First Positronium Lifetime Imaging using 52Mn and 55Co with a plastic-based PET scanner
M. Das, S. Sharma, E. Yitayew Beyene, A. Bilewicz, J. Choiński, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, S. Kumar Kundu, A. Kunimmal Venadan, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Medrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, A. Pandey, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, A. Porcelli, B. Rachwał, M. Rädler, N. Rathod, N. Razzaq, A. Rominger, K. Shi, M. Skurzok, M. Słotwiński, A. Stolarz, T. Szumlak, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Tiwari, K. Valsan Eliyan, R. Walczak, E. Ł. Stępień, P. Moskal
abstract
This study demonstrates applicability of 52Mn and 55Co radionuclides for positronium imaging. Positronium Lifetime Imaging
(PLI) extends positron emission tomography by using the lifetime of positronium atoms as a probe of tissue molecular
architecture. However, its practical use requires ?+ emitters that also provide an additional prompt ? ray to mark the positron creation time. In this work, we report the first PLI measurements performed with 52Mn and 55Co using the modular J-PET. Four samples were studied in each experiment: two Certified Reference Materials (polycarbonate and fused silica) and two
human tissues (cardiac myxoma and adipose). The selection of PLI events was based on the registration of two 511 keV
annihilation photons and one prompt gamma in triple coincidence. From the resulting lifetime spectra we extracted the mean
ortho-positronium lifetime ?oPs and the mean positron lifetime ?Tmean for each sample. The measured values of ?oPs in
polycarbonate using both isotopes matches well with the certified reference values. Furthermore, 55Co reproduced identical
results for fused-silica measurements at their respective uncertainty levels. In contrast, measurements with 52Mn in fused silica show a minor deviation, which could be caused by the Parafilm spacer. In myxoma and adipose tissue, the reduced ?oPs values are mainly linked to the long storage history of the samples rather than to the choice of isotope. Comparing peak-to-background ratios and spectral purity, 55Co provides cleaner PLI data under the same experimental conditions. Although 52Mn offers a longer half-life and a multi gamma cascade enhancing ?+ + ? coincidences, but at the expense of higher background. In this study, we demonstrate that the applied selection criteria on the data measured with the modular J-PET can be used for PLI studies even with radionuclides with complex decay patterns.
Monte Carlo-Based Scatter Correction for the Plastic Based Modular PET Scanner J-PET
R. Bayerlein†, M. Das†, S. Sharma, R. D. Badawi, E. Y. Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. V. Eliyan, J. Hajduga, A. Hubalewska-Dydejczyk, S. Jalali, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, K. Kubat, S. K. Kundu, A. K. Venadan, D. Kumar, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Opalińska, P. Pandey, A. Pandey, S. Parzych, A. Porcelli, B. Rachwał, M. Rädler, B. A. Spencer, A. Sowa-Staszczak, M. Skurzok, T. Szumlak, S. Tiwari, P. Tanty, K. T. Ardebili, E. Ł. Stępień, and P. Moskał.
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
abstract
Accepted for publication in Physics in Medicine and Biology
First ex-vivo positronium imaging of tissues with modular J-PET scanner using 44Sc radionuclide
K. Kubat, M. Das, S. Sharma, E. Y. Beyene, A. Bilewicz, J. Choiński, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, D. Kumar, S. Kumar Kundu, A. Kunimmal-Venadan, B. Leszczyński, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, A. Pandey, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, A. Porcelli, B. Rachwał, M. Rädler, M. Skurzok, A. Stolarz, T. Szumlak, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Tiwari, K. Valsan Eliyan, R. Walczak, P. Moskal, E. Ł. Stępień
abstract
This study presents the first ex-vivo positronium imaging of human tissues using the modular J-PET scanner with the 44Sc radionuclide. The 44Sc isotope was produced via the 44Ca(p, n)44Sc nuclear reaction and used to perform positronium imaging of phantom composed of human adipose tissue, cardiac myxoma tissue, thrombi blood clot, and also porous polymer XAD4, and a certified reference material (CRM) made from fused silica. The experiment demonstrates the suitability of 44Sc as a positron source for positronium imaging. The performance of J-PET for positronium imaging with 44Sc was validated by proper reconstruction of the mean orthopositronium lifetime for CRM material and XAD-4 polymer. The mean ortho-positronium (oPs) lifetimes determined for adipose tissue, cardiac myxoma tissues and thrombi were consistent with results of previous experiments. The study highlights the potential Sc radionuclide for positronium lifetime imaging (PLI).
Precision test of bound-state QED at intermediate Z with kaonic neon
S. Manti, F. Sgaramella, L. Abbene, C. Amsler, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, P. Indelicato, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, J. Marton, P. Moskal, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, J. Sommerfeldt, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L. Toscano, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal and C. Curceanu
abstract
We report Dirac-Fock calculations of transition energies for kaonic neon. For the most intense line, the 7->6 transition, the calculated energy is 9450.28 eV, which includes a bound-state QED (BSQED) contribution of 12.66 eV. This is in excellent agreement with the recent SIDDHARTHA-2 measurement at DAFNE of 9450.23+-0.37(stat.)+-1.50(syst.) eV. With the QED contribution far exceeding experimental uncertainty, these results establish kaonic atoms as sensitive platforms for precision tests of BSQED in intermediate-Z systems.
Studies of CPT symmetry in positronium decays with 192 plastic strip J-PET detector
N. Chug, S. D. Bass, E. Y. Beyene, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Das, K. V. Eliyan, M. Gorgol, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, A. Kierys, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, A. Kunimmal Venadan, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, A. Porcelli, B. Rachwał, M. Rädler, A. Sienkiewicz, S. Sharma, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, T. Szumlak, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Tiwari, P. Moskal
abstract
A direct test of the CPT symmetry is performed for the electromagnetic decays of ortho-positronium using the Jagiellonian positron emission tomograph (J-PET). We present the precise measurement of the CPT-sensitive angular correlation entailing the positronium spin and the momenta of its annihilation photons, surpassing previous studies utilizing the same detection system. Positrons originating from a 22Na source are emitted from the detector?s center and subsequently form positronium atoms within the spherical chamber covered with porous material. Reconstruction of annihilation locations using the 192-strip J-PET detector makes it possible to determine the positronium emission direction, which defines the quantization axis along which positronium is polarized, without the application of external magnetic fields. The measurements were performed in total for 356 days resulting in an identification of 47.8×10^6 events with ortho-positronium decays into three photons. The results are consistent with the exactness of CPT symmetry with measured asymmetry amplitude -0.00029+-0.00022 (stat.) and with statistical error four times smaller than the previous best measurement.
Nanoporosity imaging by positronium lifetime tomography
K. Dulski, E. Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Das, M. Gorgol, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, M. Rädler, S. Sharma, M. Skurzok, K. Tayefi, P. Tanty, E.Ł. Stępień, P. Moskal
abstract
Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) is a well-established non-destructive technique used for nanostructural characterization of porous materials. It is based on the annihilation of a positron and an electron. Mean positron lifetime in the material depends on the free voids size and molecular environment, allowing the study of porosity and structural transitions in the nanometer scale. We have developed a novel method enabling spatially resolved PALS, thus providing tomography of nanostructural characterization of an extended object. Correlating space (position) and structural (lifetime) information brings new insight in materials studies, especially in the characterization of the purity and pore distribution. For the first time, a porosity image using stationary positron sources for the simultaneous measurement of the porous polymers XAD4, silica aerogel powder IC3100, and polyvinyl toluene scintillator PVT by the J-PET (Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomography) system is demonstrated.
Time-based Selection of Kaonic Atom X-ray Events with Quasi-Hemispherical CZT Detectors at the DAFNE collider
F. Artibani, L. Abbene, A. Buttacavoli, M. Bettelli, G. Gerardi, F. Principato, A. Zappettini, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L.G. Toscano, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu and A. Scordo
abstract
This work presents the results of a time-based event selection for the search of X-ray signals from kaonic atom transitions using a quasi-hemispherical Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) detector at the DAFNE collider. To mitigate the high background level in the measured X-ray spectra, a dedicated event selection strategy was developed, exploiting the precise timing correlation between e+e- collisions and detector signals. This approach enabled, for the first time, the observation of two characteristic X-ray transitions from kaonic aluminum atoms with a CZT detector. For the 5-4 transition at 50 keV, 362 +- 41 (stat.) +- 20 (sys.) signal events were observed over 1698 +- 197 (stat.) +- 25 (sys.) background events within +- 5sigma, with an energy resolution of 9.2% FWHM. For the 4-3 transition at 106 keV, 295 +- 50 (stat.) +- 20 (sys.) signal events were measured over 2939 +- 500 (stat.) +- 16 (sys.) background events, with an energy resolution of 6.6% FWHM. A background suppression of approximately 95% of the triggered data was achieved through this time-based selection. The demonstrated timing capability of the CZT detector proved highly effective in isolating time-correlated events within an 80ns window, setting an important benchmark for the application of compound semiconductors in timing-based X-ray spectroscopy. These results highlight the potential of CZT-based detection systems for future precision measurements in high-radiation environments, paving the way for compact, room-temperature X-ray and gamma-ray spectrometers in fundamental physics and related fields.
EXKALIBUR: Towards a Kaonic Atoms Periodic Table to Test Fundamental Interactions
S. Manti, A. Khreptak, J. Marton, P. Moskal, H. Ohnishi, K. Pischicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D. Sirgh, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L. Toscano, O. Vazquez Doce, M. Iwasaki, P. Indelicato, M. Iliescu, L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Carminati, F. Clozza, A. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Curceanu
abstract
Kaonic atoms, formed when a negatively charged kaon replaces an electron, provide a unique laboratory to test fundamental interactions at low energies. EXKALIBUR (EXtensive Kaonic Atoms research: from LIthium and Beryllium to URanium) is a program to perform systematic, high-precision X-ray spectroscopy of selected kaonic atoms across the periodic table at the DAFNE accelerator at the National Laboratory of Frascati. Here, we outline its detector-driven strategy: silicon drift detectors for 10-40 keV transitions in light targets (Li, Be, B, O), CdZnTe detectors for 40-300 keV lines in intermediate-Z systems (Mg, Al, Si, S), and a high-purity germanium detector for high-Z atoms (Se, Zr, Ta, Mo, W, Pb), complemented by VOXES, a high-resolution crystal spectrometer for sub eV studies. EXKALIBUR plans to (i) reduce the charged-kaon mass uncertainty below 10 keV, (ii) produce a database of nuclear shifts and widths to constrain multi-nucleon K--nucleus interactions models, and (iii) provide precision data for testing bound-state quantum electrodynamics in strong fields. We summarize the planned measurements and expected sensitivities within DAFNE luminosities.
First Positronium Imaging Using 44Sc With the J-PET Scanner: a Case Study on the NEMA-Image Quality Phantom
Manish Das, Sushil Sharma, Ermias Yitayew Beyene, Aleksander Bilewicz, Jarosław Choiński, Neha Chug, Catalina Curceanu, Eryk Czerwiński, Kavya Valsan Eliyan, Jakub Hajduga, Sharareh Jalali, Krzysztof Kacprzak, Tevfik Kaplanoglu, Łukasz Kapłon, Kamila Kasperska, Aleksander Khreptak, Grzegorz Korcyl, Tomasz Kozik, Karol Kubat, Deepak Kumar, Anoop Kunimmal Venadan, Edward Lisowski, Filip Lisowski, Justyna Medrala Sowa, Simbarashe Moyo, Wiktor Mryka, Szymon Niedźwiecki, Piyush Pandey, Szymon Parzych, Alessio Porcelli, Bartłomiej Rachwał, Elena Perez del Rio, Martin Rädler, Axel Rominger, Kuangyu Shi, Magdalena Skurzok, Anna Stolarz, Tomasz Szumlak, Pooja Tanty, Keyvan Tayefi Ardebili, Satyam Tiwari, Rafał Walczak, Ewa Ł. Stępień, Paweł Moskal
abstract
Positronium Lifetime Imaging (PLI), an emerging extension of conventional positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, offers a novel window for probing the submolecular properties of biological tissues by imaging the mean lifetime of the positronium atom. Currently, the method is under rapid development in terms of reconstruction and detection systems. Recently, the first in vivo PLI of the human brain was performed using the J-PET scanner utilizing the 68Ga isotope. However, this isotope has limitations due to its comparatively low prompt gamma yields, which is crucial for positronium lifetime measurement. Among alternative radionuclides, 44Sc stands out as a promising isotope for PLI, characterized by a clinically suitable half-life (4.04 hours) emitting 1157 keV prompt gamma in 100% cases after the emission of the positron. This study reports the first experimental demonstration of PLI with 44Sc, carried out on a NEMA-Image Quality (IQ) phantom using the Modular J-PET tomograph?the first plastic scintillators-based PET scanner.
Quality control of plastic scintillators for the total-body J-PET scanner
Ł. Kapłon, E. Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Das, K. Eliyan, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, G. Korcyl, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, G. Moskal, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Rio, S. Sharma, M. Skurzok, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi, A. Venadan, E. Stępień and P. Moskal
abstract
The construction of the total-body Jagiellonian positron emission tomography scanner requires component verification before detector assembly. The purpose of this research is to verify the quality of BC-408 plastic scintillators with dimensions 6 mm × 30 mm × 330 mm. The scintillators were inspected for optical and mechanical defects and all dimensions were measured. Scratches, mechanically damaged corners and edges, as well as encapsulated dust and fibers within the scintillators, were identified under ceiling lamp illumination. Line defects on the as-cast surfaces were easily visible in a plane polariscope setup consisting of crossed horizontal and vertical polarizer foils. The transmittance at the wavelength of maximum emission through 6 mm thick scintillator samples and the technical attenuation length along 330 mm long scintillator samples were measured on a linear CCD array spectrometer for randomly selected scintillators from each delivered batch. Selected properties of the emission spectra, such as their FWHM and the values of the emission maxima as a function of the distance between the excitation point and the spectrometer fiber, were measured. Additionally, the scintillators optical homogeneity was measured on a light transfer setup consisting of an LED and photodiode matrix. The majority of the obtained plastic scintillators meets the transparency criteria and falls within the dimensional tolerances.
muPPET: Investigating the Muon Puzzle with J-PET Detectors
A. Porcelli, K. Valsan Eliyan, G. Moskal, N. Nasrin Protiti, D. L. Sirghi, E. Yitayew Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Das, M. Gorgol, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, D. Kumar, K. Kubat, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, W. Mryka, S. Moyo, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, P. Pandey, E. Perez del Rio, B. Rachwał, M. Rädler, S. Sharma, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, T. Szumlak, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Tiwari, and P. Moskal
abstract
The muPPET [muon Probe with J-PET] project aims to investigate the Muon
Puzzle seen in cosmic ray air showers. This puzzle arises from the observation of a significantly
larger number of muons on Earth's surface than that predicted by the current
theoretical models. The investigated hypothesis is based on recently observed asymmetries
in the parameters for the strong interaction cross-section and trajectory of an outgoing particle
due to projectile-target polarization. The measurements require detailed information
about muons at the ground level, including their track and charge distributions. To achieve
this, the two PET scanners developed at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland),
the J-PET detectors, will be employed, taking advantage of their well-known resolution
and convenient location for detecting muons that reach long depths in the atmosphere.
One station will be used as a muon tracker, while the second will reconstruct the core of
the air shower. In parallel, the existing hadronic interaction models will be modified and
fine-tuned based on the experimental results. In this work, we present the conceptualization
and preliminary designs of muPPET.
Nonmaximal entanglement of photons from positron-electron annihilation demonstrated using a novel plastic PET scanner
P. Moskal, D. Kumar, S. Sharma, E.Y. Beyene, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, M. Das, K. Dulski, M. Gorgol, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, L. Kaplon, T. Kozik, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, W. Mryka, S. Niedzwiecki, S. Parzych, E.P. del Rio, M. Radler, M. Skurzok, E. L. Stepien, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Valsan Eliyan
abstract
In the state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography (PET), information about the polarization of annihilation photons is not available. Current PET systems track molecules labeled with positron-emitting radioisotopes by detecting the propagation direction of two photons from positron-electron annihilation. However, annihilation photons carry more information than just the site where they originated. Here we present a novel J-PET scanner built from plastic scintillators, in which annihilation photons interact predominantly via the Compton effect, providing information about photon polarization in addition to information on photon direction of propagation. Theoretically, photons from the decay of positronium in a vacuum are maximally entangled in polarization. However, in matter, when the positron from positronium annihilates with the electron bound to the atom, the question arises whether the photons from such annihilation are maximally entangled. In this work, we determine the distribution of the relative angle between polarization orientations of two photons from positron-electron annihilation in a porous polymer. Contrary to prior results for positron annihilation in aluminum and copper, where the strength of observed correlations is as expected for maximally entangled photons, our results show a significant deviation. We demonstrate that in porous polymer, photon polarization correlation is weaker than for maximally entangled photons but stronger than for separable photons. The data indicate that more than 40% of annihilations in Amberlite resin lead to a non-maximally entangled state. Our result indicates the degree of correlation depends on the annihilation mechanism and the molecular arrangement. We anticipate that the introduced Compton interaction-based PET system opens a promising perspective for exploring polarization correlations in PET as a novel diagnostic indicator.
High precision X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic neon
F. Sgaramella, D. Sirghi, K. Toho, F. Clozza, L. Abbene, C. Amsler, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, A. M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, L. G. Toscano, M. Tuchler, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
The high-precision kaonic neon X-ray transitions measurement performed by the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration at the DAFNE collider is reported. Both the X-ray energies and yields for high-n transitions were measured, demonstrating the feasibility of sub-eV X-ray spectroscopy for kaonic atoms using low-Z gaseous targets. The measurement provides valuable insights into the de-excitation processes in kaonic atoms, providing new input data for the refinement of the corresponding theoretical models, and a framework for testing Quantum Electrodynamics in strange exotic atoms.
Development of correction techniques for a J-PET scanner
M. Das, R. Bayerlein, S. Sharma, S. Parzych, S. Niedźwiecki, R. Badawi, E. Yitayew Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Valsan Eliyan, B. Głowa, A. Hubalewska-Dydejczyk, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, K. Kasperska, G. Korcyl, A. Khreptak, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, M. Opalińska, P. Pandey, M. Rädler, M. Skurzok, A. Sowa-Staszczak, B. A. Spencer, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, A. Kunimmal Venadan, E. Stępień, P. Moskal
abstract
Objective: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a widely used medical imaging technique that allows for non-invasive imaging of metabolic processes. However, traditional PET scanners rely on costly inorganic scintillators, which limit their accessibility ? especially in light of emerging long axial field-of-view devices. The modular J-PET scanner, an innovative alternative, uses 50-cm long plastic scintillator strips, offering a cost-effective and modular solution. In this study, we develop and assess the PET data correction techniques required for quantitative image reconstruction. Methods: We present methods for attenuation correction, random coincidence correction using the Delayed Time Window (DTW) technique, and scatter correction based on Monte Carlo simulations. Phantom studies using the NEMA IQ phantom were performed to qualitatively evaluate these corrections. Results: The results demonstrate that our implemented corrections for attenuation, randoms, and scattered coincidences successfully improve the uniformity of tracer distribution in homogenous volumes and significantly reduce undesired activity in cold regions. Despite limitations in sensitivity and axial resolution, the applied correction techniques effectively enhance image quality, providing promising results for future applications. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of the modular J-PET system to offer affordable PET imaging and to pave the way towards a total-body PET scanner based on plastic scintillators. Future work will focus on quantitative validation and the implementation of these corrections for human subject imaging.
Kaonic Atoms with the SIDDHARTA-2 Experiment at DAFNE
F. Napolitano, L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L.G. Toscano, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment aiming at measuring for the first time the X-ray transitions in kaonic deuterium, has successfully completed its 2024 physics run at the DAFNE collider of the INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati. This work presents an overview of the scientific and technical achievements of SIDDHARTA-2 so far, including the most precise measurement of kaonic helium-4 Lalpha transitions and yields in gas, the observation of the kaonic helium-4 M-series transitions, and the measurement of high-n transitions in kaonic carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and aluminium. The results of these measurements are discussed in the context of the kaonic atoms physics program at DA?NE, including future prospects within the EXKALIBUR proposal.
First Stability Characterization for a CZT Detection System in an e+e- Collider Environment
L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bettelli, A. Buttacavoli, F. Principato, A. Zappettini, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, L. de Paolis, R. del Grande, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedzwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L. Toscano, M. Tuchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu, A. Scordo
abstract
The SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration has developed a novel X-ray detection system based on cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT, CdZnTe), marking the first application of this technology at the DAFNE electron-positron collider at INFN-LNF. This work aims to demonstrate the stability of the detectors' performance in terms of linearity and resolution over short and long periods, thereby establishing their suitability for precise spectroscopic measurements within a collider environment. A reference calibration spectrum is presented in association with findings from assessments of linearity and resolution stability. Additionally, this study introduces a validated model of the response function of the detector. The relative deviations from the nominal values for the source transitions, obtained by fitting the entire spectrum with a background function and the previously introduced response function, are reported. Finally, a comparison of the calibration performance with and without beams circulating in the collider's rings is presented. These promising results pave the way for applying CZT detectors in kaonic atom studies and, more generally, in particle and nuclear physics spectroscopy.
SIDDHARTA-2 apparatus for kaonic atoms research on the DAFNE collider
F. Sirghi, F. Sgaramella, L. Abbene, C. Amsler, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, D. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L. Toscano, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
SIDDHARTA-2 represents a state-of-the-art experiment designed to perform dedicated measurements of kaonic atoms, which are particular exotic atom configurations composed of a negatively charged kaon and a nucleus. Investigating these atoms provides an exceptional tool to comprehend the strong interactions in the non-perturbative regime involving strangeness. The experiment is installed at the DAFNE electron-positron collider, of the INFN National Laboratory of Frascati (INFN-LNF) in Italy, aiming to perform the first-ever measurement of the 2p->1s X-ray transitions in kaonic deuterium, a crucial step towards determining the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. Based on the experience gained with the previous SIDDHARTA experiment, which performed the most precise measurement of the kaonic hydrogen 2p->1s X-ray transitions, the present apparatus has been upgraded with innovative Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs), distributed around a cryogenic gaseous target placed in a vacuum chamber at a short distance above the interaction region of the collider. We present a comprehensive description of the SIDDHARTA-2 setup including the optimization of its various components during the commissioning phase of the collider.
