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A bstract We discuss unitarity constraints on the dynamics of a system of three interacting particles. We show how the short-range interaction that describes three-body resonances can be separated from the long-range exchange processes, in particular the one-pion-exchange process. It is demonstrated that unitarity demands a specific functional form of the amplitude with a clear interpretation: the bare three-particle resonances are dressed by the initial- and final-state interaction, in a way that is consistent with the considered long-range forces. We postulate that the resonance kernel admits a factorization in the energy variables of the initial- and the final-state particles. The factorization assumption leads to an algebraic form for the unitarity equations, which is reminiscent of the well-known two-body-unitarity condition and approaches it in the limit of the narrow-resonance approximation.

A bstract Thermal light dark matter (LDM) with particle masses in the 1 MeV–1 GeV range could successfully explain the observed dark matter abundance as a relic from the primordial Universe. In this picture, a new feeble interaction acts as a “portal” between the Standard Model and LDM particles, allowing for the exploration of this paradigm at accelerator experiments. In the last years, the “missing energy” experiment NA64 e at CERN SPS (Super Proton Synchrotron) has set world-leading constraints in the vector-mediated LDM parameter space, by exploiting a 100 GeV electron beam impinging on an electromagnetic calorimeter, acting as an active target. In this paper, we report a detailed description of the analysis of a preliminary measurement with a 70 GeV/c positron beam at NA64 e , performed during summer 2023 with an accumulated statistics of 1 . 596 × 10 10 positrons on target (hereafter referred to as e + OT). This data set was analyzed with the primary aim of evaluating the performance of the NA64 e detector with a lower energy positron beam, towards the realization of the post-LS3 program. The analysis results, other than additionally probing unexplored regions in the LDM parameter space, provide valuable information towards the future NA64 e positron campaign.

We report the results of a search for a new vector boson (A′) decaying into two dark matter particles χ1χ2 of different mass. The heavier χ2 particle subsequently decays to χ1 and an off-shell Dark Photon A′∗→e+e-. For a sufficiently large mass splitting, this model can explain in terms of new physics the recently confirmed discrepancy observed in the muon anomalous magnetic moment at Fermilab. Remarkably, it also predicts the observed yield of thermal dark matter relic abundance. A detailed Monte-Carlo simulation was used to determine the signal yield and detection efficiency for this channel in the NA64 setup. The results were obtained re-analyzing the previous NA64 searches for an invisible decay A′→χχ¯ and axion-like or pseudo-scalar particles a→γγ. With this method, we exclude a significant portion of the parameter space justifying the muon g-2 anomaly and being compatible with the observed dark matter relic density for A′ masses from 2me up to 390 MeV and mixing parameter ε between 3×10-5 and 2×10-2.

A bstract The inclusion of an additional U(1) gauge L μ − L τ symmetry would release the tension between the measured and the predicted value of the anomalous muon magnetic moment: this paradigm assumes the existence of a new, light Z ′ vector boson, with dominant coupling to μ and τ leptons and interacting with electrons via a loop mechanism. The L μ − L τ model can also explain the Dark Matter relic abundance, by assuming that the Z ′ boson acts as a “portal” to a new Dark Sector of particles in Nature, not charged under known interactions. In this work we present the results of the Z ′ search performed by the NA64- e experiment at CERN SPS, that collected ~ 9 × 10 11 100 GeV electrons impinging on an active thick target. Despite the suppressed Z ′ production yield with an electron beam, NA64- e provides the first accelerator-based results excluding the g − 2 preferred band of the Z ′ parameter space in the 1 keV < m Z ′ ≲ 2 MeV range, in complementarity with the limits recently obtained by the NA64- μ experiment with a muon beam.

GEM foils are known to collect charged particles on the polyimide part in its holes during the amplification process. This is accompanied by a change of the effective gain. The effect is commonly known as the \"charge-up effect\". In order to study this effect, two complementary approaches were chosen. On the one hand, the effect is studied in an iterative simulation that is based on a finite element calculation of the electrostatic environment and Garfield++ which microscopically tracks charged particles. On the other hand, a dedicated test-detector was setup with a single GEM as an amplification stage. In this study, a special focus lies on the different GEM geometries, i.e. the difference between double-conical and single-conical GEMs. A quantitative comparison between simulated and measured values will be given. It can be concluded that the typical time-constant of the gain increase is in the order of 1 × 106 initial electrons per hole. For the specific case of a single-conical GEM, it can be shown that the orientation (tapered side pointing upwards or downwards) determines whether the gain increases or decreases.

