Doubly strange system physics with antiprotons at PANDA

Abstract

The study of the doubly strange hyper-systems represents a step forward in understanding the unexplored world of the strange matter in the frame of a better knowledge of the hyperon-nucleon and hyperon-nucleus interaction. The production of double hyper-systems, up to now, have been based on the use of kaon beams through a double strangeness exchange reaction. A new technique has been designed by the PANDA Collaboration, which will use the antiprotons at 3 GeV/c of the HESR facility at FAIR to create doubly strange hyperons and drive them into nuclear targets. This technique requires the use of 2 targets, located inside and outside the beam pipe. In spite of the constraints arising from the presence of a solid target inside an antiproton ring, the technique looks promising in terms of rate of hyperons and hyper-nuclei produced. After a review of the physics items that will be investigated in the hyper-nuclear section of PANDA experiment, the characteristics of the antiprotons facility, the results of the feasibility study of the 2-target technique, the design of the hyper-nuclear set-up in PANDA and the expected rates of the double hyper-nuclei will be presented.