A feasibility study of the measurement of kaonic lead X-rays at DAFNE for the precise determination of the charged kaon mass
D. Bosnar, L. Abbene, C. Amsler, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, A. Buttacavoli, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, M. Makek S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
An HPGe detector equipped with a transistor reset preamplifier and readout with a CAEN DT5781 fast pulse
digitizer was employed in the measurement of X-rays from kaonic lead at the DAFNE e+e- collider at the
Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati of INFN. A thin scintillator in front of a lead target was used to select kaons
impinging on it and to form the trigger for the HPGe detector. We present the results of the kaonic lead
feasibility measurement, where we show that the resolution of the HPGe detector in regular beam conditions
remains the same as that without the beam and that a satisfactory background reduction can be achieved.
This measurement serves as a test bed for future dedicated kaonic X-rays measurements for the more precise
determination of the charged kaon mass.
Positronium image of the human brain in vivo
P. Moskal, J. Baran, S. Bass, J. Choiński, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, M. Das, K. Dulski, K.V. Eliyan, K. Fronczewska, A. Gajos, K. Kacprzak, M. Kajetanowicz, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, M. Kobylecka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, J. Kunikowska, J. Mączewska, W. Migdał, G. Moskal, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi, P. Tanty, W. Wiślicki, L. Królicki, E. Ł. Stępień
abstract
Positronium is abundantly produced within the molecular voids of a patient?s body during positron emission tomography (PET). Its properties dynamically respond to the submolecular architecture of the tissue and the partial pressure of oxygen. Current PET systems record only two annihilation photons and cannot provide information about the positronium lifetime. This study presents the in vivo images of positronium lifetime in a human, for a patient with a glioblastoma brain tumor, by using the dedicated Jagiellonian PET system enabling simultaneous detection of annihilation photons and prompt gamma emitted by a radionuclide. The prompt gamma provides information on the time of positronium formation. The photons from positronium annihilation are used to reconstruct the place and time of its decay. In the presented case study, the determined positron and positronium lifetimes in glioblastoma cells are shorter than those in salivary glands and those in healthy brain tissues, indicating that positronium imaging could be used to diagnose disease in vivo.
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment for high precision kaonic atoms X-ray spectroscopy at DAFNE
F. Sgaramella, L. Abbene, C. Amsler, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
High precision X-ray spectroscopy of light kaonic atoms provides
valuable information on kaon-nucleus interaction at threshold, allowing to investigate
the strong interaction in the strangeness sector at the low-energy frontier. The
SIDDHARTA-2 experiment at the DAFNE collider of INFN-LNF is performing the
challenging measurement of the kaonic deuterium 2p->1 s transition which together
with the kaonic hydrogen measurement performed by SIDDHARTA, will allow to
extract the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. To achieve this
goal, the optimization of the setup to maximize the signal over background ratio
is a crucial step. This paper presents the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment and its optimization
through the first observation of kaonic neon transitions. The excellent
electromagnetic background reduction factor (~10^4) paves the way not only to the
measurement of kaonic deuterium, but also to a new era of selected kaonic atom
measurements along the periodic table.
First measurement of kaonic helium-4 M-series transitions
F. Sgaramella, D. Sirghi, L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedzwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tuchler, O. Vazquez Doce, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
In this paper we present the results of a new kaonic helium-4 measurement with a 1.37 g/l gaseous target by the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment at the DAFNE collider. We measured, for the first time, the energies and yields of three transitions belonging to the Mseries. Moreover, we improved by a factor about three, the statistical precision of the 2p level energy shift and width induced by the strong interaction, obtaining the most precise measurement for gaseous kaonic helium, and measured the yield of the L_alpha transition at the employed density, providing a new experimental input to investigate the density dependence of kaonic atoms transitions yield.
CdZnTe detectors tested at the DAFNE collider for future kaonic atoms measurements
A. Scordo, L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, M. Bettelli, D. Bosnar, G. Borghi, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, L. De Paolis, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, Y. Sada, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, C. Yoshida, A. Zappettini, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
The SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration at the INFN Laboratories of Frascati (LNF) aims to perform groundbreaking measurements on kaonic atoms. In parallel and beyond the ongoing kaonic deuterium, presently running on the DAFNE collider at LNF, we plan to install additional detectors to perform further kaonic atoms' studies, taking advantage of the unique low energy and low momentum spread K- beam delivered by the at-rest decay of the phi meson. CdZnTe devices are ideal for detecting transitions toward both the upper and lower levels of intermediate-mass kaonic atoms, like kaonic carbon and aluminium, which have an important impact on the strangeness sector of nuclear physics. We present the results obtained in a set of preliminary tests conducted on DAFNE, in view of measurements foreseen in 2024, with the twofold aim to tune the timing window required to reject the extremely high electromagnetic background, and to quantify the readout electronics saturation effect due to the high rate, when placed close to the Interaction Region (IR). In the first test we used commercial devices and electronics, while for the second one both were customized at the IMEM-CNR of Parma and the University of Palermo. The results confirmed the possibility of finding and matching a proper timing window where to identify the signal events and proved better performances, in terms of energy resolution, of the custom system. In both cases, strong saturation effects were confirmed, accounting for a loss of almost 90% of the events, which will be overcome by a dedicated shielding structure foreseen for the final experimental setup.
Characterization of the SIDDHARTA-2 Setup via the Kaonic Helium Measurement
F. Sgaramella, A. Clozza, L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedzwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tuchler, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
The aim of the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is to perform the first measurement ever of the width and shift induced by the strong interaction to the 2????->1????
energy transition of kaonic deuterium. This ambitious goal implies a challenging task due to the very low X-ray yield of kaonic deuterium, which is why an accurate and thorough characterization of the experimental apparatus is mandatory before starting the data-taking campaign. Helium-4 is an excellent candidate for this characterization since it exhibits a high yield in particular for the 3????->2????
transition, roughly 100 times greater than that of the kaonic deuterium. The ultimate goal of the work reported in this paper is to study the performances of the full experimental setup in view of the kaonic deuterium measurement. This is carried out by measuring the values of the shift and the width for the 3?????2????
energy transition of kaonic helium-4, induced by the strong interaction. The values obtained for these quantities, for a total integrated luminosity of ~31/pb, are epsilon_2????=2.0+-1.2(stat)+-1.5(syst)eV
and Gamma_2????=1.9+-5.7(stat)+-0.7(syst)eV. The results, compared to the value of the shift measured by the SIDDHARTA experiment epsilon_2????=0+-6(stat)+-2(syst)eV, show a net enhancement of the resolution of the apparatus, providing strong evidence of the potential to perform the challenging measurement of the kaonic deuterium.
Feasibility studies for imaging e+e- annihilation with modular multi-strip detectors
S. Sharma, L. Povolo, S. Mariazzi, G. Korcyl, K. Kacprzak, D. Kumar, S. Niedzwiecki, J. Baran, E. Beyene, R. S. Brusa, R. Caravita, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, M. Dadgar, M. Das, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, A. Gajos, N. Gupta, B. C. Hiesmayr, L. Kaplon, T. Kaplanoglu, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, T. Kozik, M. K. Kozani, W. Krzemien, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, L. Penasa, S. Parzych, E. Perez Del Rio, L. Raczynski, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. L. Stepien, P. Tanty, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi, W. Wislicki, P. Moskal
abstract
Studies based on imaging the annihilation of the electron (e-) and its antiparticle positron (e+) open up several interesting applications in nuclear medicine and fundamental research. The annihilation process involves both the direct conversion of ee into photons and the formation of their atomically bound state, the positronium atom (Ps), which can be used as a probe for fundamental studies. With the ability to produce large quantities of Ps, manipulate them in long-lived Ps states, and image their annihilations after a free fall or after passing through atomic interferometers, this purely leptonic antimatter system can be used to perform inertial sensing studies in view of a direct test of Einstein equivalence principle. It is envisioned that modular multistrip detectors can be exploited as potential detection units for this kind of studies. In this work, we report the results of the first feasibility study performed on a e beamline using two detection modules to evaluate their reconstruction performance and spatial resolution for imaging ee annihilations and thus their applicability for gravitational studies of Ps.
Discrete symmetries tested at 10^-4 precision using linear polarization of photons from positronium annihilations
P. Moskal, E. Czerwiński, J. Raj, S. D. Bass, E. Beyene, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, M. Dadgar, M. Das, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, S. Choudhary, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, P. Tanty, F. T. Ardebili, K. T. Ardebili, K. V. Eliyan, W. Wiślicki
abstract
Discrete symmetries play an important role in particle physics with violation of CP connected to the matter-antimatter imbalance in the Universe. We report the most precise test of P, T and CP invariance in decays of ortho-positronium, performed with methodology involving polarization of photons from these decays. Positronium, the simplest bound state of an electron and positron, is of recent interest with discrepancies reported between measured hyperfine energy structure and theory at the level of 10^-4 signaling a need for better understanding of the positronium system at this level. We test discrete symmetries using photon polarizations determined via Compton scattering in the dedicated J-PET tomograph on an event-by-event basis and without the need to control the spin of the positronium with an external magnetic field, in contrast to previous experiments. Our result is consistent with QED expectations at the level of 0.0007 and one standard deviation.
The SIDDHARTA-2 Veto-2 system for X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic atoms at DAFNE
M. Tüchler, C. Amsler, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton1, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal and C. Curceanu
abstract
The Veto-2 is a fundamental component of a multiple-stage veto system for the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment installed at the DAFNE collider at INFN-LNF in Italy. It was developed to improve the signal-to-background ratio for the challenging measurement of X-ray transitions to the fundamental level in kaonic deuterium. Its purpose is the suppression of hadronic background in the form of Minimum Ionizing Particles by using the topological correlation between signals in the X-ray and Veto-2 detectors. The Veto-2 system consists of a barrel of plastic scintillators read out by Silicon Photomultipliers. The system performed its first successful test run within the apparatus with a helium-4 target in 2022. The efficiency of the Veto-2 was determined and found to be 0.62 +- 0.01. The Veto-2 improved the signal-to-background ratio for the kaonic helium-4 L_alpha measurement by about 16%, which is crucial due to the low expected X-ray yield of kaonic deuterium.
First Simultaneous K-p -> Sigma0 pi0, Lambda0 pi0 Cross Sections Measurements at 98 MeV/c
K. Piscicchia, M. Skurzok, M. Cargnelli, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, A. Scordo, A. Ramos, D. L. Sirghi, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, S. Wycech, P. Branchini, F. Ceradini, E. Czerwinski, E. De Lucia, S. Fiore, A. Kupsc, G. Mandaglio, M. Martini, A. Passeri, V. Patera, E. Perez Del Rio, A. Selce, M. Silarski and C. Curceanu
abstract
We report the first simultaneous and independent measurements of the K-p -> Sigma0 pi0 and K-p -> Lambda0 pi0 cross sections around 100 MeV/c kaon momentum. The kaon beam delivered by the DAFNE collider was exploited to detect K- absorptions on Hydrogen atoms, populating the gas mixture of the KLOE drift chamber. The precision of the measurements sigma_{K-p -> Sigma0 pi0} =42.8 +-1.5(stat:)+2.4-2.0(syst:) mb and sigma_{K-p -> Lambda0 pi0}= 31.0 +- 0.5(stat:)+1.2-1.2(syst:) mb is the highest
yet obtained in the low kaon momentum regime.
Comparative studies of the sensitivities of sparse and full geometries of Total-Body PET scanners built from crystals and plastic scintillators
M. Dadgar, S. Parzych, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, K. Elyan, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. L. Stępień, F. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Vandenberghe, W. Wiślicki and P. Moskal
abstract
Background: Alongside the benefits of Total-Body imaging modalities, such as higher sensitivity, single-bed position, low dose imaging, etc., their final construction cost prevents worldwide utilization. The main aim of this study is to present a simulation-based comparison of the sensitivities of existing and currently developed tomographs to introduce a cost-efficient solution for
constructing a Total-Body PET scanner based on plastic scintillators.
Methods: For the case of this study, eight tomographs based on the uEXPLORER configuration with different scintillator materials (BGO, LYSO), axial field-of-view (97.4 cm and 194.8 cm), and detector configuration (full and sparse) were simulated. In addition, 8 J-PET scanners with different configurations, such as various axial field-of-view (200 cm and 250 cm), the different cross-sections of plastic scintillator, and the multiple numbers of the
plastic scintillator layers (2, 3, and 4), based on J-PET technology have been simulated by GATE software. Furthermore, Biograph Vision has been simulated to compare the results with standard PET scans. Two types of simulations have been performed. The first one with a centrally located source with a diameter of 1mm and a length of 250 cm, and the second one with the same source inside a water-filled cylindrical phantom with a diameter of 20 cm and a length of 183 cm.
Results: With regards to sensitivity, among all the proposed scanners, the ones constructed with BGO crystals give the best performance (? 350 cps/kBq at the center). The utilization of sparse geometry or LYSO crystals significantly lowers the achievable sensitivity of such systems. The J-PET design gives a similar sensitivity to the sparse LYSO crystal-based detectors while having full detector coverage over the body. Moreover, it provides uniform sensitivity over the body
with additional gain on its sides and provides the possibility for high-quality brain
imaging.
Conclusion: Taking into account not only the sensitivity but also the price of the Total-Body PET tomographs, which till now was one of the main obstacles in their widespread clinical availability, the J-PET tomography system based on plastic scintillators could be a cost-efficient alternative for Total-Body PET scanners.
Kaonic atoms at the DAFNE collider: a strangeness adventure
C. Curceanu, L. Abbene, C. Amsler, M. Bazzi, M. Bettelli, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedzwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tuchler, O. Vazquez Doce, C. Yoshida, A. Zappettini, J. Zmeskal
abstract
Kaonic atoms are an extremely efficient tool to investigate the strong interaction at the low energy Frontier, since they provide direct access to the K?N interaction at threshold, eliminating the necessity for extrapolation, unlike in the case of scattering experiments. During the 1970s and 1980s, extensive studies were performed on kaonic atoms spanning across a broad spectrum of elements in the periodic table, ranging from lithium to uranium. These measurements provided inputs and constraints for the theoretical description of the antikaon-nuclei interaction potential. Nevertheless, the existing data suffer from significant experimental uncertainties, and numerous measurements have been found to be inconsistent with more recent measurements that utilize advanced detector technology. Furthermore, there remain numerous transitions of kaonic atoms that have yet to be measured. For these reasons, a new era of kaonic atoms studies is mandatory. The DA?NE electron-positron collider at the INFN Laboratory of Frascati (INFN-LNF) stands out as a unique source of low-energy kaons, having been utilized by Collaborations such as DEAR, SIDDHARTA, and AMADEUS for groundbreaking measurements of kaonic atoms and kaon-nuclei interactions. Presently, the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is installed at DA?NE, aiming to perform the first-ever measurement of the 2p ? 1s x-ray transition in kaonic deuterium, a crucial step towards determining the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. Based on the experience gained with the SIDDHARTA experiment, which performed the most precise measurement of the kaonic hydrogen 2p ? 1s x-ray transition, the SIDDHARTA-2 setup is now fully equipped for the challenging kaonic deuterium measurement. In this paper, we present a comprehensive description of the SIDDHARTA-2 setup and of the first kaonic atoms measurements performed during the commissioning phase of the DA?NE collider. We also outline a proposal for future measurements of kaonic atoms at DA?NE beyond SIDDHARTA-2, which is intended to stimulate discussions within the broad scientific community performing research, directly or indirectly, related to this field.
Potentialities of CdZnTe Quasi-Hemispherical Detectors for Hard X-ray Spectroscopy of Kaonic Atoms at the DAFNE Collider
L. Abbene, A. Buttacavoli, F. Principato, G. Gerardi, M. Bettelli, A. Zappettini, M. Bazzi, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedzwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tuchler, O. Vazquez Doce, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, A. Scordo, C. Curceanu
abstract
Kaonic atom X-ray spectroscopy is a consolidated technique for investigations on the physics of strong kaon?nucleus/nucleon interaction. Several experiments have been conducted regarding the measurement of soft X-ray emission (<20 keV) from light kaonic atoms (hydrogen, deuterium, and helium). Currently, there have been new research activities within the framework of the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment and EXCALIBUR proposal focusing on performing precise and accurate measurements of hard X-rays (>20 keV) from intermediate kaonic atoms (carbon, aluminum, and sulfur). In this context, we investigated cadmium?zinc?telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) detectors, which have recently demonstrated high-resolution capabilities for hard X-ray and gamma-ray detection. A demonstrator prototype based on a new cadmium?zinc?telluride quasi-hemispherical detector and custom digital pulse processing electronics was developed. The detector covered a detection area of 1 cm2 with a single readout channel and interesting room-temperature performance with energy resolution of 4.4% (2.6 keV), 3% (3.7 keV), and 1.4% (9.3 keV) FWHM at 59.5, 122.1, and 662 keV, respectively. The results from X-ray measurements at the DAFNE collider at the INFN National Laboratories of Frascati (Italy) are also presented with particular attention to the effects and rejection of electromagnetic and hadronic background.
A review of the low-energy K--nucleus/nuclei interactions with light nuclei AMADEUS investigations
M. Skurzok, M. Cargnelli, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Guaraldo, J. Marton, P. Moskal, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, S. Wycech, P. Branchini, E. Czerwinski, X. Kang, G. Mandaglio, M. Martini, A. Selce and C. Curceanu
abstract
The AMADEUS Collaboration conducts research aimed to experimentally investigate the low-energy K- hadronic interactions with light nuclei like hydrogen, helium, and carbon, in order to provide new constraints to the antikaon-nucleon strong interaction studies in the non-perturbative quantum chromodynamics regime. K- nuclear absorption, both at-rest and in-flight, are explored using the unique low-momentum and monochromatic kaon beam from the DAFNE collider interacting with the KLOE detector components, a detector characterized by high acceptance and excellent position and momentum resolutions. This paper presents an overview of the AMADEUS results.
Transformation of PET raw data into images for event classification using convolutional neural networks
P. Konieczka, L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, O. Fedoruk, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kopka, W. Krzemień, R.Y. Shopa, J. Baran, A. Coussat, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, M. Skurzok, E.Ł. Stępień, F. Tayefi, P. Moskal
abstract
In positron emission tomography (PET) studies, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) may be applied directly to the reconstructed distribution of radioactive tracers injected into the patient's body, as a pattern recognition tool. Nonetheless, unprocessed PET coincidence data exist in tabular format. This paper develops the transformation of tabular data into -dimensional matrices, as a preparation stage for classification based on CNNs. This method explicitly introduces a nonlinear transformation at the feature engineering stage and then uses principal component analysis to create the images. We apply the proposed methodology to the classification of simulated PET coincidence events originating from NEMA IEC and anthropomorphic XCAT phantom. Comparative studies of neural network architectures, including multilayer perceptron and convolutional networks, were conducted. The developed method increased the initial number of features from 6 to 209 and gave the best precision results (79.8) for all tested neural network architectures; it also showed the smallest decrease when changing the test data to another phantom.
The KAMEO proposal: Investigation of the E2 nuclear resonance effects in kaonic atoms
L. De Paolis on behalf of M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Frišči`c, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Nied`zwiecki, O. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, S. Wycech, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
The E2 nuclear resonance effect is a phenomenon that occurs whenthe energy of an atomic de-excitation state closely matches that of a nuclear excita-tion state, resulting in the attenuation of certain atomic X-ray lines in the resonantisotope target. The study of this effect in kaonic atoms can provide important insightinto the mechanisms of the strong kaon-nucleus interaction. In 1975, Goldfrey, Lum,and Wiegand at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory observed the effect in9842Mo, but theydid not have enough data to reach a conclusive result. The E2 nuclear resonanceeffect is expected to occur in four kaonic molybdenum isotopes (9442Mo,9642Mo,9842Mo,and10042Mo) with similar energy values. The KAMEO (Kaonic Atoms MeasuringNuclear Resonance Effects Observables) proposal plans to study this effect in theseisotopes at the DA?NE ? factory during the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment. KAMEOwill use four solid strip targets, each enriched with a different molybdenum isotope,and expose them to negatively charged kaons produced by ? meson decays. TheX-ray transition measurements will be performed using a high-purity germaniumdetector, and an additional solid strip target of non-resonant9242Mo isotope will beexposed and used as a reference for standard non-resonant transitions.
New opportunities for kaonic atoms measurements from CdZnTe detectors
L. Abbene, M. Bettelli, A. Buttacavoli, F. Principato, A. Zappettini, C. Amsler, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tuchler, O. Vazquez Doce, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, A. Scordo and C. Curceanu
abstract
We present the tests performed by the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration at the DAFNE collider with
a quasi-hemispherical CdZnTe detector. The very good room-temperature energy resolution and efficiency
in a wide energy range show that this detector technology is ideal for studying radiative transitions in
intermediate and heavy mass kaonic atoms. The CdZnTe detector was installed for the first time in an
accelerator environment to perform tests on the background rejection capabilities, which were achieved by
exploiting the SIDDHARTA-2 Luminosity Monitor. A spectrum with an 241Am source has been acquired,
with beams circulating in the main rings, and peak resolutions of 6% at 60 keV and of 2.2% at 511 keV
have been achieved. The background suppression factor, which turned out to be of the order of ~10^5?6,
opens the possibility to plan for future kaonic atom measurements with CdZnTe detectors.
Comparative studies of plastic scintillator strips with high technical attenuation length for the total-body J-PET scanner
Ł. Kapłon, J. Baran, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, B. Hiesmayr, E. Kavya Valsan, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, G. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Rio, L. Raczyński, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Stępień, F. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Tayefi Ardebili, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal
abstract
Plastic scintillator strips are considered as one of the promising solutions for the cost-effective construction of total-body positron emission tomography, (PET) system. The purpose of the performed measurements is to compare the transparency of long plastic scintillators with dimensions 6 mm x 24 mm x 1000 mm and with all surfaces polished. Six different types of commercial, general purpose, blue-emitting plastic scintillators with low attenuation of visible light were tested, namely: polyvinyl toluene-based BC-408, EJ-200, RP-408, and polystyrene-based Epic, SP32 and UPS-923A. For determination of the best type of plastic scintillator for total-body Jagiellonian positron emission tomograph (TB-J-PET) construction, emission and transmission spectra, and technical attenuation length (TAL) of blue light-emitting by the scintillators were measured and compared. The TAL values were determined with the use of UV lamp as excitation source, and photodiode as light detector. Emission spectra of investigated scintillators have maxima in the range from 420 nm to 429 nm. The BC-408 and EJ-200 have the highest transmittance values of about 90% at the maximum emission wavelength measured through a 6 mm thick scintillator strip and the highest technical attenuation length reaching about 2000 mm, allowing assembly of long detection modules for time-of-flight (TOF) J-PET scanners. Influence of the 6 mm × 6 mm, 12 mm × 6 mm, 24 mm × 6 mm cross-sections of the 1000 mm long EJ-200 plastic scintillator on the TAL and signal intensity was measured. The highest TAL value was determined for samples with 24 mm × 6 mm cross-section.
