arXiv subjects

V. Rykalin

Publications and source records attributed to V. Rykalin.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

The \pi^+\pi^- Coulomb interaction study and its use in the data processing

In this work the Coulomb effects (Coulomb correlations) in $\pi^+\pi^-$ pairs produced in p + Ni collisions at 24 GeV/$c$, are studied using experimental $\pi^+\pi^-$ pair distributions in $Q$, the relative momentum in the pair center of mass system (c.m.s), and its projections $Q_L$ (longitudinal component) and $Q_t$ (transverse component) relative to the pair direction in the laboratory system (l.s.). The $Q$, $Q_L$, and $Q_t$ distributions of the {\sl Coulomb pairs} in the c.m.s. have been simulated assuming they are described by the phase space modified by the known point-like Coulomb correlation function $A_C(Q)$, corrected for small effects due to the nonpoint-like pair production and the strong two-pion interaction. The same distributions of {\sl non-Coulomb pairs} have been simulated according to the phase space, but without $A_C(Q)$. It is shown that the number of {\sl Coulomb pairs} in all $Q_t$ intervals, including the small $Q_t$ (small opening angles $\theta$ in the l.s.) is calculated with the theoretical precision better than 2\%. The comparison of the simulated and experimental numbers of {\sl Coulomb pairs} at small $Q_t$ allows us to check and correct the detection efficiency for the pairs with small $\theta$ (0.06 mrad and smaller). It is shown that {\sl Coulomb pairs} can be used as a new physical tool to check and correct the quality of the simulated events. The special property of the {\sl Coulomb pairs} is the possibility of checking and correcting the detection efficiency, especially for the pairs with small opening angles.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Investigation of $K^+K^-$ pairs in the effective mass region near $2m_K$

The DIRAC experiment at CERN investigated in the reaction $\rm{p}(24~\rm{GeV}/c) + Ni$ the particle pairs $K^+K^-, π^+ π^-$ and $p \bar{p}$ with relative momentum $Q$ in the pair system less than 100 MeV/c. Because of background influence studies, DIRAC explored three subsamples of $K^+K^-$ pairs, obtained by subtracting -- using time-of-flight (TOF) technique -- background from initial $Q$ distributions with $K^+K^-$ sample fractions more than 70\%, 50\% and 30\%. The corresponding pair distributions in $Q$ and in its longitudinal projection $Q_L$ were analyzed first in a Coulomb model, which takes into account only Coulomb final state interaction (FSI) and assuming point-like pair production. This Coulomb model analysis leads to a $K^+K^-$ yield increase of about four at $Q_L=0.5$ MeV/c compared to 100 MeV/c. In order to study contributions from strong interaction, a second more sophisticated model was applied, considering besides Coulomb FSI also strong FSI via the resonances $f_0(980)$ and $a_0(980)$ and a variable distance $r^*$ between the produced $K$ mesons. This analysis was based on three different parameter sets for the pair production. For the 70\% subsample and with best parameters, $3680\pm 370$ $K^+K^-$ pairs was found to be compared to $3900\pm 410$ $K^+K^-$ extracted by means of the Coulomb model. Knowing the efficiency of the TOF cut for background suppression, the total number of detected $K^+K^-$ pairs was evaluated to be around $40000\pm 10\%$, which agrees with the result from the 30\% subsample. The $K^+K^-$ pair number in the 50\% subsample differs from the two other values by about three standard deviations, confirming -- as discussed in the paper -- that experimental data in this subsample is less reliable.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

First measurement of a long-lived $π^+ π^-$ atom lifetime

The adapted DIRAC experiment at the CERN PS accelerator observed for the first time long-lived hydrogen-like $π^+π^-$ atoms, produced by protons hitting a beryllium target. A part of these atoms crossed the gap of 96~mm and got broken up in the 2.1~\textmu{}m thick platinum foil. Analysing the observed number of atomic pairs, $n_A^L= \left.436^{+157}_{-61}\right|_\mathrm{tot}$, the lifetime of the 2$p$ state is found to be ${τ_{2p}=(\left.0.45^{+1.08}_{-0.30}\right|_\mathrm{tot}) \cdot10^{-11}}$s, not contradicting the corresponding QED $2p$ state lifetime ${τ_{2p}^\mathrm{QED}=1.17 \cdot 10^{-11}}$s. This lifetime value is three orders of magnitude larger than our previously measured value of the $π^+π^-$ atom ground state lifetime $τ=(\left.3.15^{+0.28}_{-0.26}\right|_\mathrm{tot})\cdot 10^{-15}$s. Further studies of long-lived $π^+π^-$ atoms will allow to measure energy differences between $p$ and $s$ atomic states and so to determine $ππ$ scattering lengths with the aim to check QCD predictions.

hep-ex↗

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

A New Proton CT Scanner

The design, construction, and preliminary testing of a second generation proton CT scanner is presented. All current treatment planning systems at proton therapy centers use X-ray CT as the primary imaging modality for treatment planning to calculate doses to tumor and healthy tissues. One of the limitations of X-ray CT is in the conversion of X-ray attenuation coefficients to relative (proton) stopping powers, or RSP. This results in more proton range uncertainty, larger target volumes and therefore, more dose to healthy tissues. To help improve this, we present a novel scanner capable of high dose rates, up to 2~MHz, and large area coverage, 20~x~24~cm$^2$, for imaging an adult head phantom and reconstructing more accurate RSP values.

physics.ins-det↗

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↗

arXiv2005

The SPHINX spectrometer

The paper describes the SPHINX facility which includes a wide-aperture magnetic spectrometer with scintillation counters and hodoscopes, proportional chambers and drift tubes, multichannel electromagnetic and hadron calorimeters, a guard system, a RICH velocity spectrometer and a hodoscopical threshold Cherenkov detector for the identification of charged secondary particles. The SPHINX spectrometer, in its last modification, had the possibility to record 3000-4000 trigger events per an accelerator burst. The spectrometer was used during the last decade in experiments with the 70GeV proton beam of the IHEP accelerator U-70.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2005

LCDG4 and DigiSim - Simulation activities at NICADD/NIU

We present two software packages developed to support detector R&D studies for the International Linear Collider. LCDG4 is a full-detector simulator that provides energy deposits from particles traversing the sensitive volumes of the detector. It has been extensively used within the American ILC community, providing data for algorithm development and detector optimization studies. DigiSim models real-life digitization effects, converting the idealized response into simulated detector readout. It has many useful features to improve the realism in modeling detector response. The main characteristics of these two complementary packages are discussed.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2004

Study of New FNAL-NICADD Extruded Scintillator as Active Media of Large EMCal of ALICE at LHC

The current conceptual design of proposed Large EMCal of ALICE at LHC is based largely on the scintillating mega-tile/fiber technology implemented in CDF Endplug upgrade project and in both barrel and endcap electromagnetic calorimeters of the STAR. The cost of scintillating material leads us to the choice of extruded polystyrene based scintillator, which is available in new FNAL-NICADD facility. Result of optical measurements, such as light yield and light yield variation, show that it is possible to use this material as active media of Large EMCal of ALICE at LHC.

physics.ins-det↗