EPJ Web of Conferences (Jan 2022)

Main Features of the SIDDHARTA-2 Apparatus for Kaonic Deuterium X-Ray Measurements

  • Tüchler Marlene,
  • Sirghi Florin,
  • Bazzi M.,
  • Bosnar D.,
  • Bragadireanu M.,
  • Carminati M.,
  • Cargnelli M.,
  • Clozza A.,
  • Curceanu C.,
  • Deda G.,
  • Del Grande R.,
  • De Paolis L.,
  • Fiorini C.,
  • Guaraldo C.,
  • Iliescu M.,
  • Iwasaki M.,
  • King P.,
  • Levi Sandri P.,
  • Marton J.,
  • Miliucci M.,
  • Moskal P.,
  • Napolitano F.,
  • Niedzwiecki S.,
  • Piscicchia K.,
  • Scordo A.,
  • Sgaramella F.,
  • Shi H.,
  • Silarski M.,
  • Sirghi D.,
  • Skurzok M.,
  • Spallone A.,
  • Vazquez Doce O.,
  • Widmann E.,
  • Zmeskal J.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202226201016
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 262
p. 01016

Abstract

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The low-energy, non-perturbative regime of QCD can be studied directly by X-ray spectroscopy of light kaonic atoms. The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment, located at the DAΦNE collider, aims to measure the 2p → 1s transition in kaonic deuterium for the first time to extract the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. This measurement is impeded, inter alia, by the low K−d X-ray yield. Hence, several updates have been implemented on the apparatus to increase the signal-to-background ratio, which are discussed in detail in this paper: a lightweight gas target cell, novel Silicon Drift Detectors for the X-ray detection with excellent performance, and a veto system for active background suppression. The experiment has undergone a first preparatory run during DAΦNE’s commissioning phase in 2021, concluding with a successful kaonic helium measurement.