Efficiency determination of J-PET: first plastic scintillators-based PET scanner
S. Sharma, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, A. Gajos, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, Sz. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi , W. Wiślicki and P. Moskal
abstract
Background:
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph is the 3-layer prototype
of the first scanner based on plastic scintillators, consisting of 192 half-metre-long strips with readouts at both ends. Compared to crystal-based detectors, plastic scintillators
are several times cheaper and could be considered as a more economical alternative to crystal scintillators in future PETs. JPET is also a first multi-photon PET prototype. For the development of multi-photon detection, with photon characterized by the continuous energy spectrum, it is important to estimate the efficiency of J-PET as a function of energy deposition. The aim of this work is to determine the registration efficiency of the J-PET tomograph as a function of energy deposition by incident photons and the intrinsic efficiency of the J-PET scanner in detecting photons of different incident energies. In this study, 3-hit events are investigated, where 2-hits are caused by 511 keV
photons emitted in e+e- annihilations, while the third hit is caused by one of the scattered photons. The scattered photon is used to accurately measure the scattering angle and thus the energy deposition. Two hits by a primary and a scattered photon are sufficient to calculate the scattering angle of a photon, while the third hit ensures
the precise labeling of the 511 keV photons.
Results:
By comparing experimental and simulated energy distribution spectra, the registration efficiency of the J-PET scanner was determined in the energy deposition range of 70-270 keV, where it varies between 20 and 100%. In addition, the intrinsic efficiency of the J-PET was also determined as a function of the energy of the incident photons.
Conclusion:
A method for determining registration efficiency as a function of energy deposition and intrinsic efficiency as a function of incident photon energy of the J-PET scanner was demonstrated. This study is crucial for evaluating the performance of the scanner based on plastic scintillators and its applications as a standard and multi-photon PET systems. The method may be also used in the calibration of Compton-cameras developed for the ion-beam therapy monitoring and simultaneous multi-radionuclide imaging in nuclear medicine.
Measurements of high-n transitions in intermediate mass kaonic atoms by SIDDHARTA-2 at DAFNE
F. Sgaramella, M. Tuchler, C. Amsler, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, A. M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, E. Widmann, C. Yoshida, C. Curceanu
abstract
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment installed at the DAFNE collider of INFN-LNF performed, for the first time,
measurements of high-n transitions in intermediate mass kaonic atoms during the data taking campaigns of 2021 and
2022. Kaonic carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and aluminium transitions, which occur in the setup materials, were measured
by using the kaons stopped in the gaseous helium target cell with aluminium frames and Kaptonwalls, and are reported in
this paper. These new kaonic atoms measurements add valuable input to the kaonic atoms transitions data base, which is
used as a reference for theories and models of the low-energy strong interaction between antikaon and nuclei. Moreover,
these results pave the way for future dedicated kaonic atoms measurements through the whole periodic table and to a new
era for the antikaon-nuclei studies at low energy.
J-PET detection modules based on plastic scintillators for performing studies with positron and positronium beams
S. Sharma, J. Baran, R.S. Brusa, R. Caravita, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, L. Kaplon, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemien D. Kumar, S. Mariazzi, S. Niedźwiecki, L. Panasa, S. Parzych, L. Povolo, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczynski Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E.L. Stepien, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi, W. Wislicki and P. Moskal
abstract
The J-PET detector, which consists of inexpensive plastic scintillators, has demonstrated its potential in the study of fundamental physics. In recent years, a prototype with 192 plastic scintillators arranged in 3 layers has been optimized for the study of positronium decays. This allows performing precision tests of discrete symmetries (C, P, T) in the decays of positronium atoms. Moreover, thanks to the possibility of measuring the polarization direction of the photon based on Compton scattering, the predicted entanglement between the linear polarization of annihilation photons in positronium decays can also be studied. Recently, a new J-PET prototype was commissioned, based on a modular design of detection units. Each module consists of 13 plastic scintillators and can be used as a stand-alone, compact and portable detection unit. In this paper, the main features of the J-PET detector, the modular prototype and their applications for possible studies with positron and positronium beams are discussed. Preliminary results of the first test experiment performed on two detection units in the continuous positron beam recently developed at the Antimatter Laboratory (AML) of Trento are also reported.
TOF MLEM Adaptation for the Total-Body J-PET with a Realistic Analytical System Response Matrix
R.Y. Shopa, J. Baran, K. Klimaszewski, W. Krzemień, L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, K. Brzeziński, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, E. Kavya Valsan, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, D. Kumar, Ł. Kapłon, G. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Rio, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Stepień, F. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Tayefi Ardebili, P. Moskal
abstract
We report a study of the original image reconstruction algorithm based on the time-of-flight maximum likelihood expectation maximisation (TOF MLEM), developed for the total-body (TB) Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) scanners. The method is applicable to generic cylindrical or modular multi-layer layouts and is extendable to multi-photon imaging. The system response matrix (SRM) is represented as a set of analytical functions, uniquely defined for each pair of plastic scintillator strips used for the detection. A realistic resolution model (RM) in detector space is derived from fitting the Monte Carlo simulated emissions and detections of annihilation photons on oblique transverse planes. Additional kernels embedded in SRM account for TOF, parallax effect and axial smearing. The algorithm was tested on datasets, simulated in GATE for the NEMA IEC and static XCAT phantoms inside a 24-module 2-layer TB J-PET. Compared to the reference TOF MLEM with none or a shift-invariant RM, an improvement was observed, as evaluated by the analysis of image quality, difference images and ground truth metrics. We also reconstructed the data with additive contributions, pre-filtered geometrically and with non-TOF scatter correction applied. Despite some deterioration, the obtained results still capitalise on the realistic RM with better edge preservation and superior ground truth metrics. The envisioned prospects of the TOF MLEM with analytical SRM include its application in multi-photon imaging and further upgrade to account for the non-collinearity, positron range and other factors.
Investigation of novel preclinical Total Body PET designed with J-PET technology: A simulation study
M. Dadgar, S. Parzych, F. Tayefi Ardebili, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, R.Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, K. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Vandenberghe, W. Wiślicki, E.Ł. Stępień, P. Moskal
abstract
The growing interest in human-grade Total Body PET systems has also application in small animal research. Due to the existing limitations in human-based studies involving drug development and novel treatment monitoring, animalbased research became a necessary step for testing and protocol preparation. In this simulation-based study two unconventional, cost effective small animal Total Body PET scanners (for mouse and rat studies) have been investigated in order to inspect their feasibility for preclinical research. They were designed with the novel technology explored by the Jagiellonian PET Collaboration (J-PET). Two main PET characteristics: sensitivity and spatial resolution were mainly inspected to evaluate their performance. Moreover, the impact of the scintillator dimension and time-offlight on the latter parameter were examined in order to design the most efficient tomographs. The presented results show that for mouse TB J-PET the achievable system sensitivity is equal to 2.35% and volumetric spatial resolution to 9.46 +- 0.54 mm3, while for rat TB J-PET they are equal to 2.6% and 14.11 ? 0.80 mm3, respectively. Furthermore, it was shown that the designed tomographs are almost parallax-free systems, hence they resolve the problem of the acceptance criterion trade-off between enhancing spatial resolution and reducing sensitivity.
New measurements of kaonic helium-4 L-series X-rays yields in gas with the SIDDHARTINO setup
D. L. Sirghi, H. Shi, C. Guaraldo, F. Sgaramella, C. Amsler, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, A. M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, J. Marton, M.. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, C. Yoshida, C. Curceanu
abstract
The L-series X-rays transitions of the kaonic helium-4 exotic atom were measured by SIDDHARTINO,
the reduced configuration of the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment, at the DANE collider of INFN-LNF, with
gaseous 4He targets at densities of 1.90 g/l and 0.82 g/l, corresponding to 1.5% and 0.66%, respectively, of
the liquid helium-4 density. The absolute yields for the L? transition are determined to be 0.15 ?0.03 and
0.12 ?0.03, for the two target densities. The yields for the L? and L? transitions are presented relatively
to that of the L? transition. These results are compatible with the yields measured by the SIDDHARTA
experiment at the densities of 1.65 g/l and 2.15 g/l and contribute to refine the cascade models describing
the de-excitation of kaonic atoms as function of density.
? 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Kaonic Atoms at the DAFNE Collider with the SIDDHARTA-2 Experiment
F. Napolitano, F. Sgaramella, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
Kaonic atoms are a unique tool to explore quantum chromodynamics in the strangeness sector at low energy, with implications reaching neutron stars and dark matter. Precision X-ray spectroscopy can fully unlock the at-threshold isospin dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths, via the atomic transitions to the fundamental level. While the SIDDHARTA experiment at the INFN-LNF DAFNE collider successfully measured kaonic hydrogen, its successor SIDDHARTA-2 is starting now its data taking campaign aiming to finally fully disentangle the isoscalar and isovector scattering lengths via the measurement of kaonic deuterium. An overview of the first experimental results from a preparatory run for the SIDDAHARTA-2 experiment is presented.
The SIDDHARTA-2 calibration method for high precision kaonic atoms X-ray spectroscopy measurements
F. Sgaramella, M. Miliucci, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment at the DAFNE collider aims to perform the first kaonic deuterium X-ray transitions to the fundamental level measurement, with a systematic error at the level of a few eV. To achieve this challenging goal the experimental apparatus is equipped with 384 Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) distributed around its cryogenic gaseous target. The SDDs developed by the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration are suitable for high precision kaonic atoms spectroscopy, thanks to their high energy and time resolutions combined with their radiation hardness. The energy response of each detector must be calibrated and monitored to keep the systematic error, due to processes such as gain fluctuations, at the level of 2-3 eV. This paper presents the SIDDHARTA-2 calibration method which was optimized during the preliminary phase of the experiment in the real background conditions of the DAFNE collider, which is a fundamental tool to guarantee the high precision spectroscopic performances of the system over long periods of data taking, as that required for the kaonic deuterium measurement.
Towards the first kaonic deuterium measurement with the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment at DAFNE
M. Miliucci, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, J. Zmeskal
abstract
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is going to perform the longawaited
high precision X-ray measurement of kaonic deuterium, obtaining for the
first time the values of the shift and the width induced by the strong interaction
on the fundamental level. By combining this unprecedented result with the
analogous kaonic hydrogen measurement performed by the SIDDHARTA experiment,
it will be possible to extract the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering
lengths, providing direct information on the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD)
in the non-perturbative Chromodynamics (QCD) in the non-perturbative regime
in the strangeness sector. This paper describes the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment,
presently installed at the DA?NE collider of Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare -
Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, and the results obtained during the kaonic helium
run, preparatory for the kaonic deuterium data taking campaign planned for 2022.
Large area silicon drift detectors system for high precision timed x-ray spectroscopy
M. Miliucci, M. Iliescu, F. Sgaramella, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce and J. Zmeskal
abstract
The current work presents the optimization of large area silicon drift detectors developed by the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration for high precision x-ray measurements of light exotic atom transitions. Two different radiation sources were employed in the study: an x-ray tube, for investigating the energy resolution and the charge collection efficiency of the device in the range 4000 eV-13000 eV, and a beta-90Sr radioactive source for measuring the timing response, thus qualifying the charge drift parameters inside the semiconductor. The study reports the spectroscopic response optimization, together with the tuning of the electron dynamics for the given Silicon technology, by adjusting the applied electric field and the working temperature, which allow a good control of the device's performances for high precision, timed x-ray spectroscopy applications.
A new kaonic helium measurement in gas by SIDDHARTINO at the DAFNE collider
D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, F. Sgaramella, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
abstract
The SIDDHARTINO experiment at the DAFNE Collider of INFN-LNF, the pilot run for the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment which aims to perform the measurement of kaonic deuterium transitions to the fundamental level, has successfully been concluded. The paper reports the main results of this run, including the optimization of various components of the apparatus, among which the degrader needed to maximize the fraction of kaons stopped inside the target, through measurements of kaonic helium transitions to the 2p level. The obtained shift and width values are epsilon_2p = E_exp-E_e.m = 0.2 pm 2.5(stat) pm 2(syst) eV and Gamma_2p = 8 pm 10 eV (stat), respectively. This new measuremnt of the shift, in particular, represents the most precise one for a gaseous target and is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the kaon-nuclei interaction at low energy.
Investigation of the low-energy K- hadronic interactions with light nuclei by AMADEUS
M. Skurzok, M. Bazzi, M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, L. de Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D.L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
abstract
The aim of the AMADEUS collaboration is to provide new experimental constraints to the antikaon-nucleon (K-N) strong interaction in the regime of nonperturbative QCD, investigating the low-energy K- hadronic interactions with light nuclei like H, 4He, 9Be and 12C. The unique low-momentum kaon beam produced at the DAFNE collider is ideal to study K- nuclear captures, both at-rest and in-flight. The large acceptance KLOE detector, used as an active target, allows to achieve excellent position and momentum resolutions. In this work, a brief description of recent AMADEUS results is presented.
Silicon Drift Detectors' Spectroscopic Response during the SIDDHARTA-2 Kaonic Helium Run at the DAFNE Collider
M. Miliucci, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
abstract
A large-area silicon drift detectors (SDDs) system has been developed by the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration for high precision light kaonic atom X-ray spectroscopy at the DAFNE collider of Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati. The SDDs' geometry and electric field configuration, combined with their read-out electronics, make these devices suitable for performing high precision light kaonic atom spectroscopy measurements in the background of the DA phi NE collider. This work presents the spectroscopic response of the SDDs system during the first exotic atoms run of SIDDHARTA-2 with kaonic helium, a preliminary to the kaonic deuterium data taking campaign. The SIDDHARTA-2 spectroscopic system has good energy resolution and a 2 mu s timing window which rejects the asynchronous events, scaling the background by a factor of 10-5. The results obtained for the first exotic atoms run of SIDDHARTA-2 prove this system to be ready to perform the challenging kaonic deuterium measurement.
Positronium imaging with the novel multiphoton PET scanner
P. Moskal, K. Dulski, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, G. Grudzień, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, P. Małczak, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pędziwiatr, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E.Ł. Stępień, M. Szczepanek, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki
abstract
In vivo assessment of cancer and precise location of altered tissues at initial stages of molecular disorders are important diagnostic challenges. Positronium is copiously formed in the free molecular spaces in the patient?s body during positron emission tomography (PET). The positronium properties vary according to the size of inter- and intramolecular voids and the concentration of molecules in them such as, e.g., molecular oxygen, O2; therefore, positronium imaging may provide information about disease progression during the initial stages of molecular alterations. Current PET systems do not allow acquisition of positronium images. This study presents a new method that enables positronium imaging by simultaneous registration of annihilation photons and deexcitation photons from pharmaceuticals labeled with radionuclides. The first positronium imaging of a phantom built from cardiac myxoma and adipose tissue is demonstrated. It is anticipated that positronium imaging will substantially
enhance the specificity of PET diagnostics.
Optimisation of the event-based TOF filtered back-projection for online imaging in total-body J-PET
R.Y. Shopa, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kopka, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, Sz. Niedźwiecki, J. Raj, S. Sharma, Shivani, E.Ł. Stępień, F. Tayefi, P. Moskal
abstract
We perform a parametric study of the newly developed time-of-flight (TOF) image reconstruction algorithm, proposed for the real-time imaging in total-body Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) scanners. The asymmetric 3D filtering kernel is applied at each most likely position of electron-positron annihilation, estimated from the emissions of back-to-back gamma-photons. The optimisation of its parameters is studied using Monte Carlo simulations of a 1-mm spherical source, NEMA IEC and XCAT phantoms inside the ideal J-PET scan- ner. The combination of high-pass filters which included the TOF filtered back-projection (FBP), resulted in spatial resolution, 1.5 times higher in the axial direction than for the conventional 3D FBP. For real- istic 10-minute scans of NEMA IEC and XCAT, which require a trade-offbetween the noise and spatial resolution, the need for Gaussian TOF kernel components, coupled with median post-filtering, is demon- strated. The best sets of 3D filter parameters were obtained by the Nelder-Mead minimisation of the mean squared error between the resulting and reference images. The approach allows training the recon- struction algorithm for custom scans, using the IEC phantom, when the temporal resolution is below 50 ps. The image quality parameters, estimated for the best outcomes, were systematically better than for the non-TOF FBP.
Testing CPT symmetry in ortho-positronium decays with positronium annihilation tomography
P. Moskal, A. Gajos, M. Mohammed, J. Chhokar, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, M. Gorgol, J. Goworek, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Parzych, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, S. Sharma, S. Choudhary, R. Shopa, A. Sienkiewicz, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Stepien, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki
abstract
Charged lepton system symmetry under combined charge, parity, and time-reversal transformation (CPT) remain scarcely tested. Despite stringent quantum-electrodynamic limits, discrepancies in predictions for the electron-positron bound state (positronium atom) motivate further investigation, including fundamental symmetry tests. While CPT noninvariance effects could be manifested in non-vanishing angular correlations between final-state photons and spin of annihilating positronium, measurements were previously limited by the knowledge of the latter. Here, we demonstrate tomographic reconstruction techniques applied to three-photon annihilations of ortho-positronium atoms to estimate their spin polarisation without a magnetic field or polarised positronium source. We use a plastic-scintillator-based positron-emission-tomography scanner to record ortho-positronium (o-Ps) annihilations with a single-event estimation of o-Ps spin and determine the complete spectrum of an angular correlation operator sensitive to CPT-violating effects. We find no violation at the precision level of 10^{-4}, with an over threefold improvement on the previous measurement.
Kaonic Atoms Measurements at DAFNE: SIDDHARTA-2 and Future Perspectives
C. Curceanu,, M. Miliucci, A. Scordo, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
abstract
High precision light kaonic atoms X-ray spectroscopy is a unique tool for performing experiments equivalent to scattering at vanishing relative energies, to determine the antikaon-nucleus interaction at threshold without the need of extrapolation to zero energy. The SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration is going to perform the first measurement of kaonic deuterium transitions to the fundamental level, which is mandatory to extract the isospin dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is presently installed on the DA Phi NE collider of INFN-LNF. The preliminary results obtained during the machine commissioning phase in preparation for the kaonic deuterium data taking campaign, together with future perspectives for extreme precision kaonic atoms studies at DA Phi NE are presented.
Simulating NEMA characteristics of the modular total-body J-PET scanner - an economic total-body PET from plastic scintillators
P. Moskal, P. Kowalski, R.Y. Shopa, L. Raczyński, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B.C. Hiesmayr, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kopka, G. Korcyl, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, Sz. Niedźwiecki, Sz. Parzych, J. Raj, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, E. Stępień, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki
abstract
The purpose of the presented research is the estimation of the performance characteristics of the economic total-body Jagiellonian-PET system (TB-J-PET) constructed from plastic scintillators. The characteristics are estimated according to the NEMANU-2-2018 standards utilizing the GATE package. The simulated detector consists of 24 modules, each built out of 32 plastic scintillator strips
(each with a cross-section of 6 mm times 30 mm and length of 140 or 200 cm) arranged in two layers in regular 24-sided polygon circumscribing a circle with a diameter of 78.6 cm. For the TB-J-PET with an axial field-of-view (AFOV) of 200 cm, a spatial resolution (SRs) of 3.7mm (transversal) and 4.9mm (axial) are achieved. The noise equivalent count rate (NECR) peak of 630 kcps is expected at 30 kBq cc^-1. Activity concentration and the sensitivity at the center amount to 38 cps kBq^-1. The scatter fraction (SF) is estimated to 36.2 %. The values of SF and SR are comparable to those obtained for the state-of-the-art clinical PET scanners and the first total-body tomographs: uExplorer and PennPET.With respect to the standard PET systemswithAFOVin the range from16 to 26 cm, the TBJ-PET is characterized by an increase inNECRapproximately by a factor of 4 and by the increase of the whole-body sensitivity by a factor of 12.6 to 38. The time-of-flight resolution for the TB-J-PETis expected to be at the level ofCRT=240 ps fullwidth at half-maximum. For the TB-J-PETwith an AFOVof 140 cm, an image quality of the reconstructed images of a NEMAIEC phantom was presented with a contrast recovery coefficient and a background variability parameters. The increase of the whole-body sensitivity andNECRestimated for the TB-J-PET with respect to current commercial PETsystems makes the TB-J-PET a promising cost-effective solution for the broad clinical applications of total-body PET scanners. TB-J-PETmay constitutes an economic alternative for the crystal TB-PET scanners, since plastic scintillators are much cheaper than BGO or LYSO crystals and the axial arrangement of the strips significantly reduces the costs of readout electronics and SiPMs.
The J-PET detector - a tool for precision studies of ortho-positronium decays
K. Dulski, S.D. Bass, J. Chhokar, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, R. Del Grande, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kopka, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, P. Małczak, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pędziwiatr, L. Raczyński7, J. Raj, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, P. Moskal
abstract
The J-PET tomograph is constructed from plastic scintillator strips arranged axially in concentric cylindrical layers. It enables investigations of positronium decays by measurement of the time, position, polarization and energy deposited by photons in the scintillators, in contrast to studies conducted so far with crystal and semiconductor based detection systems where the key selection of events is based on the measurement of the photons energies. In this article we show that the J-PET tomography system constructed solely from plastic scintillator detectors is capable of exclusive measurements of the decays of ortho-positronium atoms. We present the first positronium production results and its lifetime distribution measurements. The obtained results prove the capability of the J-PET tomograph for (i) fundamental studies of positronium decays (in particular test of discrete symmetries in purely leptonic systems), (ii) positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, as well as (iii) molecular imaging diagnostics and (iv) observation of entanglement
Low energy kaon-nuclei interaction at DAFNE: The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment
M. Miliucci, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
abstract
Light kaonic atoms spectroscopy is a unique tool for the investigation of the low-energy quantum chromodynamics (QCD) in the strangeness sector. The precise measurements of the X-ray emission from light kaonic atoms provide information on the kaon-nucleus interaction at the threshold without the need for an extrapolation as in the case of scattering experiments. In 2009, the SIDDHARTA Collaboration performed the most precise measurement of kaonic hydrogen (K - H) X-ray transition to the fundamental level. Nowadays, the SIDDHARTA-2 Collaboration is ready to perform the more challenging measurement of kaonic deuterium (K - d) 2p -> 1s transition. To achieve this unprecedented result, which is fundamental to extract the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths, an upgraded experimental apparatus with respect to the SIDDHARTA one was realized. This paper presents an overview of the SIDDHARTA-2 setup installed on the DAFNE collider of LNF-INFN and the first results obtained during the machine optimization phase, in preparation for the kaonic deuterium data taking campaign planned in 20212022.
