Neutral transverse momentum spectra in 60 and 200A·GeV16O+nucleus and proton+nucleus reactions

Transverse momentum (p _T) distributions fo inclusive photons and neutral pions at midrapidity are measured with a lead glass calorimeter in 60 and are measured with a lead glass calorimeter in 60 and 200A·Gev¹⁶O+nucleus and and proton+nucleus reactions. Inclusive photon distributions are compared for central and peripheral reactions. The degree of centrality is determined either from the charged particle multiplicity or from the remaining projectile energy in the forward direction. Deviations from a nucleus+nucleus interaction model based upon linear extrapolation from p+p reactions are observed in central¹⁶O+Au data. The variation of theaverage transverse momentum is investigated as function of centrality. The target-mass and energy dependence of π⁰ p _T distributions are presented. For¹⁶O+Au a change of slope in these distributions is observed atp _t ≈0.8 GeV/c compatible with hydrodynamic expansion models.     

A new upper limit for the decay μ→eee

A search for the decay μ⁺→e⁺e⁺e⁻, in which no candidate was found, yields a new upper limit for the branching ratio R_μ→3e<1.6×10⁻¹⁰ (90% confidence). A total of 16 decays were observed, in agreement both in number and momentum distribution with V - A theory.     

Two-particle rapidity correlations in αα, αp,andp p interactions at the CERN intersecting storage rings

Two-particle rapidity correlations have been studied for αα, αp, andp p interactions at the CERN ISR using the Split-Field Magnet (SFM) detector. In order to isolate the true two-particle correlations, the analysis was performed at fixed charged multiplicity. In the framework of a simple cluster model, it is found that cluster widths as well as cluster multiplicities are the same for αα, αp, andp p interactions, and both decrease with increasing charged multiplicity.     

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.     

Physics perspectives of the ALICE experiment at the large hadron collider

The large hadron collider (LHC) under construction at CERN will deliver ion beams up to centre of mass energies of the order of 5.5 TeV per nucleon, in case of lead. If compared to the available facilities for the study of nucleus-nucleus collisions (SpS and RHIC), this represents a huge step forward in terms of both volume and energy density that can be attained in nuclear interactions. ALICE (a large ion collider experiment) is the only detector specifically designed for the physics of nuclear collisions at LHC, even though it can also study high cross-section processes occurring in proton-proton collisions. The main goal of the experiment is to observe and study the phase transition from hadronic matter to deconfined partonic matter (quark gluon plasma —QGP). ALICE is conceived as a general-purpose detector and will address most of the phenomena related to the QGP formation at LHC energies: for this purpose, a large fraction of the hadrons, leptons and photons produced in each interaction will be measured and identified.     

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.