Recently, the ATOMKI experiment has reported new evidence for the excess of e + e - events with a mass ∼ 17 MeV in the nuclear transitions of 4 He, that they previously observed in measurements with 8 Be. These observations could be explained by the existence of a new vector X 17 boson. So far, the search for the decay X 17 → e + e - with the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS gave negative results. Here, we present a new technique that could be implemented in NA64 aiming to improve the sensitivity and to cover the remaining X 17 parameter space. If a signal-like event is detected, an unambiguous observation is achieved by reconstructing the invariant mass of the X 17 decay with the proposed method. To reach this goal an optimization of the X 17 production target, as well as an efficient and accurate reconstruction of two close decay tracks, is required. A dedicated analysis of the available experimental data making use of the trackers information is presented. This method provides independent confirmation of the NA64 published results [ 1 ], validating the tracking procedure. The detailed Monte Carlo study of the proposed setup and the background estimate show that the goal of the proposed search is feasible.

The AMBER-experiment [2, 1], located in the North Experimental Area at CERN, is the successor of the NA58/COMPASS [11] experiment which ran from 2002-2022. AMBER will start its data taking in 2023. The experiment is served by the M2 beamline, employing secondary and tertiary beams produced by 400 GeV c -1 protons from the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) impacting the T6 target. For the second phase of their measurements, AMBER will require high-intensity kaon beams [6, 7]. This requirement for high-intensity beams implies a need for accurate particle identification allowing tagging particles of interest that would otherwise be lost for analysis. The beam particle identification is carried out using Cherenkov (CEDAR) detectors [5], whose tagging efficiency depends critically on the beam divergence. In this paper we investigate the beam parameters required, the performance achievable with the current layout of the beamline, as well as possible improvements.

Gaseous detectors based on large-size GEM-foils are planned to be used for a variety of upgrades and new experiments using high-rate and high-intensity particle beams. An excellent quality control of GEM-foils is a mandatory prerequisite to select the best foils for the assembly of a GEM detector. The high voltage stability of the foils is here of uppermost importance. In particular discharges that occur at the same position need to be detected. A spark detection system has been developed to automatically detect and record the time and position of sparks. The system is based on a commercial web camera installed in a housing for the tests and a custom-made, LabVIEW-based software for control and operation. An automatic Spark-Detection System for GEM foils was designed, built and characterized. It is able to detect and record discharges in large-size GEM foils during the quality control procedure. The spark detection e ciency was estimated to be higher than 97 %, the position resolution was determined to be approximately 0.5 mm. With this system, the characterization of GEM foils can be standardized to a much greater degree than before.

We highlight the progress, current status, and open challenges of QCD-driven physics, in theory and in experiment. We discuss how the strong interaction is intimately connected to a broad sweep of physical problems, in settings ranging from astrophysics and cosmology to strongly coupled, complex systems in particle and condensed-matter physics, as well as to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. We also discuss how success in describing the strong interaction impacts other fields, and, in turn, how such subjects can impact studies of the strong interaction. In the course of the work we offer a perspective on the many research streams which flow into and out of QCD, as well as a vision for future developments.

We report on a measurement of Spin Density Matrix Elements (SDMEs) in hard exclusive ρ 0 meson muoproduction at COMPASS using 160 GeV/ c polarised μ + and μ - beams impinging on a liquid hydrogen target. The measurement covers the kinematic range 5.0 GeV/ c 2 < W < 17.0 GeV/ c 2 , 1.0 (GeV/ c ) 2 < Q 2 < 10.0 (GeV/ c ) 2 and 0.01 (GeV/ c ) 2 < p T 2 < 0.5 (GeV/ c ) 2 . Here, W denotes the mass of the final hadronic system, Q 2 the virtuality of the exchanged photon, and p T the transverse momentum of the ρ 0 meson with respect to the virtual-photon direction. The measured non-zero SDMEs for the transitions of transversely polarised virtual photons to longitudinally polarised vector mesons ( γ T ∗ → V L ) indicate a violation of s -channel helicity conservation. Additionally, we observe a dominant contribution of natural-parity-exchange transitions and a very small contribution of unnatural-parity-exchange transitions, which is compatible with zero within experimental uncertainties. The results provide important input for modelling Generalised Parton Distributions (GPDs). In particular, they may allow one to evaluate in a model-dependent way the role of parton helicity-flip GPDs in exclusive ρ 0 production.