Silicon Drift Detectors system for high precision light kaonic atoms spectroscopy
M. Miliucci, A. Scordo, D. Sirghi, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
abstract
A large area Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) system and its readout electronics have been developed by the SIDDHARTA-2 Collaboration, aiming to perform high precision light kaonic atoms X-ray spectroscopy for the investigation of the ?-N strong interaction in the low-energy QCD regime. To perform these measurements, a linear energy response and a good energy resolution are mandatory requirements for the system, to be preserved along the whole DAQ (analog and digital) chain; such task is made even harder in the experimental environment of particles colliders, where the high background due to ionizing particles and radiation is present. The energy response of the SDDs system has been characterized with the beam-originating background generated during the commissioning phase of the DAFNE electron-positron collider (INFN-LNF) in early 2020. The data analysis has been optimized to describe the system's response and the background. The calibration procedure demonstrates that, despite the high and variable background of the collider, the energy response of the system is linear at the level of few eV (?E/E <10e-3), with an energy resolution of 157.8?0.3(+0.2)(-0.2)eV for the Fe Kalpha line.
On the K- Absorptions in Light Nuclei by AMADEUS
R. Del Grande, K. Piscicchia, M. Cargnelli, L. Fabbietti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, D. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, O.Vazquez Doce, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal, P. Branchini, E. Czerwinski, V. De Leo, E. De Lucia, A. Di Cicco, E. Diociaiuti, R. Donghia, P. Fermani, S. Fiore, M. Martini, E.Perez Del Rio, A. Selce, M. Silarski, C. Curceanu
abstract
The aim of the AMADEUS collaboration is to provide experimental information on the low-energy
strong interaction of antikaons with nucleons, exploiting the absorptions of low momentum K- mesons
(pK ~127 MeV/c) produced at the DANE collider, in the materials composing the KLOE detector setup, used
as an active target. The K- single and multi-nucleon absorptions in light nuclei (4He and 12C) are investigated
by reconstructing hyperon?pion, hyperon?nucleon/nucleus pairs, emitted in the final state of the reactions. In
this paper the results obtained from the study of pi-, p and t correlated production are presented.
3D TOF-PET image reconstruction using total variation regularization
L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, K. Klimaszewski, W. Krzemień, P. Kopka, P. Kowalski, R. Y. Shopa, M. Bała, J. Chhokar, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, R. Del Grande, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, J. Raj, K. Rakoczy, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E.Ł. Stepień, B. Zgardzińska, P. Moskal
abstract
In this paper we introduce a semi-analytic algorithm for 3-dimensional image reconstruction for positron emission tomography (PET). The method consists of the back-projection of the acquired data into the most likely image voxel according to time-of-flight (TOF) information, followed by the filtering step in the image space using an iterative optimization algorithm with a total variation (TV) regularization. TV regularization in image space is more computationally efficient than usual iterative optimization methods for PET reconstruction with a full system matrix that uses TV regularization. The efficiency comes from the one-time TOF back-projection step that might also be described as a reformatting of the acquired data. An important aspect of our work concerns the evaluation of the filter operator of the linear transform mapping an original radioactive tracer distribution into the TOF back-projected image. We obtain concise, closed-form analytical formula for the filter operator. The proposed method is validated with the Monte Carlo simulations of the NEMA IEC phantom using a one-layer, 50 cm-long cylindrical device called Jagiellonian PET scanner. The results show a better image quality compared with the reference TOF maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm.
Characterization of the SIDDHARTA-2 luminosity monitor
M. Skurzok, A. Scordo, S. Niedzwiecki, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, K. Piscicchia, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
abstract
A luminosity monitor, based on plastic scintillator detectors, has been developed for the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment aiming to perform high precision measurements of kaonic atoms and was installed in 2020 on the DAFNE e+e- collider at LNF (Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, INFN). The main goal of this system is to provide the~instantaneous and integrated luminosity of the DAFNE facility by measuring the rate of K+K- correlated pairs emitted by the Phi meson decay. This task requires an accurate timing of the DAQ signals, as well as timing resolution below 1ns, in order to disentangle the K+- signals from the background minimum ionizing particles (MIPs) produced during the e+e- collisions at DAFNE. In this paper the luminosity monitor concept as well as its laboratory characterization and the first results inside DAFNE are presented.
Synchronisation and calibration of the 24-modules J-PET prototype with 300 mm axial field of view
P. Moskal, T. Bednarski, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Silarski, E. Czerwiński, T. Kozik, J. Chhokar, M. Bała, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, D. Kisielewska, K.Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, E. Stępień, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska
abstract
Research conducted in the framework of the J-PET project aims to develop a cost-effective total-body positron emission tomography scanner. As a first step on the way to construct a full-scale J-PET tomograph from long strips of plastic scintillators, a 24-strip prototype was built and tested. The prototype consists of detection modules arranged axially forming a cylindrical diagnostic chamber with an inner diameter of 360 mm and an axial field-of-view of 300 mm. Promising perspectives for a low-cost construction of a total-body PET scanner are opened due to an axial arrangement of strips of plastic scintillators, which have a small light attenuation, superior timing properties, and the possibility of cost-effective increase of the axial field-of-view. The presented prototype comprises dedicated solely digital front-end electronic circuits and a triggerless data acquisition system which required development of new calibration methods including time, thresholds and gain synchronization. The system and elaborated calibration methods including first results of the 24-module J-PET prototype are presented and discussed. The achieved coincidence resolving time equals to CRT = 490 +- 9 ps. This value can be translated to the position reconstruction accuracy s(Dl) = 18 mm which is fairly position-independent Keywords: positron emission tomography, plastic scintillators, J-PET.
Total branching ratio of the K- two-nucleon absorption in 12C
R. Del Grande, K. Piscicchia, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. Fabbietti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, D. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, O.Vazquez Doce, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal, V. De Leo, G. Mandaglio, M. Martini, E.Perez Del Rio, A. Selce, M. Silarski
abstract
This work is a critical re-analysis of the results obtained by the AMADEUS collaboration, concerning the measurement of the K? multi-nucleon absorption reactions, on a 12C target, in the Lambdap final state (Del Grande et al 2019 Eur. Phys. J. C 79, 190). We show that a good estimate of the K- two-nucleon absorption total branching ratio can be extracted, given that the measured final state interactions and conversion reactions contain information on almost all the remaining hyperon-nucleon final state combinations. The main contribution to the total branching ratio of the K? two-nucleon absorption in Carbon is extracted from the measured ratios and is found to be (16.1+-2.9(stat.)-5.5+4.3(syst.))%, which is in agreement with recent theoretical predictions. The missing contribution, from those few channels for which a Lambdap pair could not be detected in the final state of the interaction, is also estimated combining both the measured branching ratios and the available theoretical information, and amounts to (5.5+-0.1(stat.)-0.9+1.0(syst.))%. All together the total branching ratio of the K- two-nucleon absorption in Carbon is found to be (21.6+-2.9(stat.)-5.6+4.4(syst.))%.
Performance assessment of the 2gamma positronium imaging with the total-body PET scanners
P. Moskal, D. Kisielewska, Z. Bura, C. Chhokar, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, R. Del Grande, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, A. Kamińska, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, P. Małczak, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pędziwiatr, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Ł. Stępień, S. Vandenberghe, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska
abstract
In living organisms the positron-electron annihilation (occurring during the PET imaging) proceeds in about 30% via creation of a metastable ortho-positronium atom. In the tissue, due to the pick-off and conversion processes, over 98% of ortho-positronia annihilate into two 511~keV photons. In this article we assess the feasibility for reconstruction of the mean ortho-positronium lifetime image based on annihilations into two photons. The main objectives of this work include: (i) estimation of the sensitivity of the total-body PET scanners for the ortho-positronium mean lifetime imaging using 2gamma annihilations, and (ii) estimation of the spatial and time resolution of the ortho-positronium image as a function of the coincidence resolving time (CRT) of the scanner. Simulations are conducted assuming that radiopharmaceutical is labelled with 44Sc isotope emitting one positron and one prompt gamma. The image is reconstructed on the basis of triple coincidence events. The ortho-positronium lifetime spectrum is determined for each voxel of the image. Calculations were performed for cases of total-body detectors build of (i) LYSO scintillators as used in the EXPLORER PET, and (ii) plastic scintillators as anticipated for the cost-effective total-body J-PET scanner. To assess the spatial and time resolution the three cases were considered assuming that CRT is equal to 140ps, 50ps and 10ps. The estimated total-body PET sensitivity for the registration and selection of image forming triple coincidences is larger by a factor of 12.2 (for LYSO PET) and by factor of 4.7 (for plastic PET) with respect to the sensitivity for the standard 2gamma imaging by LYSO PET scanners with AFOV=20cm.
Estimating relationship between the Time Over Threshold and energy loss by photons in plastic scintillators used in the J-PET scanner
S. Sharma, J. Chhokar, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, R. Del Grande, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kaplon, H. Karimi, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedzwiecki, M. Palka, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, L. Raczynski, J. Raj, A. Rucinski, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. L. Stepien, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska, P. Moskal
abstract
Time-Over-Threshold (TOT) technique is being used widely due to its implications in developing the multi channel readouts mainly when fast signal processing is required. Using TOT technique as a measure of energy loss instead of charge integration methods significantly reduces the signals readout cost by combining the time and energy information. Therefore, this approach can potentially be used in J-PET tomograph which is build from plastic scintillators characterized by fast light signals. The drawback in adopting this technique is lying in the non-linear correlation between input energy loss and TOT of the signal. The main motivation behind this work is to develop the relationship between TOT and energy loss and validate it with the J-PET tomograph.
The experiment was performed using the 22Na beta emitter source placed in the center of the J-PET tomograph. One can obtain primary photons of two different energies: 511 keV photon from the annihilation of positron (direct annihilation or through the formation of para-Positronim atom or pick-off process of ortho-Positronium atoms), and 1275 keV prompt photon. This allows to study the correlation between TOT values and energy loss for energy range up to 1000 keV. As the photon interacts dominantly via Compton scattering inside the plastic scintillator, there is no direct information of primary photon energy. However, using the J-PET geometry one can measure the scattering angle of the interacting photon. Since, 22Na source emits photons of two different energies, it is required to know unambiguously the energy of incident photons and its corresponding scattering angle for the estimation of energy deposition. In this work, the relationship between Time Over Threshold and energy loss by interacting photons inside the plastic scintillators used in J-PET scanner is established for a energy deposited range 100-1000 keV.
Hit-time and hit-position reconstruction in strips of plastic scintillators using multi-threshold readouts
N. G. Sharma, M. Silarski, J. Chhokar, E. Czerwinski, C. Curceanu, K. Dulski, K. Farbaniec, A. Gajos, R. Del Grande, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kaplon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemien, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedzwiecki, M. Palka, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, L. Raczynski, J. Raj, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska, P. Moskal
abstract
In this article a new method for the reconstruction of hit-position and hit-time of photons in long scintillator detectors is investigated. This research is motivated by the recent development of the positron emission tomography scanners based on plastic scintillators. The proposed method constitutes a new way of signal processing in Multi-Voltage-Technique. It is based on the determination of the degree of similarity between the registered signals and the synchronized model signals stored in a library. The library was established for a set of well defined hit-positions along the length of the scintillator. The Mahalanobis distance was used as a measure of similarity between the two compared signals. The method was validated on the experimental data measured using two-strips J-PET prototype with dimensions of 5x9x300 mm. The obtained Time-of-Flight (TOF) and spatial resolutions amount to 325 ps (FWHM) and 25 mm (FWHM), respectively. The TOF resolution was also compared to the results of an analogous study done using Linear Fitting method. The best TOF resolution was obtained with this method at four pre-defined threshold levels which was comparable to the resolution achieved from the Mahalanobis distance at two pre-defined threshold levels. Although the algorithm of Linear Fitting method is much simpler to apply than the Mahalanobis method, the application of the Mahalanobis distance requires a lower number of applied threshold levels and, hence, decreases the costs of electronics used in PET scanner.
Kaonic Atoms to Investigate Global Symmetry Breaking
C. Curceanu, C. Guaraldo, D. Sirghi, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad , M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedzwiecki, S. Okada, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tuchler, G. Utica, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
abstract
Kaonic atoms measure the antikaon-nucleus interaction at almost zero relative energy, allowing one to determine basic low-energy quantum chromodynamics (QCD) quantities, namely, the antikaon-nucleon (KN) scattering lengths. The latter are important for extracting the sigma terms which are built on the symmetry breaking part of the Hamiltonian, thereby providing a measure of chiral and SU(3) symmetries breaking. After discussing the sigma terms and their relations to the kaonic atoms, we describe the most precise measurement in the literature of kaonic hydrogen, performed at LNF-INFN by the SIDDHARTA experiment. Kaonic deuterium is still to be measured, and two experiments are planned. The first, SIDDHARTA-2 at LNF-INFN was installed on DAFNE in spring 2019 and will collect data in 2020. The second, E57 at J-PARC, will become operative in 2021.
Revisiting the Charged Kaon Mass
D. Bosnar, M. Bazzi, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Makek, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, L. De Paolis, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, D.L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, M. Tüchler, J. Zmeskal, P. Žugec
abstract
The precision of the charged kaon mass is an order of magnitude worse than the precision of the charged pion mass mainly due to two inconsistent measurements. We plan to improve this precision by determining the charged kaon mass with the requested accuracy in the measurements of X-ray transitions in kaonic atoms of selected solid targets with the HPGe detector at DAFNE in Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Italy. The measurements will be performed in parallel with SIDDHARTA-2 measurements of X-ray transitions in gaseous targets. The status of the preparation of the measurements will be presented.
Recent Experimental Results on the Low-energy K- Interaction with Nucleons by AMADEUS
R. Del Grande, M. Bazzi, A.M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R.S. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D.L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
abstract
Recent results obtained by the AMADEUS Collaboration on the experimental investigation of the K- low-energy interaction with light nuclei are summarised. The step 0 of AMADEUS consists in the analysis of the data collected at the DAFNE collider with the KLOE detector during the 2004/2005 data taking campaign. The low momentum K- particles (pK circ 127 MeV/c) are absorbed in the light nuclei contained in the detector setup (H, 4He, 9Be and 12C) and hyperon-pion/hyperon-nucleons, emitted in the final state, are reconstructed. From the study of Lambda pi- and Lambda p correlated production, important information on the KN strong interaction in the non-perturbative QCD regime are extracted.
Kaonic Deuterium Measurement with SIDDHARTA-2 on DAFNE
C. Curceanu, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D.L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, H. Tatsuno, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
abstract
The interaction of antikaons with nucleons and nuclei in the low-energy regime represents an active research field in hadron physics with still many important open questions. The investigation of light kaonic atoms is, in this context, a unique tool to obtain precise information on this interaction. The most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement to date, together with an exploratory measurement of kaonic deuterium, were carried out by the SIDDHARTA Collaboration at the DAFNE electron-positron collider of LNF-INFN, by combining the excellent quality kaon beam delivered by the collider with new experimental techniques, as fast and precise Silicon-Drift X-ray detectors. The measurement of kaonic deuterium will be realized in the near future by SIDDHARTA-2, a major upgrade of SIDDHARTA.
Feasibility study of the positronium imaging with the J-PET tomograph
P. Moskal, D. Kisielewska, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E. Stępień, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska
abstract
A detection system of the conventional PET tomograph is set-up to record data from e+ e- annihilation into two photons with energy of 511 keV, and it gives information on the density distribution of a radiopharmaceutical in the body of the object. In this paper we explore the possibility of performing the three gamma photons imaging based on ortho- positronium annihilation, as well as the possibility of positronium average lifetime imaging with the J-PET tomograph constructed from plastic scintillators. For this purposes simulations of the ortho-positronium formation and its annihilation into three photons were performed taking into account distributions of photons' momenta as predicted by the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the response of the J-PET tomograph. In order to test the proposed ortho-positronium lifetime image reconstruction method, we concentrate on the decay of the ortho-positronium into three photons and applications of radiopharmaceuticals labeled with isotopes emitting a prompt gamma quantum. The proposed method of imaging is based on the determination of hit-times and hit-positions of registered photons which enables the reconstruction of the time and position of the annihilation point as well as the lifetime of the ortho-positronium on an event-by-event basis. We have simulated the production of the positronium in a cylindrical phantom composed of a set of different materials in which the ortho-positronium lifetime varied from 2 ns to ~2.9 ns, as expected for ortho-positronium created in the human body. The presented reconstruction method for total-body J-PET like detector allows to achieve a mean lifetime resolution of about 40 ps. Recent Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy measurements of cancerous and healthy uterine tissues show that this sensitivity may allow to study the morphological changes in cell structures.
Simulation studies of annihilation-photon's polarisation via Compton scattering with the J-PET tomograph
N. Krawczyk, B.C. Hiesmayr, J. Chhokar, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, K. Rakoczy, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
J-PET is the first positron-emission tomograph (PET) constructed from plastic scintillators. It was optimized for the detection of photons from electron-positron annihilation. Such photons, having an energy of 511 keV, interact with electrons in plastic scintillators predominantly via the Compton effect. Compton scattering is at most probable at an angle orthogonal to the electric field vector of the interacting photon. Thus registration of multiple photon scatterings with J-PET enables to determine the polarization of the annihilation photons. In this contribution we present estimates on the physical limitation in the accuracy of the polarization determination of 511 keV photons with the J-PET detector.
The modern era of light kaonic atom experiments
C. Curceanu, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Cargnelli, R. Hayano, J. Marton, J. Zmeskal, T. Ishiwatari, M. Iwasaki, S. Okada, D. L. Sirghi, and H. Tatsuno
abstract
This review covers the modern era of experimental kaonic atom studies, encompassing 20 years of activity, defined by breakthroughs in technological developments which allowed performing a series of long-awaited precision measurements. Kaonic atoms are atomic systems where an electron is replaced by a negatively charged kaon, containing the strange quark, which interacts in the lowest orbits with the nucleus also by the strong interaction. As a result, their study offers the unique opportunity to perform experiments equivalent to scattering at vanishing relative energy. This allows one to study the strong interaction between the antikaon and the nucleon or the nucleus ?at threshold,? namely, at zero relative energy, without the need of ad hoc extrapolation to zero energy, as in scattering experiments. The fast progress achieved in performing precision light kaonic atom experiments, which also solved long-pending inconsistencies with theoretical calculations generated by old measurements, relies on the development of novel cryogenic targets, x-ray detectors, and the availability of pure and intense charged kaon beams, which propelled an unprecedented progress in the field. Future experiments, based on new undergoing technological developments, will further boost the kaonic atom studies, thus fostering a deeper understanding of the low-energy strong interaction extended to the second family of quarks.
X-ray Detectors for Kaonic Atoms Research at DAFNE
C. Curceanu, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad , M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci , P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, H. Tatsuno, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann and J. Zmeskal
abstract
This article presents the kaonic atom studies performed at the INFN National Laboratory of Frascati (Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell'INFN, LNF-INFN) since the opening of this field of research at the DAFNE collider in early 2000. Significant achievements have been obtained by the DAFNE Exotic Atom Research (DEAR) and Silicon Drift Detector for Hadronic Atom Research by Timing Applications (SIDDHARTA) experiments on kaonic hydrogen, which have required the development of novel X-ray detectors. The 2019 installation of the new SIDDHARTA-2 experiment to measure kaonic deuterium for the first time has been made possible by further technological advances in X-ray detection
K- multi-nucleon absorption cross sections and branching ratios in Lambda p and Sigma0 p final states
R. Del Grande, K. Piscicchia, O. Vazquez Doce, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. Fabbietti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, D. L. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal, E. Czerwiński, V. De Leo, P. Fermani, G. Mandaglio, M. Martini, N. Raha, A. Selce, M. Silarski
abstract
The determination of low-energy cross sections and branching ratios of the K- multi-nucleon absorption processes in Lambda p and Sigma0 p final states performed by the AMADEUS collaboration is presented. Low momentum K- (pK- ~127 MeV/c) produced at the DAFNE collider are impinged on a Carbon target within the KLOE detector and the two and three nucleon absorption processes are disentangled by comparing the experimental data to phenomenological calculations. The Lambda p spectra entirely interpreted in terms of K- multi-nucleon absorption processes; the possible contribution of a K-pp bound state is demonstrated to overlap with the two nucleon capture process, its absolute yield thus resulting indistinguishable.
Feasibility studies of the polarization of photons beyond the optical wavelength regime with the J-PET detector
P. Moskal, N. Krawczyk, B. C. Hiesmayr, M. Bała, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, R. Del Grande, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczynski, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, M. Silarski, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska
abstract
J-PET is a detector optimized for registration of photons from the electron-positron annihilation via plastic scintillators where photons interact predominantly via Compton scattering. Registration of both primary and scattered photons enables to determinate the linear polarization of the primary photon on the event by event basis with a certain probability. Here we present quantitative results on the feasibility of such polarization measurements of photons from the decay of positronium with the J-PET and explore the physical limitations for the resolution of the polarization determination of 511keV photons via Compton scattering. For scattering angles of about 82 degree (where the best contrast for polarization measurement is theoretically predicted) we find
that the single event resolution for the determination of the polarization is about 40 degree (predominantly due to properties
of the Compton effect). However, for samples larger than ten thousand events the J-PET is capable of determining relative average polarization of these photons with the precision of about few degrees. The obtained results open new perspectives for studies of various physics phenomena such as quantum entanglement and tests of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium and extend the energy range of polarization measurements by five orders of magnitude beyond the optical wavelength regime.
Evaluation of Single-Chip, Real-Time Tomographic Data Processing on FPGA - SoC Devices
G. Korcyl, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, B. Flak, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, M. Kajetanowicz, D. Kisielewska, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pawlik- Niedźwiecka, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, P. Rajda, Z. Rudy, P. Salabura, N. G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R. Y. Shopa, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, P. Strzempek, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, R. Zaleski, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
A novel approach to tomographic data processing
has been developed and evaluated using the Jagiellonian PET (J-
PET) scanner as an example. We propose a system in which there
is no need for powerful, local to the scanner processing facility,
capable to reconstruct images on the fly. Instead we introduce a
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) System-on-Chip (SoC)
platform connected directly to data streams coming from the
scanner, which can perform event building, filtering, coincidence
search and Region-Of-Response (ROR) reconstruction by the
programmable logic and visualization by the integrated
processors. The platform significantly reduces data volume
converting raw data to a list-mode representation, while
generating visualization on the fly.
