulated over ten years (2004 - 2014) with the H.E.S.S. array of ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. No significant $γ$-ray excess above the background is found. We derive upper limits on the annihilation cross section $\langleσv\rangle$ for monoenergetic DM lines at the level of $\sim4\times10^{-28}$ cm$^{3}$s$^{-1}$ at 1 TeV, assuming an Einasto DM profile for the Milky Way halo. For a DM mass of 1 TeV, they improve over the previous ones by a factor of six. The present constraints are the strongest obtained so far for DM particles in the mass range 300 GeV - 70 TeV. Ground-based $γ$-ray observations have reached sufficient sensitivity to explore relevant velocity-averaged cross sections for DM annihilation into two $γ$-ray photons at the level expected from the thermal relic density for TeV DM particles.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of the beam asymmetry $Σ$ and the target asymmetry $T$ in the photoproduction of $ω$ mesons off the proton using CLAS at Jefferson Laboratory

The photoproduction of $ω$ mesons off the proton has been studied in the reaction $γp\to p\,ω$ using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) and the frozen-spin target (FROST) in Hall B at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. For the first time, the target asymmetry, $T$, has been measured in photoproduction from the decay $ω\toπ^+π^-π^0$, using a transversely-polarized target with energies ranging from just above the reaction threshold up to 2.8 GeV. Significant non-zero values are observed for these asymmetries, reaching about 30-40% in the third-resonance region. New measurements for the photon-beam asymmetry, $Σ$, are also presented, which agree well with previous CLAS results and extend the world database up to 2.1 GeV. These data and additional $ω$-photoproduction observables from CLAS were included in a partial-wave analysis within the Bonn-Gatchina framework. Significant contributions from $s$-channel resonance production were found in addition to $t$-channel exchange processes.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Search for the rare decays $D\to h(h')e^+e^-$

We search for rare decays of $D$ mesons to hadrons accompany with an electron-positron pair (h(h')$e^+e^-$), using an $e^+e^-$ collision sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the BESIII detector at $\sqrt{s}$ = 3.773 GeV. No significant signals are observed, and the corresponding upper limits on the branching fractions at the $90\%$ confidence level are determined. The sensitivities of the results are at the level of $10^{-5} \sim 10^{-6}$, providing a large improvement over previous searches.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

A search for new supernova remnant shells in the Galactic plane with H.E.S.S

A search for new supernova remnants (SNRs) has been conducted using TeV gamma-ray data from the H.E.S.S. Galactic plane survey. As an identification criterion, shell morphologies that are characteristic for known resolved TeV SNRs have been used. Three new SNR candidates were identified in the H.E.S.S. data set with this method. Extensive multiwavelength searches for counterparts were conducted. A radio SNR candidate has been identified to be a counterpart to HESS J1534-571. The TeV source is therefore classified as a SNR. For the other two sources, HESS J1614-518 and HESS J1912+101, no identifying counterparts have been found, thus they remain SNR candidates for the time being. TeV-emitting SNRs are key objects in the context of identifying the accelerators of Galactic cosmic rays. The TeV emission of the relativistic particles in the new sources is examined in view of possible leptonic and hadronic emission scenarios, taking the current multiwavelength knowledge into account.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Deeper H.E.S.S. observations of Vela Junior (RX J0852.0$-$4622): Morphology studies and resolved spectroscopy

Aims. We study gamma-ray emission from the shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) RX J0852.0$-$4622 to better characterize its spectral properties and its distribution over the SNR. Methods. The analysis of an extended High Energy Spectroscopic System (H.E.S.S.) data set at very high energies (E > 100 GeV) permits detailed studies, as well as spatially resolved spectroscopy, of the morphology and spectrum of the whole RX J0852.0$-$4622 region. The H.E.S.S. data are combined with archival data from other wavebands and interpreted in the framework of leptonic and hadronic models. The joint Fermi-LAT-H.E.S.S. spectrum allows the direct determination of the spectral characteristics of the parent particle population in leptonic and hadronic scenarios using only GeV-TeV data. Results. An updated analysis of the H.E.S.S. data shows that the spectrum of the entire SNR connects smoothly to the high-energy spectrum measured by Fermi-LAT. The increased data set makes it possible to demonstrate that the H.E.S.S. spectrum deviates significantly from a power law and is well described by both a curved power law and a power law with an exponential cutoff at an energy of $E_\mathrm{cut} = (6.7 \pm 1.2_\mathrm{stat} \pm 1.2_\mathrm{syst})$ TeV. The joint Fermi-LAT-H.E.S.S. spectrum allows the unambiguous identification of the spectral shape as a power law with an exponential cutoff. No significant evidence is found for a variation of the spectral parameters across the SNR, suggesting similar conditions of particle acceleration across the remnant. A simple modeling using one particle population to model the SNR emission demonstrates that both leptonic and hadronic emission scenarios remain plausible. It is also shown that at least a part of the shell emission is likely due to the presence of a pulsar wind nebula around PSR J0855$-$4644.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Semi-Inclusive $π_0$ target and beam-target asymmetries from 6 GeV electron scattering with CLAS

We present precision measurements of the target and beam-target spin asymmetries from neutral pion electroproduction in deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at Jefferson Lab. We scattered 6-GeV, longitudinally polarized electrons off longitudinally polarized protons in a cryogenic $^{14}$NH$_3$ target, and extracted double and single target spin asymmetries for $ep\rightarrow e^\primeπ^0X$ in multidimensional bins in four-momentum transfer ($1.0<Q^2<3.2$ GeV$^2$), Bjorken-$x$ ($0.12<x<0.48$), hadron energy fraction ($0.4<z<0.7$), transverse pion momentum ($0<P_T<1.0$ GeV), and azimuthal angle $ϕ_h$ between the lepton scattering and hadron production planes. We extracted asymmetries as a function of both $x$ and $P_T$, which provide access to transverse-momentum distributions of longitudinally polarized quarks. The double spin asymmetries depend weakly on $P_T$. The $\sin 2ϕ_h$ moments are zero within uncertainties, which is consistent with the expected suppression of the Collins fragmentation function. The observed $\sinϕ_h$ moments suggest that quark gluon correlations are significant at large $x$.

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