Identifying Σ-hypernuclei with FINUDA

A tagging method to suppress the π^± background in Σ-hypernuclear spectroscopy is examined. The method, which is based on Monte Carlo simulations, investigates the capabilities of Σ to form a hyperon-nucleus bound system. The hypernuclear system can be found either in the ground state or in low-lying state, as well as in a resonance state. The tracking capabilities of the FINUDA spectrometer to detect Σ-hypernuclei are used. Σ-hypernuclei are produced by stopped K^?,s.     

Charged particle momentum spectra in ee annihilation at $\sqrt{s} = 192$-209 GeV

Charged particle momentum distributions are studied in the reaction hadrons, using data collected with the OPAL detector at centre-of-mass energies from 192 GeV to 209 GeV. The data correspond to an average centre-of-mass energy of 201.7 GeV and a total integrated luminosity of 433 pb^-1. The measured distributions and derived quantities, in combination with corresponding results obtained at lower centre-of-mass energies, are compared to QCD predictions in various theoretical approaches to study the energy dependence of the strong interaction and to test QCD as the theory describing it. In general, a good agreement is found between the measurements and the corresponding QCD predictions. Received: 17 July 2002 / Published online: 3 March 2003     

Searches for supersymmetric particles in e<Superscript> + </Superscript>e<Superscript>-</Superscript> collisions up to 208 GeV and interpretation of the results within the MSSM

DELPHI data collected at centre-of-mass energies up to 208 GeV have been analysed to search for charginos, neutralinos and sfermions in the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) with R-parity conservation. No evidence for a signal was found in any of the channels. The results of each search were used to derive limits on production cross-sections and particle masses. In addition, the combined result of all searches excludes regions in the parameter space of the constrained MSSM, leading to limits on the mass of the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle and other supersymmetric particles.Received: 22 February 2003, Revised: 24 July 2003, Published online: 12 November 2003     

Nuclear orientation at isolde/cern

A facility for Nuclear Implantation into Cold On-Line Equipment (NICOLE) is being installed at the new on-line isotope separator ISOLDE 3 at CERN. The first on-line run was in the beginning of July 1988. The low temperature equipment has been successfully tested and first off-line experiments on various isotopes have been performed. NMR/ON has been done on vaious isotopes (Co, Xe, Pt, Au) in iron host. First experience with the top-loading dilution refrigertor (Oxford Instruments Limited) shows that it performs very well. The cooling power is 400 μW at 100 mK and 34 μW at 25 mK. The base temperature can be kept continuously well below 5 mK. NMR/ON can be performed at temperatures below 5.5 mK. The base temperature on-line is expected to be lower then 6 mK. The sample can be cooled down from room temperature to 10 mK within two hours, to 6 mK within 3 hours which is not only important for off-line but also for on-line experiments when samples have to be changed to remove long lived daughter activity. The latest results will be reported.     

New isotope227Rn and revised halflives for223Rn and226Rn

Neutron-rich isotopes of radon, produced by spallation reactions in a ThC² target and selected chemically, were mass-separated and used as samples for radiation counting experiments. Assignments of the activities to radon isotopes were confirmed by genetic relationships to the previously known francium daughters. The halflife for the new isotope²²⁷Rn is 23±1 s and that for²²⁶Rn is 7.4±0.1 min. X-rays,γ-rays, and conversion electrons from the²²³Rn activity were measured. The decay patterns ofK X-rays and known gamma transitions in the²²³Fr daughter yield a halflife of 23.2± 0.4 min for²²³Rn, in contrast to the value of 43± 5 min reported earlier. Energies, intensities, and likely multipolarities for the most prominent gamma transitions in the²²³Rn→²²³Fr decay are presented.     

Diffraction dissociation at the CERN pulsedpp collider at c.m. Energies of 900 and 200 GeV

Cross-sections for diffractive particle production and pseudorapidity distributions of the decay products of diffractive states are presented. The data were obtained with the UA 5 streamer chamber detector at the CERNpp Collider operated in a new pulsed mode yieldingpp interactions at c.m. energies of 900 and 200 GeV. Data recorded with a special trigger designed to select a sample of events enriched in single-diffractive interactions clearly favour ap _t -limited fragmentation of diffractive states. The cross-section for single-diffractive particle production ? was found to be 7.8±0.5±1.1 mb at 900 GeV and 4.8±0.5±0.8 mb at 200 GeV (first error statistical, second systematic). From the pseudorapidity distribution of diffractive states we deduce the average number of charged particles to be 6.5±1.0 at 900 GeV and 4.1±1.1 at 200 GeV. Furthermore we report on our estimates for the cross-section of double-diffractive particle production at both Collider energies.     

A study of the centrally produced π+π−π0 system formed in the reactionpp→p f (π+π−π0)p s at 300 GeV/c

The reactionpp→p _f (π⁺π^?π⁰)p _s , where the π⁺π^?π⁰ system is centrally produced, has been studied at 300 GeV/c. The π⁺π^?π⁰ mass spectrum shows evidence for the η, ω anda ₂ (1320) as well as an enhancement in thea ₁ (1260) region. A Dalitz plot analysis of the π⁺π^?π⁰ system has been performed. Thea ₁ (1260) parameters coming from the fit of the 1⁺ S wave arem=1208±15 MeV and Γ=430±50 MeV. No evidence is found for theh ₁(1170) orh ₁(1380).     

Structural defect recovery in GaP after heavy ion implantation

The channeling and blocking effect of electrons and positrons emitted in nuclear decay allows the lattice site location of radioactive impurities implanted into single crystals at small concentrations (ppm) and low implantation fluences (10¹²/cm²). We applied this emission channeling technique to the localization of ^112mIn and ^111mCd after implantation into si-GaP single crystals at different temperatures. After implantation at low temperature and subsequent annealing an increase of the fraction of substitutional probe atoms and a recovery of the local lattice structure between 300 and 500 K were observed. GaP tends to anneal at higher temperatures than GaAs (200–350 K), but compared to GaAs the channeling effects observed in GaP are more pronounced, indicating a more complete recovery of implantation defects.     

The production ofJ/ψ in 200 GeV/A oxygen-uranium interactions

The dimuon production in 200 GeV/nucleon oxygen-uranium interactions is studied by the NA 38 Collaboration. The production ofJ/ψ, correlated with the transverse energyET, is investigated and compared to the continuum, as a function of the dimuon massM and transverse momentumPT. A value of 0.64±0.06 is found for the ratio (ψ/Continuum at highET)/(ψ/Continuum at lowET), from which theJ/ψ relative suppression can be extracted. This suppression is enhanced at lowPT.