A feasibility study of the time reversal violation test based on polarization of annihilation photons from the decay of ortho-Positronium with the J-PET detector
J. Raj, A. Gajos, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, K. Rakoczy, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a novel device being developed at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland based on organic scintillators. J-PET is an axially symmetric and high acceptance scanner that can be used as a multi-purpose detector system. It is well suited to pursue tests of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium in addition to medical
imaging. J-PET enables the measurement of both momenta and the polarization vectors of annihilation photons. The latter is a unique feature of the J-PET detector which allows the study of time reversal symmetry violation operator which can be constructed solely from the annihilation photons momenta before and after the scattering in the detector.
Commissioning of the J-PET detector in view of the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy
K. Dulski, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, T. Kozik, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, K. Rakoczy, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is the first PET device built from plastic scintillators. It is a multi-purpose detector designed for medical imaging and for studies of properties of positronium atoms in porous matter and in living organisms. In this article we report on the commissioning of the J-PET detector in view of studies of positronium decays. We present results of analysis of the positron lifetime measured in the porous polymer. The obtained results prove that J-PET is capable of performing simultaneous imaging of the density distribution of annihilation points as well as positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy.
Feasibility study of the time reversal symmetry tests in decay of metastable positronium atoms with the J-PET detector
A. Gajos, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, M. Gorgol, N. Gupta-Sharma, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, K. Kacprzak, L. Kaplon, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz Niedzwiecki, M. Paalka, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, L. Raczynski, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska, M. Zielinski, P. Moskal
abstract
This article reports on the feasibility of testing of the symmetry under reversal in time in a purely leptonic system constituted by positronium atoms using the J-PET detector. The present state of T symmetry tests is discussed with an emphasis on the scarcely explored sector of leptonic systems. Two possible strategies of searching for manifestations of T violation in non-vanishing angular correlations of final state observables in the decays of metastable triplet states of positronium available with J-PET are proposed and discussed. Results of a pilot measurement with J-PET and assessment of its performance in reconstruction of three-photon decays are shown along with an analysis of its impact on the sensitivity of the detector for the determination of T -violation sensitive observables.
First measurement of the K-n->Lambda pi- non-resonant transition amplitude below threshold
K. Piscicchia, S. Wycech, L. Fabbietti, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, J. Marton, P. Moskal, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, I. Tucakovic, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, P. Branchini, E. Czerwinski, V. De Leo, E. De Lucia, A. Di Cicco, P. Fermani, S. Fiore, W. Krzemien, G. Mandaglio, M. Martini, E. Perez del Rio , A. Selce
abstract
We present the analysis of K- absorption processes on 4He leading to Lambda pi- final states, measured with the KLOE e+e- spectrometer at the DAFNE collider and extract, for the first time, the modulus of the non-resonant K-n->Lambda pi- direct production amplitude about 33 MeV below the KbarN threshold. This analysis also allows to disentangle the K- nuclear absorption at-rest from the in-flight capture, for K- momenta of about 120 MeV. The data are interpreted with the help of a phenomenological model, and the modulus of the non-resonant K-n->Lambda pi- amplitude for K- absorption at-rest is found to be |A_K-n->Lambda pi-| = (0.334+-0.018(stat.)+0.034 -0.058 (syst.)) fm.
Search for Deeply Bound Kaonic Nuclear States in AMADEUS experiment
M. Skurzok, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Guaraldo, J. Marton, P. Moskal, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, I. Tucakovic, O. Vazquez Doce, S. Wycech, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
abstract
We briefly report on the search for Deeply Bound Kaonic Nuclear States with AMADEUS in the Sigma0 p channel and future perspectives.
A Method to Produce Linearly Polarized Positrons and Positronium Atoms with the J-PET Detector
M. Mohammed, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, Shivani, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
A method for creating linearly polarized positrons and ortho-positronium (o-Ps) atoms with the J-PET detector is presented. The unique geometry and properties of the J-PET tomography enable one to design a positron source such that the quantization axis for the estimation of the linear polarization of produced o-Ps can be determined on the event by event basis in a direction of the positron motion. We intend to use 22Na or other beta+ decay isotopes as a source of polarized positrons. Due to the parity violation in the beta decay, the emitted positrons are longitudinally polarized. The choice of the quantization axis is based on the known position of the positron emitter and the reconstructed position of the positronium annihilation. We show that the J-PET tomography is equipped with all needed components.
Human Tissue Investigations Using PALS Technique - Free Radicals Influence
B. Jasińska, B. Zgardzińska, G. Chołubek, M. Pietrow, M. Gorgol, K. Wiktor, K. Wysogląd, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jodłowska-Jędrych, D. Kamińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, H. Wiktor, W. Wiślicki, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
The positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy was applied to the samples of the human uterine leiomyomas and the normal myometrium tissues taken from the selected place of the uterus during a surgery. The method indicated differences in values of the measured positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy parameters (lifetimes and intensities) between healthy and diseased tissue samples. The additional measurements were performed either in darkness or in presence of visible light which influenced the free radicals present in both kind of tissues and, as a result, made changes in free annihilation and o-Ps decay lifetime and intensity values.
Preliminary Studies of J-PET Detector Spatial Resolution
M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Alfs, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, Shivani, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R.Y. Shopa, A. Strzelecki, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
The J-PET detector, based on long plastic scintillator strips, was recently constructed at the Jagiellonian University. It consists of 192 modules axially arranged into three layers, read out from both sides by digital constant-threshold front-end electronics. This work presents preliminary results of measurements of the spatial resolution of the J-PET tomograph performed with 22Na source placed at selected position inside the detector chamber.
Analysis procedure of the positronium lifetime spectra for the J-PET detector
K. Dulski , B. Zgardzińska , P. Białas , C. Curceanu E. Czerwiński , A. Gajos , B. Głowacz , M. Gorgol , B. C. Hiesmayr , B. Jasińska , D. Kisielewska-Kamińska , G. Korcyl , P. Kowalski , T. Kozik , N. Krawczyk , W. Krzemień , E. Kubicz , M. Mohammed , M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki , M. Pałka , L. Raczyński , J. Raj , Z. Rudy , N. G. Sharma, S. Sharma, Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski , M. Skurzok , A. Wieczorek , W. Wiślicki , M. Zieliński , P. Moskal
abstract
Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) has shown to be a powerful tool to study the nanostructures of porous materials. Positron Emissions Tomography (PET) are devices allowing imaging of metabolic processes e.g. in human bodies. A newly developed device, the J-PET (Jagiellonian PET), will allow PALS in addition to imaging, thus combining both analyses providing new methods for physics and medicine. In this contribution we present a computer program that is compatible with the J-PET software. We compare its performance with the standard program LT 9.0 by using PALS data from hexane measurements at different temperatures. Our program is based on an iterative procedure, and our fits prove that it performs as good as LT 9.0.
Introduction of total variation regularization into filtered backprojection algorithm
L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, K. Klimaszewski, W. Krzemień, P. Kowalski, R. Shopa, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska-Kamińska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
In this paper we extend the state-of-the-art filtered backprojection (FBP) method with application of the concept of Total Variation regularization. We compare the performance of the new algorithm with the most common form of regularizing in the FBP image reconstruction via apodizing functions. The methods are validated in terms of cross-correlation coefficient between reconstructed and real image of radioactive tracer distribution using standard Derenzo-type phantom. We demonstrate that the proposed approach results in higher cross-correlation values with respect
to the standard FBP method.
Time calibration of the J-PET detector
M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, D. Alfs, P. Bialas, Shivani, C. Curceanu , E. Czerwinski , K. Dulski , A. Gajos, B. G lowacz , M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik , N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz , M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, S. Niedzwiecki, M. Palka, L. Raczynski , J. Raj, Z. Rudy, N. G. Sharma, S. Sharma , R. Y. Shopa , A. Wieczorek, W. Wislicki , B. Zgardzinska, M. Zielinski, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) project carried out in the Institute of Physics of the Jagiellonian University is focused on construction and tests of the first prototype of PET scanner for medical diagnostic which allows for the simultaneous 3D imaging of the whole human body using organic scintillators. The J-PET prototype consists of 192 scintillator strips forming three cylindrical layers which are optimized for the detection of photons from the electron-positron annihilation with high time- and high angular-resolutions. In this article we present time calibration and synchronization of the whole J-PET detection system by irradiating each single detection module with a 22Na source and a small detector providing common reference time for synchronization of all the modules.
Novel scintillating material 2-(4-styrylphenyl)benzoxazole for the fully digital and MRI compatible J-PET tomograph based on plastic scintillators
A. Wieczorek, K. Dulski, Sz. Niedźwiecki, D. Alfs, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, A. Danel, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, D. Kamińska, Ł. Kapłon, A. Kochanowski, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Kucharek, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, O. Rundel, N. G. Sharma, M. Silarski, T. Uchacz, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
A novel
plastic
scintillator
is developed
for
the
application
in the
digital
positron
emission
tomography
(PET).
The
novelty
of the
concept
lies
in application
of the
2-(4-styrylphenyl)
benzoxazole
as
a wavelength
shifter.
The
substance
has
not
been
used
as
scintillator
dop-
ant
before.
A dopant
shifts
the
scintillation
spectrum
towards
longer
wavelengths
making
it
more
suitable
for
applications
in scintillators
of long
strips
geometry
and
light
detection
with
digital
silicon
photomultipliers.
These
features
open
perspectives
for
the
construction
of the
cost-effective
and
MRI-compatib
le PET
scanner
with
the
large
field
of view.
In this
article
we
present
the
synthesis
method
and
characterize
performance
of the
elaborated
scintillator
by
determining
its
light
emission
spectrum,
light
emission
efficiency,
rising
and
decay
time
of
the
scintillation
pulses
and
resulting
timing
resolution
when
applied
in the
positron
emission
tomography.
The
optimal
concentratio
n of the
novel
wavelength
shifter
was
established
by
maximizing
the
light
output
and
it was
found
to be
0.05
?
for
cuboidal
scintillator
with
dimen-
sions
of 14
mm
x 14
mm
x 20
mm.
Low-energy Antikaon-Nucleon/Nuclei Interaction Studies by AMADEUS
K. Piscicchia, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Guaraldo, J. Marton, P. Moskal, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, I. Tucakovic, O. Vazquez Doce, S. Wycech, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
abstract
The AMADEUS experiment deals with the investigation of the low-energy kaon?nuclei hadronic interaction at the DA?NE collider at LNF-INFN, which is fundamental to solve longstanding questions in the non-perturbative strangeness QCD sector. AMADEUS step 0 consisted in the reanalysis of the 2004/2005 KLOE data, exploiting K- absorptions in H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, leading to the first invariant mass spectroscopy study with very low-momentum (100 MeV) in-flight K? captures. With AMADEUS step 1, a dedicated pure carbon target was implemented in the central region of the KLOE detector, providing a high statistic sample of pure at-rest K? nuclear interaction. The results obtained in the analyses of the hyperon?pion correlated events, searching for the resonant shapes of Y states, will be described.
Commissioning of the J-PET Detector for Studies of Decays of Positronium Atoms
E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a detector for medical imaging of the whole human body as well as for physics studies involving detection of electron?positron annihilation into photons. J-PET has high angular and time resolution, and allows for measurement of spin of the positronium and the momenta and polarization vectors of annihilation quanta. In this article, we present the potential of the J-PET system for the background rejection in the decays of positronium atoms.
J-PET: A New Technology for the Whole-body PET Imaging
S. Niedźwiecki, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, Ł. Kapłon, D. Kisielewska-Kamińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is the first PET built from plastic scintillators. J-PET prototype consists of 192 detection modules arranged axially in three layers forming a cylindrical diagnostic chamber with the inner diameter of 85 cm and the axial field-of-view of 50 cm. An axial arrangement of long strips of plastic scintillators, their small light attenuation, superior timing properties, and relative ease of the increase of the axial field-of-view opens promising perspectives for the cost effective construction of the whole-body PET scanner, as well as construction of MR and CT compatible PET inserts. Present status of the development of the J-PET tomograph will be presented and discussed.
Three-dimensional Image Reconstruction in J-PET Using Filtered Back-projection Method
R.Y. Shopa, K. Klimaszewski, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska-Kamińska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
We present a method and preliminary results of the image reconstruction in the Jagiellonian PET tomograph. Using GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission), interactions of the 511 keV photons with a cylindrical detector were generated. Pairs of such photons, flying back-to-back, originate from e+e? annihilations inside a 1 mm spherical source. Spatial and temporal coordinates of hits were smeared using experimental resolutions of the detector. We incorporated the algorithm of the 3D Filtered Back Projection, implemented in the STIR and TomoPy software packages, which differ in approximation methods. Consistent results for the Point Spread Functions of ? 5 ÷ 7 mm and ? 9 ÷ 20 mm were obtained, using STIR, for transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively, with no time-of-flight information included.
Low-energy Kaon-Nuclei Interaction Studies at DAFNE: SIDDHARTA-2 and AMADEUS
C. Curceanu, A. Amirkhani, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, A.M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, A. Dawood Butt, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R.S. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, H. Tatsuno, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
abstract
The DAFNE electron?positron collider of the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati of INFN has made available a unique quality low-energy negatively charged kaons ?beam?, which is being used to study the kaon?nucleon/nuclei interactions by the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment and the AMADEUS Collaboration. The dynamics of the strong interaction processes in the non-perturbative regime is approached by lattice calculations and effective field theories (ChPT) which are still lacking experimental results in the low-energy regime, fundamental for their good understanding. The studies of kaonic atoms and of the kaonic nuclear processes performed by SIDDHARTA-2 and AMADEUS play in this context a key-role.
Human Tissues Investigation Using PALS Technique
B. Jasińska, B. Zgardzińska, G. Chołubek, M. Gorgol, K. Wiktor, K. Wysogląd, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jodłowska-Jędrych, D. Kamińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, N.G. Sharma, S. Sharma, R. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, A. Wieczorek, H. Wiktor, W. Wiślicki, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
Samples of uterine leiomyomatis and normal tissues taken from patients
after surgery were investigated using the Positron Annihilation Lifetime
Spectroscopy (PALS). Significant differences in all PALS parameters
between normal and diseased tissues were observed. For all studied patients,
it was found that the values of the free annihilation and orthopositronium
lifetime are larger for the tumorous tissues than for the healthy
ones. For most of the patients, the intensity of the free annihilation and
ortho-positronium annihilation was smaller for the tumorous than for the
healthy tissues. For the first time, in this kind of studies, the 3gamma fraction
of positron annihilation was determined to describe changes in the tissue
porosity during morphologic alteration.
Calculation of the time resolution of the J-PET tomograph using kernel density estimation
L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, W. Krzemień, P. Kowalski, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kamińska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, Z. Rudy, O. Rundel, N. Gupta-Sharma, M. Silarski, J. Smyrski, A. Strzelecki, A. Wieczorek, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński and P. Moskal
abstract
In this paper we estimate the time resolution of the J-PET scanner built from plastic scintillators. We incorporate the method of signal processing using the Tikhonov regularization framework and the kernel density estimation method. We obtain simple, closed-form analytical formulae for time resolution. The proposed method is validated using signals registered by means of the single detection unit of the J-PET tomograph built from a 30?cm long plastic scintillator strip. It is shown that the experimental and theoretical results obtained for the J-PET scanner equipped with vacuum tube photomultipliers are consistent.
A feasibility study of ortho-positronium decays measurement with the J-PET scanner based on plastic scintillators
D. Kamińska, A. Gajos, E. Czerwiński, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, K. Dulski, B. Głowacz, N. Gupta-Sharma, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, M. Silarski, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
abstract
We present a study of the application of the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) for the registration of gamma quanta from decays of ortho-positronium (o-Ps). The J-PET is the first positron emission tomography scanner based on organic scintillators in contrast to all current PET scanners based on inorganic crystals. Monte Carlo simulations show that the J-PET as an axially symmetric and high acceptance scanner can be used as a multi-purpose detector well suited to pursue research including e.g. tests of discrete symmetries in decays of ortho-positronium in addition
to the medical imaging. The gamma quanta originating from o-Ps decay interact in the plastic scintillators predominantly via the Compton effect, making the direct measurement of their energy impossible. Nevertheless, it is shown in this paper that the J-PET scanner will enable studies of the o-Ps->3g decays with angular and energy resolution equal to sigma(theta) = 0.4^{circ} and sigma(E) = 4.1 keV, respectively. An order of magnitude shorter decay time of signals from plastic scintillators with respect to the inorganic crystals results not only in better timing properties crucial for the reduction of physical and instrumental background, but also suppresses significantly the pileups, thus enabling compensation of the lower efficiency of the plastic scintillators by performing measurements with higher positron source activities.
Potential of the J-PET Detector for Studies of Discrete Symmetries in Decays of Positronium Atom - a Purely Leptonic System
P. Moskal, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Białas, E. Czerwinski, C. Curceanu, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, D. Kaminska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemien , N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedzwiecki, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, L. Raczynski, Z. Rudy, M. Silarski, A. Wieczorek, W. Wislicki, M. Zielinski
abstract
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) was constructed
as a prototype of the cost-effective scanner for the simultaneous
metabolic imaging of the whole human body. Being optimized for the detection
of photons from the electron?positron annihilation with high timeand
high angular-resolution, it constitutes a multi-purpose detector providing
new opportunities for studying the decays of positronium atoms.
Positronium is the lightest purely leptonic object decaying into photons.
As an atom bound by a central potential, it is a parity eigenstate, and
as an atom built out of an electron and an anti-electron, it is an eigenstate
of the charge conjugation operator. Therefore, the positronium is
a unique laboratory to study discrete symmetries whose precision is limited,
in principle, by the effects due to the weak interactions expected at the level of (10????14) and photon?photon interactions expected at the
level of (10????9). The J-PET detector enables to perform tests of discrete
symmetries in the leptonic sector via the determination of the expectation
values of the discrete-symmetries-odd operators, which may be constructed
from the spin of ortho-positronium atom and the momenta and polarization
vectors of photons originating from its annihilation. In this article, we
present the potential of the J-PET detector to test the C, CP, T and CPT
symmetries in the decays of positronium atoms.
J-PET: A Novel TOF-PFT Detector based on Plastic Scintillators
P. Moskal, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Bialas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Glowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, D. Kaminska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemien, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, S. Niedzwiecki, M. Palka, L. Raczynski, Z. Rudy, O. Rundel, NG. Sharma, M. Silarski, J. Smyrski, A. Strzelecki, A. Wieczorek, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska, M. Zielinski
abstract
The purpose of the reported research is the elaboration of the method for construction of the cost-effective whole body single-bed positron emission tomography scanner enabling simultaneous PET/CT and PET/MR imaging The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is built out of 192 scintillator strips arranged axially in three layers forming a cylindrical diagnostic chamber with the diameter of 85 cm and axial field of-view of 50 cm. The novelty of the concept lies in employing long strips of plastic scintillators instead of crystals as detectors of the annihilation quanta, and in using the timing of signals instead of their amplitudes for the reconstruction of Lines-of Response. To take advantage of the superior timing properties of plastic scintillators a novel multi-voltage-threshold front-end electronics was developed allowing for sampling of signals in a voltage domain. An axial arrangement of long strips of plastic scintillators, and their small light attenuation allows us to make a TOE-PET scanner with a long axial field-of-view. The presented solution opens unique possibilities of combining PET with CT and PET with MRI for scanning the same part of a patient at the same time with both methods. The relative ease of the cost effective increase of the axial field-of-view makes the J-PET tomograph competitive with respect to the current commercial PET scanners as regards sensitivity and time resolution.
Statistical Analysis of Time Resolution of the J-PET Scanner
L. Raczynski, W. Wislicki, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemien, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Bialas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Glowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, D. Kaminska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, S. Niedzwiecki, M. Palka, Z. Rudy, O. Rundel, NG. Sharma, M. Silarski, J. Smyrski, A. Strzelecki, A. Wieczorek, B. Zgardzinska, M. Zielinski, P. Moskal
abstract
The commercial Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners use inorganic crystal scintillators for the detection of gamma photons. The Jagiellonian-PET (J-PET) detector exhibits high time resolution due to use of fast plastic scintillators and dedicated electronics circuits. Since the time resolution of PET scanner is influenced by numerous factors, e.g. a type of photomultipliers attached to the scintillators, the optimal selection of components of the J-PET system requires detailed understanding of the method for calculation the time resolution. In this paper we show the idea of this method, based on statistical analysis of the observed signals on the photomultiplier's output. The method is tested using signals registered by means of the single detection module of the J-PET scanner built out from 30 cm long plastic scintillator strips. We investigate two main factors affecting the photon registration probability, photomultipliers quantum efficiency and photomultipliers transit time spread. We demonstrate that the quantum efficiency of photomultipliers represents the most important factor influencing overall performance of the J-PET scanner.
Studies of discrete symmetries in a purely leptonic system using the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph
P. Moskal, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Bialas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwinski, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Glowacz, N. Gupta-Sharma, M. Gorgol, BC. Hiesmayr, B. Jasinska, D. Kaminska, O. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemien, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, S. Niedzwiecki, M. Pawlik-Niedzwiecka, L. Raczynski, Z. Rudy, M. Silarski, J. Smyrski, A. Wieczorek, W. Wislicki, B. Zgardzinska, M. Zielinski
abstract
Discrete symmetries such as parity (P), charge-conjugation (C) and time reversal (T) are of fundamental importance in physics and cosmology. Breaking of charge conjugation symmetry (C) and its combination with parity (CP) constitute necessary conditions for the existence of the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the observed Universe. The presently known sources of discrete symmetries violations can account for only a tiny fraction of the excess of matter over antimatter. So far CP and T symmetries violations were observed only for systems involving quarks and they were never reported for the purely leptonic objects. In this article we describe briefly an experimental proposal for the test of discrete symmetries in the decays of positronium atom which is made exclusively of leptons. The experiments are conducted by means of the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) which is constructed from strips of plastic scintillators enabling registration of photons from the positronium annihilation. J-PET tomograph together with the positronium target system enable to measure expectation values for the discrete symmetries odd operators constructed from (i)spin vector of the ortho-positronium atom, (ii) momentum vectors of photons originating from the decay of positronium, and (iii) linear polarization direction of annihilation photons. Linearly polarized positronium will be produced in the highly porous aerogel or polymer targets, exploiting longitudinally polarized positrons emitted by the sodium Na-22 isotope. Information about the polarization vector of ortho-positronium will be available on the event by event basis and will be reconstructed from the known position of the positron source and the reconstructed position of the ortho-positronium annihilation. In 2016 the first tests and calibration runs are planned, and the data collection with high statistics will commence in the year 2017.
K- absorption on two nucleons and ppK- bound state search in the E0p final state
O. Vazquez Doce, L. Fabbietti, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, J. Marton, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, D. Sirghi, I. Tucakovic, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal, A. Anastasi, F. Curciarello, E. Czerwinski, W. Krzemien, G. Mandaglio, M. Martini, P. Moskal, V. Patera, E. Perez del Rio, M. Silarski
abstract
We report the measurement of K- absorption processes in the Sigma_0p final state and the first exclusive measurement of the two nucleon absorption (2NA) with the KLOE detector. The 2NA process without further interactions is found to be 12% of the sum of all other contributing processes, including absorption on three and more nucleons or 2NA followed by final state interactions with the residual nucleons. We also determine the possible contribution of the ppK- bound state to the ?0p final state. A yield of ppK-/K_stop is found to be (0.044+/-0.009stat+0.004+/-0.005syst)?10?2 but its statistical significance based on an F-test is only 1sigma.
Measurement of the Strong Interaction Induced Shift and Width of the 1s State of Kaonic Deuterium at J-PARC
J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu, M. Sato, R.S. Hayano, P. Moskal, M. Silarski, et al.
abstract
The antikaon?nucleon (KN) interaction close to threshold provides crucial information on the interplay between spontaneous and explicit chiral symmetry breaking in low-energy QCD. In this context, the importance of kaonic deuterium X-ray spectroscopy has been well recognized, but no experimental results have yet been obtained due to the difficulty of the measurement. We propose to measure the shift and width of the kaonic deuterium 1s state with an accuracy of 60 eV and 140 eV, respectively, at J-PARC. These results, together with the kaonic hydrogen data (KpX at KEK, DEAR and SIDDHARTA at DA?NE), will then permit the determination of values of both the isospin I = 0 and I = 1 antikaon?nucleon scattering lengths and will provide the most stringent constraints on the antikaon?nucleon interaction, promising a breakthrough. Refined Monte Carlo studies were performed, including the investigation of background suppression factors for the described setup. These studies have demonstrated the feasibility of determining the shift and width of the kaonic deuterium atom 1s state with the desired accuracy of 60 eV and 140 eV.
Unprecedented Studies of the Low-energy Negatively Charged Kaons Interactions in Nuclear Matter by AMADEUS
C. Curceanu, K. Piscicchia, M. Bazzi, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, A.M. Bragadireanu, A. Clozza, M. Cargnelli, A. D'Uffizi, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, D. Pietreanu, M. Poli Lener, R. Quaglia, A. Romero Vidal, E. Sbardella, A. Scordo, H. Shi, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, I. Tucakovic, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
abstract
The AMADEUS experiment aims to provide unique quality data of K? hadronic interactions in light nuclear targets, in order to solve fundamental open questions in the non-perturbative strangeness QCD sector, like the controversial nature of the ?(1405) state, the yield of hyperon formation below threshold, the yield and shape of multi-nucleon K? absorption, processes which are intimately connected to the possible existence of exotic antikaon multi-nucleon clusters. AMADEUS takes advantage of the DA?NE collider, which provides a unique source of monochromatic low-momentum kaons and exploits the KLOE detector as an active target, in order to obtain excellent acceptance and resolution data for K? nuclear capture on H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, both at-rest and in-flight. During the second half of 2012, a successful data taking was performed with a dedicated pure carbon target implemented in the central region of KLOE, providing a high statistic sample of pure at-rest K? nuclear interactions. For the future, dedicated setups involving cryogenic gaseous targets are under preparation.
Revealing Bells nonlocality for unstable systems in high energy physics
B. C. Hiesmayr, A. Di Domenico, C. Curceanu, A. Gabriel, M. Huber, J-A Larsson, P. Moskal
abstract
Entanglement and its consequences?in particular
the violation of Bell inequalities, which defies our concepts
of realism and locality?have been proven to play
key roles in Nature by many experiments for various quantum
systems. Entanglement can also be found in systems
not consisting of ordinary matter and light, i.e. in massive
meson?antimeson systems. Bell inequalities have been discussed
for these systems, but up to date no direct experimental
test to conclusively exclude local realism was found.
This mainly stems from the fact that one only has access to
a restricted class of observables and that these systems are
also decaying. In this Letter we put forward a Bell inequality
for unstable systems which can be tested at accelerator facilities
with current technology. Herewith, the long awaited
proof that such systems at different energy scales can reveal
the sophisticated dynamical nonlocal feature of Nature in
a direct experiment gets feasible. Moreover, the role of entanglement
and CP violation, an asymmetry between matter
and antimatter, is explored, a special feature offered only by
these meson?antimeson systems.
First Experimental Demonstration of Positronium Lifetime Imaging with 44Sc Using the J-PET Scanner
M. Das, S. Sharma, E. Y. Beyene, A. Bilewicz, J. Choiński, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, K. Kubat, D. Kumar, A. Kunimmal Venadan, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, A. Porcelli, B. Rachwał, E. P.D. Río, M. Rädler, M. Skurzok, A. Stolarz, T. Szumlak, S. Tiwari, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, K. Valsan Eliyan, R. Walczak, E.Ł. Stępień, P. Moskal
published in: 2025 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium (NSS), Medical Imaging Conference (MIC) and Room Temperature Semiconductor Detector Conference (RTSD)
Positronium lifetime imaging (PLI) [1], an extension of PET, provides insight into the submolecular properties of tissues by imaging the lifetime of the positronium atom [2]. Currently, the method is under rapid development as regards reconstruction [3], [4] and detection systems [5], [6]. The first studies with the J-PET scanner using 68Ga have demonstrated the feasibility of this technique in human subjects [6]. However, the Ga68 isotope has limitations due to its low yield of de-excitation photons necessary for positronium lifetime estimation. In this context, 44Sc emerges as a promising candidate for PLI [7], offering a clinically optimal half-life of 3.97 hours and a high deexcitation photon yield of 94.3 % with an energy of 1157 keV. In this work, we report the results of the successful demonstration of PLI with 44 Sc using the Modular J-PET tomograph, featuring triggerless data acquisition that enables simultaneous multiphoton detection [8]. 44Sc was produced at the Heavy Ion Laboratory in Warsaw and transported to Jagiellonian University in Kraków. A NEMA IQ phantom with six spheres was used. The three largest spheres were filled with 44Sc, and the three smallest with 18 F, both diluted with water, having an initial activity concentration ratio of 1:3. Event selection was based on the simultaneous detection of two 511 keV photons and one de-excitation photon, enabling reconstruction of images of the mean positronium lifetime [2], [6]. The measured mean o-Ps lifetime shows good agreement with previously reported values in water [9]. This study presents the first-ever demonstration of PLI with 44 Sc, marking a significant advancement and opening new possibilities for developing PLI for clinical applications.
Development of a Cost-Effective Total Body J-PET From Plastic Scintillators: Definitive Design
K. Tayefi Ardebili, E.Y. Beyene, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Das, J. Hajduga, S. Jalali, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Kasperska, A. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, K. Kubat, A.Kunimmal Venadan, D. Kumar, E. Lisowski, F. Lisowski, J. Mędrala-Sowa, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, P. Pandey, S. Parzych, A. Porcelli, B. Rachwał, E.P.D. Río, M. Rädler, S. Sharma, M. Skurzok, T. Szumlak, S. Tiwari, P. Tanty, K.Valsan Eliyan, E. Ł. Stępień, P. Moskal
published in: 2025 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium (NSS), Medical Imaging Conference (MIC) and Room Temperature Semiconductor Detector Conference (RTSD)
Low-Energy Kaon-Nuclei Interaction studies at the DAFNE Collider: a Strangeness Odyssey
F. Artibani, F. Clozza, L. Abbene, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L. G. Toscano, M. Tüchler, J. Zmeskal and C. Curceanu
published in: PoS (QCHSC24) 266
Kaonic atoms provide important observables for the study of the low-energy strong interactions with strangeness. Following SIDDHARTA?s kaonic hydrogen measurement, the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration is performing the kaonic deuterium measurement, which will significantly enhance our understanding of kaon-nucleon interactions. Alongside this groundbreaking goal, the collaboration has provided other important measurements of kaonic atom transitions, which are significant not only for understanding low-energy strong interactions but also for studies in Quantum Electrodynamics. The experiment is also testing state-of-the-art X-ray detectors, paving the way for new technologies and future measurements of kaonic atoms with heavier nuclei.
Tests of New CZT detectors at DAFNE collider for Kaonic Atoms Measurements
F. Artibani, L. Abbene, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. C. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L.G. Toscano, M. Tuchler, J. Zmeskal and C. Curceanu
published in: PoS DISCRETE2024, 031 (2024)
Kaonic atom spectroscopy provides key observables for investigating low-energy strong interactions in strange systems. In this paper, we present an overview of the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration's activities in the field of kaonic atoms, with a particular focus on the development of a new Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) detector system for the study of intermediate-mass kaonic atoms.
This novel detection system, applied for the first time in fundamental physics research at a collider, is designed to extend the energy range accessible in kaonic atom spectroscopy. We report on the characteristics of the detector and the results of test measurements conducted at the DAFNE collider between 2022 and 2024.The tests demonstrated that the detector's energy resolution, efficient background rejection, and good timing performance make it ideal for performing kaonic atom measurements.
The ultimate goal of these developments is to refine our understanding of kaon-multinucleon low-energy strong interactions by providing high-precision measurements of intermediate-mass kaonic atoms.
New Opportunities in Kaonic Atoms Spectroscopy With Novel CZT Detector
F. Artibani, L. Abbene, M. Bettelli, A. Buttacavoli, F. Principato, A. Zappettini, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, F. Sgaramella, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, M. Silarski, A. Spallone, K. Toho, L. Toscano, M. Tuchler, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu, A. Scordo
published in: Frascati Physics Series 76 (2024) 96
Kaonic atoms spectroscopy provides important observables for low-energy strong interactions in strange systems studies. In this paper, an overview of the SIDDHARTA-2 activities in kaonic atoms field is presented. Particular attention is given to the development of the new cadmium-zinc-telluride detection systems to measure intermediate-mass kaonic atoms. The characteristics of the detector, the results of the two first test measurements in DAFNE, and some of the physics goals are presented.
Kaonic atoms studies with SIDDHARTA-2 at DAFNE
K. Toho, L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, L. Toscano, M. Tuchler, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
published in: Frascati Physics Series 76 (2024) 110
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment advances the study of kaonic atoms, focusing on kaonic deuterium
and other kaonic atoms, such as neon, to explore low-energy Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Utilizing
Silicon Drift Detectors and sophisticated veto systems, the experiment conducts high-precision X-ray
spectroscopy to measure strong interaction-induced shifts and broadenings of atomic energy levels. This
enables investigations of both electromagnetic and non-perturbative QCD effects, with high-n transitions
facilitating precision tests of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and lower-level transitions providing
insights into antikaon-nuclei strong interaction. Preliminary observation
A new measurement of the kaonic helium L-lineswith SIDDHARTA-2 at DAFNE
F. Clozza, L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tuchler, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
published in: Frascati Physics Series 76 (2024) 103
The ultimate goal of the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment at the LNF-INFN is to perform the first ever
measurement, via X-ray spectroscopy, of the width and shift induced by the strong interaction to the
2p -> 1s energy transition of kaonic deuterium. Such a measurement has not been performed yet due
to its high difficulty level; in fact, this transition exhibits an extremely low X-ray yield. For this reason,
before starting the kaonic deuterium data taking campaign, an accurate and thorough characterisation
of the experimental apparatus is of primary importance to gauge its performance. To finalize such a task
the best candidate is Helium-4, since the 3d ->2p transition of kaonic helium-4 exhibits a much higher
yield of X-rays. This work reports the results of the characterisation of the SIDDHARTA-2 apparatus in
preparation for the kaonic deuterium measurement. This is done by measuring the shift and width for
the 3d ? 2p transition of kaonic helium-4. The measured values are epsilon_2p = 2.0 pm 1.2(stat) pm 1.5(syst) eV
and Gamma_2p = 1.9 pm 5.7(stat) pm 0.7(syst) eV. The result shows a net enhancement of the performance
of the apparatus when compared to the previous measurement done by the SIDDHARTA experiment
epsilon_2p = 0 pm 6(stat) pm 2(syst) eV, thus providing strong evidence of the potential to perform the kaonic
deuterium measurement.
PANTHEON: Towards high-precision tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle in Nuclear Reaction as a Testbed of Theories Beyond the Standard Model
C. Curceanu, F. Napolitano, M. Bazzi, I. Bolognino, N. Bortolotti, A. Clozza, L. De Paolis, M. Iliescu, S. Manti, A. Marciano, P. Moskal, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, D. L. Sirghi, F. C. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. W. Thomas
published in: Acta Phys. Pol. B Proc. Suppl. 17 (2024) 1-A6
The PANTHEON project aims to test the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) in Nuclear Reactions by searching for nuclear transitions prohibited by PEP in processes respecting the Messiah-Greenberg super-selection rule. The project aims to use the proton beam from the 3.5 MV Singletron accelerator of the Bellotti facility located at the Gran Sasso underground Laboratory, to perform a measurement based on a test setup able to disentangle protons coming from PEP prohibited processes. The goal is to prepare a dedicated setup for future measurements to improve by orders of magnitude the limit on PEP violation established in previous studies and
challenge theories beyond the Standard Model at a precision level presently unattained.
Kaonic helium-4 L-series yield measurement at 2.25 g/l density by SIDDHARTA-2 at DAFNE
F. Sgaramella, M. Bazzi, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, F. Napolitano, A. Scordo, F. Sirghi, A. Spallone, M. Miliucci, F. Artibani, F. Clozza, M. Cargnelli, J. Marton, M. Tüchler, J. Zmeskal, L. Abbene, A. Buttacavoli, F. Principato, D. Bosnar, I. Friščić, M. Bragadireanu, G. Borghi, M. Carminati, G. Deda, C. Fiorini, R. Del Grande, M. Iwasaki, P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, H. Ohnishi, K. Toho, C. Yoshida, D. Sirghi, K. Piscicchia
published in: Acta Phys. Pol. B Proc. Suppl. 17 (2024) 1-A8
This article presents the results of the kaonic helium-4 measurement conducted by the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment, aiming to provide crucial insights into the low-energy strong interaction in the strangeness sector. High-precision X-ray spectroscopy is used to examine the interaction between negatively charged kaons and nuclei in atomic systems. The SIDDHARTA-2setup was optimized through the kaonic helium-4 measurement in preparation for the challenging kaonic deuterium measurement. The kaonic helium-4 measurement at a new density of 2.25 g/l is reported, providing the absolute and relative yields for the L-series transitions, which are essential data for understanding kaonic atom cascade processes.
The measurement of the E2 nuclear resonance effects in kaonic atoms at DA?NE: The KAMEO proposal
L. De Paolis, L. Abbene, M. Bazzi, M. Bettelli, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, J. Obertova, O. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, F. Principato, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D.L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, S. Wycech, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, C. Yoshida, A. Zappettini, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
published in: EPJ Web of Conferences 291 (2024) 05003
KAMEO (Kaonic Atoms Measuring Nuclear Resonance Effects Ob-servables) is a proposal for an experiment aiming to perform the first consistent measurement of the E2 nuclear resonance effects in kaonic molybdenum A=94,96,98,100 isotopes. The E2 nuclear resonance mixes atomic states, due to the electrical quadrupole excitation of nuclear rotational states. It occurs in atoms having the energy of a nuclear excitation state closely matching an atomic de-excitation state energy, and affects the rates of X-ray atomic transitions matching the energy of the resonance. The measurement E2 nuclear resonance effect in KMO isotopes allows the study of the strong kaon-nucleus interaction in a rotational excited nuclear state. Moreover, the effect enables the K- to access an inner atomic level not easily reachable by the kaon normal cascade, due to the nuclear absorption. The KAMEO proposed apparatus consists of 4 enriched Mo A=94,96,98,100 isotope strips, exposed to the kaons produced by the DA?NE collider, for kaonic atoms formation, with a high-purity germanium detector, cooled with liquid nitrogen, used to measure the X-ray atomic transitions. The DA?NE collider is located at the National Laboratories of Frascati (LNF-INFN), in Italy. It is already suited for kaonic atoms measurement by the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration.
Kaonic atoms with SIDDHARTA-2 at the DAFNE collider
F. Sirghi, L. Abbene, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, L. De Paolis, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, F. Sgaramella, S. Niedźwiecki, O. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D.L. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, S. Wycech, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
published in: EPJ Web of Conferences 291 (2024) 01008
. The most important information still missing in the field of the low-energy antikaon-nucleon interactions studies is the experimental determination of the hadronic energy shift and width of kaonic deuterium.
This measurement will be performed by the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment, installed at the DA?NE collider
and presently in data taking campaign. The precise measurement of the shift and width of the 1s level with
respect to the purely electromagnetic calculated values, generated by the presence of the strong interaction,
through the measurement of the X-ray transitions to this level, in kaonic hydrogen, was performed by the SIDDHARTA collaboration, the kaonic deuterium is underway by SIDDHARTA-2. These measurement will allow
the first precise experimental extraction of the isospin dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths, fundamental quantities for understanding low-energy QCD in the strangeness sector. The experimental challenge of
the kaonic deuterium measurement is the very small X-rays yield, the even larger width (compared to kaonic hydrogen), and the difficulty to perform X-rays spectroscopy with weak signals in the high radiation environment
of DA?NE. It was, therefore, crucial to develop a new apparatus involving large-area X-rays detector system,
to optimize the signal and to control and by improve the signal-to-background ratio by gaining in solid angle,
increasing the timing capability, and as well implementing additional charge particle tracking veto systems.
Feasibility study of positronium imaging with Biograph Vision Quadra and Modular J-PET
S. Parzych, J. Baran, E. Yitayew Beyene, M. Conti, A. Coussat, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Valsan Eliyan, A. Gajos, B. Hiesmayr, A. Jędruszczak, K. Kacprzak, M. Kajetanowicz, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, G. Łapkiewicz, L. Mercolli, W. Migdał, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, E. Pérez Del Río, L. Raczyński, A. Rominger, H. Sari, S. Sharma, K. Shi, S. Shivani, R. Shopa, M. Skurzok, W.M. Steinberger, E. Stępień, P. Tanty, F. Tayefi, K. Tayefi Ardebili, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal
published in: 2023 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor Detectors
Positronium Imaging is gaining interest as a new promising method that may improve the diagnostic specificity of Positron Emission Tomography. Recently, the first ex-vivo and in-vivo positronium lifetime images were demonstrated by means of the dedicated multi-photon J-PET system. The latest upgrades of the Biograph Vision Quadra (Siemens Healthineers) to the singles mode acquisition open the possibility of multi-photon imaging. In this simulation-based work, sensitivity of both systems has been assessed as a function of the energy window applied for registration of the prompt photon. The research was conducted using four radioisotopes: 124 I, 68 Ga, 44 Sc, 22 Na, which were chosen due to their medical or laboratory utilization. Simulations were performed with the GATE software. The result indicates that Biograph Vision Quadra provides about 400 times higher sensitivity with respect to the modular J-PET prototype used to demonstrate the first positronium images, assuming full energy acquisition of the prompt photon.
Performance of NEMA characteristics of Modular J-PET
F. Tayefi Ardebili, S. Niedźwiecki, J. Baran, E. Beyene, D. Borys, K. Brzezinski, N. Chug, A. Coussat, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, K. Eliyan, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, B. Hiesmayr, A. Jędruszczak, K. Kacprzak, M. Kajetanowicz, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, D. Kumar, G. Łapkiewicz, W. Migdał, S. Moyo, W. Mryka, S. Parzych, E. Pérez del Río, L. Raczyński, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R. Shopa, M. Skurzok, P. Tanty, K. Tayefi Ardebili, W. Wislicki, E. Stępień, P. Moskal
published in: 2023 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor Detectors
The Modular J-PET scanner, developed by the J-PET collaboration, is a new prototype PET scanner developed based on axially arranged plastic scintillators as a large axial field of view (50cm) affordable tomograph. In this study, the performance characteristics of the scanner were evaluated according to NEMA NU2-2018 standards using Monte Carlo simulation. In order to ensure the selection of true coincidence events, certain criteria were established. Specifically, each photon emitting from a single annihilation must deposit at least 200 keV within 4 ns of a coincidence time window. The preliminary results showed that the sensitivity profile peak was 4 cps/kBq at the center of the detector, While the scatter fraction was estimated to be 39% using the single slice rebinning algorithm. Spatial resolution was estimated around 4.5 mm in the radial and tangential direction and 18 mm in the axial direction.
Normalization and scatter corrections for the J-PET scanner
A. Coussat, W. Krzemień, J. Baran, S. Parzych, L. Raczyński, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, B. Hiesmayr, K. Valsan Eliyan, A. Jędruszczak, K. Kacprzak, A. Gajos, T. Kaplanoglu, Ł. Kapłon, K. Klimaszewski, T. Kozik, G. Łapkiewicz, G. Korcyl, S. Moyo, D. Kumar, W. Mryka, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Sharma, E. Pérez Del Río, S. Shivani, R. Shopa, P. Tanty, M. Skurzok, K. Tayefi, F. Tayefi, E. Stępień, W. Wiślicki, P. Moskal
published in: 2023 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor Detectors
The Jagiellonian PET scanner is a cost-effective large axial FOV Positron Emission Tomography technology that enables multi-photon imaging and is currently under development at the Jagiellonian University. The current 50 cm prototype, named Modular J-PET, is being investigated for various applications. It is well known that PET data can be affected by several effects during acquisition, such as scattered gamma photons or variations in detection efficiency. Consequently, achieving the reconstruction of images of satisfactory quality requires a set of corrections to be applied to each line-of-response. This summary discusses the implementation and performance of scatter and normalization corrections for the Modular J-PET, and their extension prior to the assembly of a total-body Jagiellonian PET scanner. Normalization correction is achieved using component-based normalization, a method particularly suitable for large scanners with a high number of lines-of-response. Scatter correction is achieved using an extension of the single scatter simulation technique that incorporates time-of-flight information. Reconstruction of reference phantoms based on Monte Carlo simulations highlight improvements in image quality. The application of normalization reduces the non-uniformity in the reconstructed image by a factor of 10 in the axial direction and 2 in the radial direction.
SIDDHARTA-2 veto system design and performance for kaonic atoms studies at DAFNE
F. Sgaramella, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tuchler, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 290 (2023) 06005
Light kaonic atoms spectroscopy provides a unique approach to study the low-energy strong interaction in the strangeness sector. Precise measurements of X-ray emission from light kaonic atoms provide valuable information on kaon-nucleus interaction at threshold without the need for extrapolation as required in scattering experiments. The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment at the DA?NE collider of INFN-LNF is now poised to perform the challenging measurements of the K?- d 2p -> 1s transition to extract the isospin-dependent antikaonnucleon scattering lengths. To achieve this goal, the background reduction is a crucial factor. This paper provides an overview of the SIDDHARTA-2 Veto-1 system, which uses scintillators outside the vacuum chamber to detect charged particles produced by K? absorption by the nucleus. The arrival time of these particles is correlated with the position where the kaonic atom has been created inside the setup, allowing for the rejection of kaons stopped outside the target cell, which is a critical component for reducing the background and improve the accuracy of the measurement.
Investigating the E2 Nuclear Resonance Effects in Kaonic Atoms: The KAMEO Proposal
L. De Paolis, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friscic, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, O. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D.L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, S. Wycech, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
published in: EPJ Web of Conferences 290 (2023) 06003
The E2 nuclear resonance effect in kaonic atoms occurs when the energy of atomic de-excitation closely matches the energy of nuclear excitation, leading to the attenuation of some X-ray lines in the resonant isotope target. This phenomenon provides crucial information on the strong interaction between kaons and nuclei. The only nuclear E2 resonance effect observed so far was in the K? ?9842Mo isotope, measured by G. L. Goldfrey, G-K. Lum, and C. E. Wiegand at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in 1975. However, the 25 hours of data taking were not sufficient to yield conclusive results. In four kaonic Molybdenum isotopes (9442Mo, 9642Mo, 9842and Mo, and 10042Mo), the nuclear E2 resonance effect is expected to occur at the same transition with similar energy values. To investigate this, the KAMEO (Kaonic Atoms Measuring Nuclear Resonance Effects Observables) experiment plans to conduct research on kaonic Molybdenum isotopes at the DA?NE e+e? collider during the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment. The experimental strategy involves exposing four solid strip targets, each enriched with one Molybdenum isotope, to negatively charged kaons and using a germanium detector to measure X-ray transitions. In addition, a non-resonant 9242Mo isotope solid strip target will be used as a reference for standard non-resonant transitions.
Towards the first kaonic deuterium measurement with the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment
C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, P. Levi Sandri, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. C. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tuchler, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal
published in: PoS CORFU2022 (2023) 039
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is presently installed at the interaction point of the DA??NE electron-positron collider of the National Laboratories of Frascati (LNF-INFN), in Italy, ready to perform the first measurement of the 2p?1s2p?1s x-ray transition in kaonic deuterium. This measurement, together with that of the kaonic hydrogen 2p?1s2p?1s x-ray transition, performed by the SIDDHARTA experiment in 2009, will allow the determination of antikaon-nucleon isospin-dependent scattering lengths. This paper presents a description of the SIDDHARTA-2 setup, which is getting ready for the kaonic deuterium measurement.
Investigating the E2 nuclear resonance effect in kaonic atoms
L. De Paolis, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, A. Khreptak, P. Levi Sandri, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi. F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, S. Wycech, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal and C. Curceanu
published in: J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 2446 (2023) 012038
The nuclear E2 resonance effect occurs when an atomic de-excitation energy is closely matched by a nuclear excitation energy. It produces an attenuation of some of the atomic X-ray lines in the resonant isotope target. Investigating the nuclear E2 resonance effect in kaonic atoms, important information about kaon-nucleus strong interaction can be provided. The only ${K}^{-}{-}_{42}^{98}mathrm{Mo}$ nuclear resonance effect was measured by G. L. Goldfrey, G- K. Lum and C. E. Wiegand at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, in 1975. The nuclear E2 resonance effect was observed in 25 hours of data taking, not enough to provide a conclusive result. In four kaonic Molybdenum isotopes (${}_{42}^{94}mathrm{Mo}$, ${}_{42}^{96}mathrm{Mo}$, ${}_{42}^{98}mathrm{Mo}$ and ${}_{42}^{100}mathrm{Mo}$), the nuclear E2 resonance effect is expected at the same transition, with similar energy values. The KAMEO (Kaonic Atoms Measuring nuclear resonance Effects Observables) experiment plans to study the E2 nuclear resonance effect in kaonic Molybdenum isotopes at the DA?NE e+e? collider, during the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment. The experimental strategy consists of exposing four solid strip targets, each enriched with one Molybdenum isotope, to negatively charged kaons, using a germanium detector for X-ray transition measurements. A further exposure of a non-resonant ${}_{42}^{92}mathrm{Mo}$ isotope solid strip target will be used as reference for standard non-resonant transitions.
Studies of low-energy K- - nucleus/nuclei interactions with light nuclei by AMADEUS
M. Skurzok, M. Bazzi, M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal and C. Curceanu
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 279 (2023) 11019
The AMADEUS Collaboration aims to provide unique experimental constraints to the antikaon-nucleon strong interaction in the regime of nonperturbative QCD. The K- nuclear captures, both at-rest and in-flight, are studied using the monochromatic low-momentum kaon beam (pK about 120 MeV/c) produced at the DAFNE collider, interacting with the KLOE detector materials. The studies are performed by reconstructing the hyperon-pion and hyperonnucleon final states. In this work a brief description of AMADEUS results for Lambda pi0 and Lambda p final states is presented.
Kaonic atoms measurements with SIDDHARTA-2
F. Sgaramella, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Ohnishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M .Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu
published in: J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 2446 (2023) 012023
The SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration is aiming to perform the challenging measurement of kaonic deuterium X-ray transitions to the ground state. This will allow to extract the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths, providing input to the theory of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) in the non-perturbative regime with strangeness. This work describes the SIDDHARTA-2 experimental apparatus and presents the results obtained during the commissioning phase realized with kaonic helium measurements. In particular, the first observation of the kaonic helium transitions to the 3s level (M-lines), reported in this work, represents a new source of information to study the kaonic helium cascade process and demonstrates the potential of the SIDDHARTA-2 apparatus, in the view of the ambitious kaonic deuterium measurement.
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment: preparation for the first kaonic deuterium measurement
L. De Paolis, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, A. Khreptak, P. Levi Sandri, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi. F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal and C. Curceanu
published in: PoS ICHEP2022 (2022) 1003
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment aims to perform the first measurement of the kaonic deuterium 2p -> 1s x-ray transitions. The apparatus is presently installed at the interaction region of the DAFNE electron-positron collider at the National Laboratories of Frascati (LNF-INFN), in Italy. Kaonic deuterium and kaonic hydrogen 2p -> 1s x-ray transitions measurements, the latter one already performed by the SIDDHARTA collaboration, allow the determination of antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. A description of the SIDDHARTA-2 apparatus in preparation for the kaonic deuterium measurement is provided in this paper.
Trigger rejection factor in the first kaonic helium run with the complete SIDDHARTA-2 setup
L. De Paolis, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi. F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, C. Yoshida, J. Zmeskal and C. Curceanu
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 270 (2022) 00028
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment aims to perform the first measurement of the kaonic deuterium 2p -> 1s x-ray transition energy. Such measurement, together with the measurement of kaonic hydrogen 2p -> 1s x-ray energy transition performed by the SIDDHARTA experiment in 2011, allows the determination of kaon proton and kaon neutron scattering lengths and represents a fundamental input for the low energies QCD in the strangeness sector theory. The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is presently installed at the DAFNE electronpositron collider at the National Laboratories of Frascati, in Italy. In May 2022, the kaonic 4He x-ray transitions measurement was performed by the complete SIDDHARTA-2 setup, by using a gaseous target. The result of this measurement is presented in this paper, with a specific focus on the background rejection performed by the kaon trigger system.
Studies of the Linearity and Stability of Silicon Drift Detectors for Kaonic Atoms X-ray Spectroscopy
A. Khreptak, C. Amsler, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, S. Manti, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, H. Onishi, K. Piscicchia, Y. Sada, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal, C. Yoshida, C. Curceanu
published in: Acta Phys. Polon. B Proc. Suppl. 15 (2022) 4-A1
The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment at the DAFNE collider aims to perform
precision measurements of kaonic atoms X-ray spectroscopy for the
investigation of the antikaon?nucleon strong interaction. To achieve this
goal, novel large-area Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) have been developed.
These devices have special geometry, field configuration, and readout electronics
that ensure excellent performance in terms of linearity and stability.
The paper presents preliminary results for the linearity determination and
stability monitoring of the SDDs system during the measurement of kaonic
deuterium carried out in the summer of 2022.
Status and perspectives for low energy kaon-nucleon interaction studies at DAFNE: from SIDDHARTA to SIDDHARTA-2
F. Sirghi, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
published in: PoS PANIC2021 (2022) 200
The study of the antikaon nucleon system at very low energies plays a key role for the understanding
of the strong interaction between hadrons in the strangeness sector. The information provided
by the low energy kaon- nucleon interaction is accessible through the study of kaonic atoms.
The lightest atomic systems, namely the kaonic hydrogen and the kaonic deuterium, provide the
isospin dependent kaon-nucleon scattering lengths by measuring the X-rays emitted during their
de-excitation to the 1s level. Until now, the most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement and an
exploratory measurement of kaonic deuterium were carried out at the DA?NE collider by the
SIDDHARTA collaboration, combining the excellent quality kaon beam delivered by the collider
with new experimental techniques, as fast and very precise X-ray detectors, like the Silicon Drift
Detectors. Today, the most important experimental information missing in the field of the lowenergy antikaon-nucleon interactions is the experimental determination of the hadronic energy
shift and width of kaonic deuterium, and will be measured by the new SIDDHARTA-2 experiment,
which is installed in DA?NE and is ready to start the data taking campaign.
High precision Kaonic Deuterium measurement at the DAFNE collider: theSIDDHARTA-2 experiment and the SIDDHARTINO run
M. Miliucci, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, G. Deda, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedźwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi , M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. T ?uchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
published in: Suplemento de la Revista Mexicana de Fisica 30308081 (2022) 1
The kaonic deuterium 2p?1s transition X-ray measurement, a fundamental information needed for a deeper understanding of the QuantumChromoDynamics (QCD) in the strangeness sector, is still missing. The SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration is now ready to achieve this unprece-dented result thanks to the dedicated experimental apparatus that will allow to obtain the values of the kaonic deuterium K-transitions witha precision comparable to the most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement to-date performed by SIDDHARTA in 2009. Both the kaonichydrogen and kaonic deuterium X-ray spectroscopy measurements of the de-excitation towards the fundamental level are a direct probe onKN interaction at threshold, as opposed to the scattering experiments which need an extrapolation to zero energy. Combining these resultsthrough the Deser-Truemann like formula, the isospin-dependent kaon-nucleon scattering lengths can be obtained in a model-independentway. The SIDDHARTA-2 setup is presently installed at the DAFNE (Double Annular Phi Factory for Nice Experiments) collider of IstitutoNazionale di Fisica Nucleare- Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati and it is ready to perform the challenging kaonic deuterium measurement. Thispaper provides an overview on the SIDDHARTA-2 experimental apparatus and a preliminary result of the kaonic helium run, preparatory forthe SIDDHARTA-2 data taking campaign, is also presented.
Main Features of the SIDDHARTA-2 Apparatus for Kaonic Deuterium X-Ray Measurements
M. Tüchler, F. Sirghi, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, G. Deda, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. King, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, F. Napolitano, S. Niedzwiecki, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, F. Sgaramella, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 262 (2022) 01016
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 DAFNE 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 DAFNE?s commissioning phase in 2021, concluding with a successful kaonic helium measurement.
Low energy kaon-nuclei interaction studies at DAFNE
K. Piscicchia, M. Cargnelli, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, A. Scordo, D. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, O. Vazquez Doce, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal, P. Branchini, E. Czerwinski, V. De Leo, E. De Lucia, A. Di Cicco, E. Diociaiuti, P. Fermani, S. Fiore, M. Martini, E. Perez Del Rio, A. Selce, M. Silarski, C. Curceanu
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 262 (2022) 01006
The aim of the AMADEUS experiment is to investigate the lowenergy antikaon interaction with nucleons and nuclei, exploiting the unique lowmomentum beam of kaons produced by the DAFNE collider at LNF-INFN, to constrain hadronic nuclear physics models in the strangeness -1 sector. As a first step the data collected in 2004/2005 by the KLOE collaboration, consisting in a complex of K- absorptions in H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, was analyzed, leading to the first invariant mass spectroscopic study with very low momentum (about 100 MeV) in-flight K- captures. A dedicated pure Carbon target was also implemented in the central region of the KLOE detector, providing a high statistic reference sample of pure at-rest K- nuclear interaction. The first measurement of the non-resonant transition amplitude at MeV below the threshold is presented, in relation with the Lambda(1405) properties studies.
From tests of discrete symmetries to medical imaging with J-PET detector
P. Moskal, J. Baran, N. Chug, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, M. Dadgar, K. Dulski, J. Gajewski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, B.C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, K. Kacprzak, Ł. Kapłon, H. Karimi, K. Klimaszewski, P. Konieczka, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, D. Kumar, S. Niedźwiecki, D. Panek, S. Parzych, E. Perez del Rio, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, A. Ruciński, S. Sharma, Shivani, R.Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, E.Ł. Stępień, M. Szczepanek, F. Tayefi, W. Wiślicki
published in: PoS PANIC2021 (2022) 033
We present results on CPT symmetry tests in decays of positronium performed with the precision at the level of 10?4, and positronium images determined with the prototype of the J-PET tomograph. The first full-scale prototype apparatus consists of 192 plastic scintillator strips readout from both ends with vacuum tube photomultipliers. Signals produced by photomultipliers are probed in the amplitude domain and are digitized by FPGA-based readout boards in triggerless mode. In this contribution we report on the first two- and three-photon positronium images and tests of CPT symmetry in positronium decays.
Kaonic atoms measurements at the DAFNE collider: the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment
Catalina Curceanu, Marco Miliucci, Massimiliano Bazzi, Damir Bosnar, Mario Bragadireanu, Marco Carminati, Michael Cargnelli, Alberto Clozza, Griseld Deda, Luca De Paolis, Raffaele Del Grande, Carlo Fiorini, Carlo Guaraldo, Mihail Iliescu, Masahiko Iwasaki, Pietro King, Paolo Levi Sandri, Johann Marton, Paweł Moskal, Fabrizio Napolitano, Szymon Niedźwiecki, Kristian Piscicchia, Alessandro Scordo, Francesco Sgaramella, Hexi Shi, Michał Silarski, Diana Sirghi, Florin Sirghi, Magdalena Skurzok, Antonio Spallone, Marlene Tüchler, Oton Vazquez Doce, Johann Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 258 (2022) 07006
The X-ray spectroscopy measurements of light kaonic atoms? deexcitation towards the fundamental level provide unique information on the low-energy Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD) in the strangeness sector, being a direct probe of the kaon/nucleon interaction at threshold, unobtainable through the scattering experiments. In this framework, the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration is going to perform the first kaonic deuterium 2p -> 1s transition measurement at the DAFNE collider of Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare - Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati. Combining this measurement with the kaonic hydrogen one performed by SIDDHARTA in 2009 it will be possible to obtain, in a model-independent way, the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The paper introduces the SIDDHARTA-2 setup, an upgraded version with respect to the one used for the kaonic hydrogen measurement, dedicated to the ambitious kaonic deuterium measurement, together with the preliminary results obtained during the kaonic helium run, preparatory for the SIDDHARTA-2 data taking campaign.
Probing low-energy QCD with kaonic atoms at DAFNE
M. Tuchler, J. Zmeskal, A. Amirkhani, C. Amsler, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. A. Bragadireanu, P. Buhler, M. Cargnelli, M. Carminati, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedzwiecki, S. Okada, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce and E. Widmann
published in: J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1643 (2020) 012182
X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic atoms provides a versatile tool to study the strong interaction at low energies via a direct observation of its influence on the ground state of kaonic hydrogen atoms. The SIDDHARTA experiment provided precise results on the energy shift and width of the kaonic hydrogen 1s state induced by the strong interaction. To enable the extraction of the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths a0 and a1, SIDDHARTA-2 aims to determine the energy shift and width in kaonic deuterium with precisions of 30 eV and 75 eV, respectively. This measurement is aggravated by the low kaonic deuterium X-ray yield and a high background environment and will only be possible by implementing a severe upgrade on the SIDDHARTA apparatus.
Studies of K--nuclei interactions at low-energies by AMADEUS
R. Del Grande, M. Bazzi, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci , P. Moskal, S. Okada, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech , J. Zmeskal
published in: J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1643 (2020) 012081
The AMADEUS collaboration is providing unique experimental information on the low-energy strong interaction between K- and nucleons exploiting the low momentum K- (pK ~ 127 MeV/c) produced at the DAFNE collider and using the KLOE detector as active target. The absorption of the K- in light nuclei (H, 4He, 9Be and 12C) are investigated and hyperon-pion/hyperon-nucleons, emitted in the final state, are reconstructed. In the present work the results obtained from the study of Lambda pi-, Lambda p and Lambda t correlated production will be presented.
Recent AMADEUS Studies of Low-Energy K--Nucleus/Nuclei Interactions
M. Skurzok, M. Bazzi, M. A. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Laura Sirghi, F. Sirghi, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
published in: Springer Proc. Phys. 250 (2020) 403-407
We briefly report the recent results obtained by the AMADEUS collaboration on experimental studies of the K- low-energy interactions with light nuclei and outline the future perspectives.
Low-energy Kaon Nucleon/Nuclei Studies at DAFNE: the SIDDHARTA-2 Experiment
M. Miliucci, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, A. Clozza, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Okada, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, J. Zmeskal
published in: Acta Phys. Polon. B Proc. Suppl. 14 (2021) 49
The experimental studies of light kaonic atoms offer the unique opportunity to investigate the kaon-nucleus interaction at threshold, performing experiments equivalent to scattering at vanishing relative energies without the need of an extrapolation. In this framework, the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is going to perform the first measurement of kaonic deuterium 2p->1s transition, which is fundamental to extract the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The setup was installed on the DAFNE collider of LNF-INFN in spring 2019 and is presently in optimization phase. The SIDDHARTA-2 data taking campaign for the kaonic deuterium is planned in 2020-2021.
Studies of kaonic atoms at the DAFNE collider: from SIDDHARTA to SIDDHARTA-2
D. Sirghi, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Okada, D.Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
published in: J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1526 (2020) 012023
The DA?NE electron-positron collider of the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati of INFN is a worldwide unique low-energy kaon source and for this reason is suitable for low-energy kaon physics like kaonic atoms and kaon-nucleons/nuclei interaction studies. Kaonic atoms are atomic systems where an electron is replaced by a negatively charged kaon, containing the strange quark, which interacts in the lowest orbits with the nucleus also by the strong interaction. As a result, their study offers the unique opportunity to perform experiments equivalent to scattering at vanishing relative energy. This allows to study the strong interaction between the antikaon and the nucleon or the nucleus at threshold, without the need of ad hoc extrapolation to zero energy, as in scattering experiments. The most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement to date, together with an exploratory measurement of kaonic deuterium, were carried out by the SIDDHARTA collaboration at the DA?NE electron-positron collider of LNF-INFN, by combining the excellent quality kaon beam delivered by the collider with new experimental techniques, as fast and precise Silicon-Drift X-ray Detectors. The measurement of kaonic deuterium will be realized in the near future by SIDDHARTA-2, a major upgrade of SIDDHARTA.
Studies of low-energy K- hadronic interactions with light nuclei by AMADEUS
R. Del Grande, M. Bazzi, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D .L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech and J. Zmeskal
published in: J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1526 (2020) 012024
The AMADEUS collaboration aims to provide precise experimental information on the K- strong interaction with nucleons in the low-energy regime. The step 0 of AMADEUS consists of the re-analysis of the data collected with the KLOE detector at the DA?NE collider during the 2004/2005 data taking campaign. The absorptions of low-momentum K?s in the nuclei contained in the detector and the beam pipe setup (H,4He,9Be and12C) are investigated. Information on the K- single and multi-nucleon interactions are extracted from the study of the Lambda-pi- and p correlated production in the final state.
Low-Energy K- Nucleon/Multi-nucleon Interaction Studies by AMADEUS
M. Skurzok, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, A. Butt, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
published in: Springer Proc.Phys. 238 (2020) 937-941
The AMADEUS collaboration aims to provide new experimental constraints to the K- N strong interaction in the regime of non-perturbative QCD, exploiting low-energy K- hadronic interactions with light nuclei (e.g. H, 4 He, 9 Be and 12 C). The low-momentum kaons ( p K -- 127 MeV/c) produced at the DAFNE collider are ideal to explore both stopped and in-flight K- nuclear captures. The KLOE detector is used as an active target, allowing to achieve excellent acceptance and resolutions for the data. In this work the results obtained from the study of Lambda pi- and Lambda p correlated production in the final state are presented.
Kaonic Deuterium Precision Measurement at DAFNE: The SIDDHARTA-2 Experiment
M. Miliucci, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, A. Dawood Butt, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, P. Moskal, S. Nied ? wiecki, z S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, H. Tatsuno, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann and J. Zmeskal
published in: Springer Proc. Phys. 238 (2020) 965
Light kaonic atoms spectroscopy offers the unique opportunity to perform experiments equivalent to scattering at vanishing relative energies. This allows the determination of the antikaon-nucleus interaction at threshold, without the need of extrapolation to zero energy, as in the case of scattering experiments. In this framework, the SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration aims to perform the first measurement of kaonic deuterium transition to the fundamental level, which is mandatory to extract the isospin dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The experiment will be carried out at the DA?NE collider of LNF-INFN in 2019-2020.
Kaonic atoms experiment at the DAFNE collider by SIDDHARTA/SIDDHARTA-2
M. Skurzok, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Carminati, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P Moskal, S. Niedzwiecki, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, A. Spallone, M. Tüchler, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann and J. Zmeskal
published in: SciPost Phys. Proc. 3 (2020) 039
The excellent quality kaon beam provided by the DAFNE collider of LNF-INFN (Italy)
together with SIDDHARTA/SIDDHARTA-2 new experimental techniques, as very precise
and fast-response X-ray detectors, allow to perform unprecedented measurements on
light kaonic atoms crucial for a deeper understanding of the low-energy quantum chro-
modynamics (QCD) in the strangeness sector. In this paper an overview of the main
results obtained by the SIDDHARTA collaboration, as well as the future plans related to
the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment, are discussed.
Low-energy K- Hadronic Interactions with Light Nuclei by AMADEUS
M. Skurzok, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
published in: JPS Conf. Proc. 26 (2019) 023011
The AMADEUS collaboration aims to provide new experimental constraints to the K- N strong inter-
action in the regime of non-perturbative QCD, exploiting low-energy K- hadronic interactions with
light nuclei (e.g. H, 4He, 9Be and 12C). The low-momentum kaons (pK ~127 MeV/c) produced at
the DAFNE collider are ideal to explore both stopped and in-flight K- nuclear captures. The KLOE
detector is used as an active target, allowing to achieve excellent acceptance and resolutions for the
data. In this work the results obtained from the study of Lambda pi- and Lambda p correlated production in the
final state are presented.
Probing Strong Interaction with SIDDHARTA-2
J. Zmeskal, A. Scordo, A. Amirkhani, C. Amsler, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, M. Tuechler, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann
published in: JPS Conf. Proc. 26 (2019) 023012
The antikaon-nucleon interaction close to threshold provides crucial information on the
interplay between spontaneous and explicit chiral symmetry breaking in low-energy QCD
involving strangeness. The unique feature of DAFNE, namely the production of low-energy
kaons, has led to a series of successfully conducted experiments with light kaonic atoms like
SIDDHARTA, where the most precise value for the antikaon-proton scattering length was
determined. Kaonic deuterium X-ray spectroscopy is still missing and with SIDDHARTA-2 the
ground state 1s-level shift and width should be measured with a precision of 30 eV and 75 eV,
respectively.
Kaonic atoms measurements at the DAFNE Collider
D. Sirghi, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, J. Martona, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedzwiecki, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, H. Tatsuno, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
published in: PoS Confinement 2018 (2019) 215
The DAFNE electron-positron collider of the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati of INFN is a worldwide unique low-energy kaon source, which is being used to produce and to study kaonic atoms by the SIDDHARTA collaboration. The X-ray measurements of kaonic atoms play an important role for understanding the low-energy QCD in the strangeness sector. Significant achievements have been obtained by the SIDDHARTA experiment, among which: the most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement of the 1s level shift and width induced by the presence of the strong interaction; an upper limit of the X-ray yield for kaonic deuterium K-series; the accurate measurement of the 2p level shift and width of kaonic helium-4 and kaonic helium-3; yields of various light kaonic atoms transitions. Using the experience gained with SIDDHARTA experiment, the first kaonic deuterium measurement is in preparation in the framework of the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment with the goal to determine the antikaon-nucleon isospin dependent scattering lengths, which is possible only by combining the K-p and the upcoming K-d results. An overview of the experimental results of SIDDHARTA and an outlook to SIDDHARTA-2 experiments are given in this paper.
Kaonic Atoms Measurement at DAFNE: SIDDHARTA and SIDDHARTA-2
L. De Paolis, D. Sirghi, A. Amirkhani, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, A. Dawood Butt, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, H. Shi, M. Silarski, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, H. Tatsuno, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann and J. Zmeskal
published in: Springer Proc. Phys. 225 (2019) 191-195
Light kaonic atoms studies provide the unique opportunity to perform experiments equivalent to scattering at threshold, being their atomic binding energies in the keV range. High precision atomic X-rays spectroscopy ensures that the energy shift and broadening of the lowest-lying states of the kaonic atoms, induced by the strong interaction between the kaon and nucleus, can be detected. Kaonic hydrogen and kaonic deuterium are the lightest atomic systems and their study deliver the isospin-dependent kaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The SIDDHARTA collaboration was able to perform the most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement to date, together with an exploratory measurement of kaonic deuterium. The measurement of the kaonic deuterium will be realized in the near future by a major upgrade of SIDDHARTA: SIDDHARTA-2. In this paper an overview of the main results obtained by SIDDHARTA together with the future plans are presented.
Low energy antikaon-nucleon/nuclei interaction studies by AMADEUS
K. Piscicchia, M. Bazzi, G. Belloti, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, A. D. Butt, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R. S. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
published in: AIP Conf. Proc. 2130 (2019) 020021
The AMADEUS experiment at the DAFNE collider of LNF-INFN deals with the investigation of the at-rest, or low-momentum, K-interactions in light nuclear targets, with the aim to constrain the low energy QCD models in the strangeness sector. The 0 step of the experiment consisted in the reanalysis of the 2004/2005 KLOE data, exploiting K-absorptions in H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, leading to the first invariant mass spectroscopic study with very low momentum (about 100 MeV) in-flight K- captures. With AMADEUS step 1 a dedicated pure Carbon target was implemented in the central region of the KLOE detector, providing a high statistic sample of pure at-rest K- nuclear interaction. The first measurement of the non-resonant transition amplitude |A K- n->Lambda pi- | at sqrt(s)=33 MeV below the K?N threshold is presented, in relation with the Lambda(1405) properties studies. The analysis procedure adopted in the search for K-multi-nucleon absorption cross sections and Branching Ratios will be also described.
Low Energy Antikaon-nucleon/nuclei interaction studies by AMADEUS
K. Piscicchia, M. Bazzi, G. Belloti, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, A. D. Butt, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R. S. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech and J. Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 199 (2019) 01014
The AMADEUS experiment at the DAFNE collider of LNF-INFN deals with the investigation of the at-rest, or low-momentum, K- interactions in light nuclear targets, with the aim to constrain the low energy QCD models in the strangeness sector. The 0 step of the experiment consisted in the reanalysis of the 2004/2005 KLOE data, exploiting K- absorptions in H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, leading to the first invariant mass spectroscopic study with very low momentum (about 100 MeV) in-flight K- captures. With AMADEUS step 1 a dedicated pure Carbon target was implemented in the central region of the KLOE detector, providing a high statistic sample of pure at-rest K- nuclear interaction. The first measurement of the non-resonant transition amplitude at below the K?N threshold is presented, in relation with the Lambda(1405) properties studies. The analysis procedure adopted in the serarch for K- multi-nucleon absorption cross sections and Branching Ratios will be also described.
Lambdap correlated production from low energy K- 12C interactions by AMADEUS
R. Del Grande, M. Bazzi, G. Belloti, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, A. D. Butt, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R. S. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Ramos, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech and J. Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 199 (2019) 03010
The main steps for the analysis of the Lambdap correlated production in low-energy K- captures on Carbon nuclei, performed by the AMADEUS collaboration, are presented. The goal is to perform the first comprehensive study of the K- absorption on two, three and four nucleons, exploiting the lowmomentum K-s (pK ~ 127 MeV/c) produced at the DAFNE collider, and to measure the low-energy cross sections and branching ratios of the K- multinucleon absorption processes in both the Lambdap and Sigma0p channels. An integrated luminosity of 1.74 fb-1 collected during the KLOE 2004/2005 data campaign is analysed by reconstructing the Lambdap final state.
Spectroscopy of kaonic atoms at DAFNE and J-PARC
J. Marton, A. Amirkhan, A. Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, A. Dawood Butt, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedźwiecki, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, H. Tatsuno, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann and J. Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 199 (2019) 03004
The interaction of antikaons (K-) with nucleons and nuclei in the low-energy regime represents a very active research field in hadron physics. A unique and rather direct experimental access to the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths is provided by precision X-ray spectroscopy of transitions in low-lying states in the lightest kaonic atoms (i.e. kaonic hydrogen and deuterium). In the SIDDHARTA experiment at the electron-positron collider DAFNE of LNFINFN we measured the most precise values of the strong interaction observables in conic hydrogen. The strong interaction on the 1s ground state of the electromagnetically bound K-p atom causes an energy shift and broadening of the 1s state. SIDDHARTA will extend the spectroscopy to kaonic deuterium to get access to the antikaon-neutron interaction and thus the isospin dependent scattering lengths. At J-PARC a kaon beam is used in a complementary experiment with a different setup for spectroscopy of kaonic deuterium atoms. The talk will give an overview of the of the upcoming experiments SIDDHARTA and the complementary experiment at J-PARC.Furthermore, the implications of the experiments for the theory of low-energy strong interaction with strangeness will be discussed.
A charged particle veto detector for kaonic deuterium measurements at DAFNE
M. Tüchler, J. Zmeskal, A. Amirkhani, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, A.M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, A. Dawood Butt, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R.S. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P.Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann
published in: J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1138 no.1 (2018) 012012
The antikaon-nucleon interaction close to threshold provides crucial information on the interplay between spontaneous and explicit chiral symmetry breaking in low-energy QCD. In this context, the importance of kaonic deuterium x-ray spectroscopy has been well recognized, but no experimental results have yet been obtained due to the difficulty of the measurement. To measure the shift and width of the kaonic deuterium 1s state with an accuracy of 30 eV and 75 eV, respectively, an apparatus is under construction at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati. A detailed Monte Carlo simulation has shown that an increase of the signal to background ratio by a factor of ten will be required compared to the successfully performed kaonic hydrogen measurement (SIDDHARTA). Three pillars are essential for the newly developed experimental apparatus: a large area x-ray detector system (consisting of Silicon Drift Detectors), a lightweight cryogenic target system and a veto system, consisting of an outer veto detector (Veto-1) for active shielding and an inner veto detector (Veto-2) for charged particle suppression. For both veto systems, an excellent time resolution is required to distinguish kaons stopping in gas from direct kaon stops in the entrance window or side wall of the target. First test measurements on the Veto-2 system were performed. An average time resolution of (54 +- 2) ps and detection efficiencies of ~ 99 % were achieved.
The kaonic atoms research program at DAFNE: overview and perspectives
C. Curceanu, A. Amirkhani, A Baniahmad, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, A.M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, A. Dawood Butt, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P.Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Niedzwiecki, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, H. Tatsuno, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
published in: J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1138 no. 1 (2018) 012011
The interaction of antikaons with nucleons and nuclei in the low-energy regime represents an active research field in hadron physics with still many important open questions. The investigation of light kaonic atoms is, in this context, a unique tool to obtain precise information on this interaction. The energy shift and broadening of the lowest-lying states of such atoms, induced by the kaon-nucleus strong interaction, can be determined with high precision from atomic X-ray spectroscopy. This experimental method provides unique information to understand the low energy kaon-nucleus interaction at threshold. The lightest atomic systems, kaonic hydrogen and kaonic deuterium, deliver the isospin-dependent kaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement to date, together with an exploratory measurement of kaonic deuterium, were carried out by the SIDDHARTA collaboration at the DAFNE electron-positron collider of LNF-INFN, by combining the excellent quality kaon beam delivered by the collider with new experimental techniques, as fast and precise X-ray detectors: Silicon Drift Detectors. The measurement of kaonic deuterium will be realized in the near future by SIDDHARTA-2, a major upgrade of SIDDHARTA. In this paper an overview of the main results obtained by SIDDHARTA together with the future plans, are given.
Low Energy Antikaon-Nucleon/Nuclei Interaction Studies by AMADEUS
K. Piscicchia, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Guaraldo, J. Marton, P. Moskal, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, I. Tucakovic, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
published in: Acta Phys. Polon. Supp. 11 (2018) 609-616
The AMADEUS experiment at the DAFNE collider of LNF-INFN deals with the investigation of the at-rest, or low-momentum, K- interactions in light nuclear targets, with the aim to constrain the low energy QCD models in the strangeness sector. The 0 step of the experiment consisted in the reanalysis of the 2004/2005 KLOE data, exploiting K- absorptions in H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, leading to the first invariant mass spectroscopic study with very low momentum (about 100 MeV) in-flight K- captures. With AMADEUS step 1 a dedicated pure Carbon target was implemented in the central region of the KLOE detector, providing a high statistic sample of pure at-rest K- nuclear interaction. The first measurement of the non-resonant transition amplitude |AK-n->Lambda pi-| at ?s = 33 MeV below the KN threshold is presented, in relation with the Lambda(1405) properties studies.
The kaonic atoms research program at DAFNE: from SIDDHARTA to SIDDHARTA-2
A. Scordo, A. Amirkhani, M. Bazzi, G. Bellotti, C. Berucci, D. Bosnar, A.M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, A. Daewood Butt, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R.S. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, H. Tatsuno, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 181 (2018) 01004
The interaction of antikaons with nucleons and nuclei in the low-energy regime represents an active research field in hadron physics with still many important open questions. The investigation of light kaonic atoms, in which one electron is replaced by a negatively charged kaon, is a unique tool to provide precise information on this interaction; the energy shift and the broadening of the low-lying states of such atoms, induced by the kaon-nucleus hadronic interaction, can be determined with high precision from the atomic X-ray spectroscopy, and this experimental method provides unique information to understand the low energy kaon-nucleus interaction at the production threshold. The lightest atomic systems, like the kaonic hydrogen and the kaonic deuterium deliver, in a model-independent way, the isospin-dependent kaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The most precise kaonic hydrogen measurement to-date, together with an exploratory measurement of kaonic deuterium, were carried out in 2009 by the SIDDHARTA collaboration at the DA?NE electron-positron collider of LNF-INFN, combining the excellent quality kaon beam delivered by the collider with new experimental techniques, as fast and very precise X-ray detectors, like the Silicon Drift Detectors. The SIDDHARTA results triggered new theoretical work, which achieved major progress in the understanding of the low-energy strong interaction with strangeness reflected by the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths calculated with the antikaon-proton amplitudes constrained by the SIDDHARTA data. The most important open question is the experimental determination of the hadronic energy shift and width of kaonic deuterium; presently, a major upgrade of the setup, SIDDHARTA-2, is being realized to reach this goal. In this paper, the results obtained in 2009 and the proposed SIDDHARTA-2 upgrades are presented.
Studies of low-energy K- nuclear interactions by AMADEUS
R. Del Grande, M. Bazzi, G. Belloti, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, A. D. Butt, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R. S. Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, H. Shi, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone,O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 182 (2018) 02035
The goal of the AMADEUS experiment is to shed light on unsolved fundamental issues in the non-perturbative strangeness QCD sector through the study of lowenergy K- hadronic interactions with light nuclear targets. The main open questions are the controversial nature of the Delta(1405) state, which is investigated in hyperon-pion correlation studies, and the possible existence of exotic antikaon multi-nucleon clusters, whose search in K- induced reactions is intimately related to the studies of the K- multi-nucleon absorption processes in hyperon-nucleon/nucleus channels. The DAFNE collider at the INFN-LNF provides unique monochromatic low-momentum kaons from the ? meson decay almost at-rest, suitable for the AMADEUS studies. The KLOE detector is exploited as an active target, in order to obtain excellent acceptance and resolution data for K- nuclear capture on H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, both at-rest and in-flight.
Low energy interaction studies of negative kaons in light nuclear targets by AMADEUS
K. Piscicchia, M. Bazzi, G. Belotti, A. M. Bragadireanu, D. Bosnar, A. D. Butt, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, L. Fabbietti, C. Fiorini, F. Ghio, C. Guaraldo, R. S Hayano, M. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, P. Levi Sandri, J. Marton, M. Miliucci, P. Moskal, S. Okada, D. Pietreanu, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, O. Vazquez Doce, E. Widmann, S. Wycech, J. Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 181 (2018) 01005
The AMADEUS collaboration is performing experimental investigations in the sector of the low energy strangeness hadron physics by taking advantage of the DAFNE collider, which provides a unique source of monochromatic low-momentum kaons and exploiting the KLOE detector as an active target. The K- single and multi-nuclear absorption on H, 4He, 9Be and 12C, both at-rest and in-flight, are studied with the aim to determine the nature of the controversial Lambda(1405), the non-resonant hyperon pion formation amplitude below the K?N threshold, the yield and cross sections of K- multi-nucleon absorptions intimately connected to the antikaon multi-nucleon clusters properties and the K- scattering cross sections on light nuclear targets.
These studies have a strong impact on the non-perturbative strangeness QCD with implications ranging from nuclear physics to the equation of state of neutron stars.
Studies of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium atoms
E. Czerwiński, C. Curceanu, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, M. Gorgol, A. Heczko, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kisielewska, G. Korcyl, B. Korzeniak, P. Kowalski, T. Kozik, W. Krzemień, E. Kubicz, W. Migdał, M. Mohammed, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, J. Raj, Z. Rudy, S. Sharma, S. Shivani, R. Y. Shopa, M. Silarski, M. Skurzok, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński and P. Moskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 181 (2018) 01019
A positronium - a bound state of electron and positron - is an eigenstate of parity and charge conjugation operators which decays into photons. It is a unique laboratory to study discrete symmetries whose precision is limited, in principle, by the effects due to the weak interactions expected at the level of 10?14 and photon-photon interactions expected at the level of 10-9.
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a detector for medical imaging as well as for physics studies involving detection of electronpositron annihilation into photons. The physics case covers the areas of discrete symmetries studies and genuine multipartite entanglement. The J-PET detector has high angular and time resolution and allows for determination of spin of the positronium and the momenta and polarization vectors of annihilation quanta. In this article, we present the potential of the J-PET system for studies of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium atoms.
Search for Deeply Bound Kaonic Nuclear States with AMADEUS
M. Skurzok, M. Cargnelli, C. Curceanu, R. Del Grande, L. Fabbietti, C. Guaraldo, J. Marton, P. Moskal, K. Piscicchia, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. L. Sirghi, I. Tucakovic, O. Vazquez Doce, S. Wycech, E. Widmann, J. Zmeskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 165 (2017) 01046
We briefly report on the search for Deeply Bound Kaonic Nuclear States with AMADEUS in the Sigma0p channel following K- absorption on 12C and outline future perspectives for this work.
J-PET: A novel TOF-PET detector based on plastic scintillators
Paweł Moskal, Dominika Alfs, Tomasz Bednarski, Piotr Białas, Catalina Curceanu, Eryk Czerwiński, Kamil Dulski, Aleksander Gajos, Bartosz Głowacz, Marek Gorgol, Beatrix Hiesmayr, Bożena Jasińska, Daria Kamińska, Grzegorz Korcyl, Paweł Kowalski, Tomasz Kozik, Wojciech Krzemień, Ewelina Kubicz, Muhsin Mohammed, Monika Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, Szymon Niedźwiecki, Marek Pałka, Lech Raczyźski, Zbigniew Rudy, Oleksandr Rundel, Neha Gupta Sharma, Michał Silarski, Jerzy Smyrski, Adam Strzelecki, Anna Wieczorek, Wojciech Wiślicki, Bożena Zgardzińska, Marcin Zieliński
published in: IEEE Xplore: Nucl. Sci. Symp., Med. Imag. Conf. and Room-Temp. Semiconductor Detector Workshop, DOI:10.1109/NSSMIC.2016.8069617
Statistical Analysis of Time Resolution of the J-PET Scanner
L. Raczyński, W. Wiślicki, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, M. Gorgol, B. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kamińska, G. Korcyl, T. Kozik, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, S. Niedźwiecki, M. Pałka, Z. Rudy, O. Rundel, N. Gupta Sharma, M. Silarski, J. Smyrski, A. Strzelecki, A. Wieczorek, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, P. Moskal
published in: IEEE Xplore: Nucl. Sci. Symp., Med. Imag. Conf. and Room-Temp. Semiconductor Detector Workshop, DOI:10.1109/NSSMIC.2016.8069407
Studies of discrete symmetries in a purely leptonic system using the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph
P. Moskal, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, A. Gajos, B. Głowacz, N. Gupta-Sharma, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kamińska, O. Khreptak, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, W. Krzemień, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, M. Silarski, J. Smyrski, A. Wieczorek, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, and M. Zieliński
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 130 (2016) 07015
Discrete symmetries such as parity (P), charge-conjugation (C) and time reversal (T) are of fundamental importance in physics and cosmology. Breaking of charge conjugation symmetry (C) and its combination with parity (CP) constitute necessary conditions for the existence of the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the observed Universe. The presently known sources of discrete symmetries violations can account for only a tiny fraction of the excess of matter over antimatter. So far CP and T symmetries violations were observed only for systems involving quarks and they were never reported for the purely leptonic objects. In this article we describe briefly an experimental proposal for the test of discrete symmetries in the decays of positronium atom which is made exclusively of leptons. The experiments are conducted by means of the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) which is constructed from strips of plastic scintillators enabling registration of photons from the positronium annihilation. J-PET tomograph together with the positronium target system enable to measure expectation values for the discrete symmetries odd operators constructed from (i) spin vector of the ortho-positronium atom, (ii) momentum vectors of photons originating from the decay of positronium, and (iii) linear polarization direction of annihilation photons. Linearly polarized positronium will be produced in the highly porous aerogel or polymer targets, exploiting longitudinally polarized positrons emitted by the sodium 22Na isotope. Information about the polarization vector of orthopositronium will be available on the event by event basis and will be reconstructed from the known position of the positron source and the reconstructed position of the orthopositronium annihilation. In 2016 the first tests and calibration runs are planned, and the
data collection with high statistics will commence in the year 2017.
J-PET detector system for studies of the electron-positron annihilations
M. Pawlik-Niedźwiecka, O. Khreptak, A. Gajos, A. Wieczorek, D. Alfs, T. Bednarski, P. Białas, C. Curceanu, E. Czerwiński, K. Dulski, B. Głowacz, N. Gupta-Sharma, M. Gorgol, B. C. Hiesmayr, B. Jasińska, D. Kamińska, G. Korcyl, P. Kowalski, W. Krzmień, N. Krawczyk, E. Kubicz, M. Mohammed, Sz. Niedźwiecki, L. Raczyński, Z. Rudy, M. Silarski, W. Wiślicki, B. Zgardzińska, M. Zieliński, and P. Moskal
published in: EPJ Web Conf. 130 (2016) 07020
Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) has been recently constructed at the Jagiellonian University as a prototype of a cost-effective scanner for the metabolic imaging of the whole human body. J-PET detector is optimized for the measurement of momentum and polarization of photons from the electron-positron annihilations. It is built out of strips of plastic scintillators, forming three cylindrical layers. As detector of gamma quanta it will be used for studies of discrete symmetries and multiparticle entanglement of photons originating from the decays of ortho-positronium atoms.
