Study of a nonhomogeneous aerogel radiator in a proximity focusing RICH detector

The use of a nonhomogeneous aerogel radiator, i.e. one consisting of layers with different refractive indices, has been shown to improve the resolution of the Cherenkov angle measured with a proximity focusing RICH detector. In order to obtain further information on the performance of such a detector, a simple model has been used to calculate the resolution and search for optimal radiator parameters.Comment: Submitted to Nucl. Instr. Met

Measurement of branching fractions for BtoJ/psietaKB to J/psi eta K decays and search for a narrow resonance in the J/psietaJ/psi eta final state

We report an observation of the $B^{pm } to J/psi eta K^{pm }$ and $B^0 to J/psi eta K^0_S$ decays using $772times 10^{6}Boverline {B}$ pairs collected at the $Upsilon (4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. We obtain the branching fractions ${mathcal B}(B^{pm }rightarrow J/psi eta K^{pm })=(1.27pm 0.11(hbox {stat.})pm 0.11(hbox {syst.}))times 10^{-4}$ and ${mathcal B}(B^0to J/psi eta K^0_S)=(5.22 pm 0.78 (hbox {stat.}) pm 0.49 (hbox {syst.}))times 10^{-5}$. We search for a new narrow charmonium(-like) state $X$ in the $J/psi eta$ mass spectrum and find no significant excess. We set upper limits on the product of branching fractions, ${mathcal B}(B^pm to XK^pm){mathcal B}(X to J/psi eta)$, at $3872,hbox {MeV},c^{-2}$ where a $C$-odd partner of $X(3872)$ may exist, at $psi (4040)$ and $psi (4160)$ assuming their known mass and width, and over a range from 3.8 to $4.8,hbox {GeV},c^{-2}$. The obtained upper limits at 90% confidence level for $X^{Chbox {-}{rm odd}}(3872)$, $psi (4040)$, and $psi (4160)$ are $3.8times 10^{-6}$, $15.5times 10^{-6}$, and $7.4times 10^{-6}$, respectively

Silicon Photomultiplier Research and Development Studies for the Large Size Telescope of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the the next generation facility of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes; two sites will cover both hemispheres. CTA will reach unprecedented sensitivity, energy and angular resolution in very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy. Each CTA array will include four Large Size Telescopes (LSTs), designed to cover the low-energy range of the CTA sensitivity ($\sim$20 GeV to 200 GeV). In the baseline LST design, the focal-plane camera will be instrumented with 265 photodetector clusters; each will include seven photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), with an entrance window of 1.5 inches in diameter. The PMT design is based on mature and reliable technology. Recently, silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are emerging as a competitor. Currently, SiPMs have advantages (e.g. lower operating voltage and tolerance to high illumination levels) and disadvantages (e.g. higher capacitance and cross talk rates), but this technology is still young and rapidly evolving. SiPM technology has a strong potential to become superior to the PMT one in terms of photon detection efficiency and price per square mm of detector area. While the advantage of SiPMs has been proven for high-density, small size cameras, it is yet to be demonstrated for large area cameras such as the one of the LST. We are working to develop a SiPM-based module for the LST camera, in view of a possible camera upgrade. We will describe the solutions we are exploring in order to balance a competitive performance with a minimal impact on the overall LST camera design.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures. In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions at arXiv:1508.0589

Evidence of Υ(1S)→J/ψ+χc1\Upsilon(1S) \to J/\psi+\chi_{c1} and search for double-charmonium production in Υ(1S)\Upsilon(1S) and Υ(2S)\Upsilon(2S) decays

Using data samples of $102\times10^6$ $\Upsilon(1S)$ and $158\times10^6$ $\Upsilon(2S)$ events collected with the Belle detector, a first experimental search has been made for double-charmonium production in the exclusive decays $\Upsilon(1S,2S)\rightarrow J/\psi(\psi')+X$, where $X=\eta_c$, $\chi_{cJ} (J=~0,~1,~2)$, $\eta_c(2S)$, $X(3940)$, and $X(4160)$. No significant signal is observed in the spectra of the mass recoiling against the reconstructed $J/\psi$ or $\psi'$ except for the evidence of $\chi_{c1}$ production with a significance of $4.6\sigma$ for $\Upsilon(1S)\rightarrow J/\psi+\chi_{c1}$. The measured branching fraction \BR(\Upsilon(1S)\rightarrow J/\psi+\chi_{c1}) is $(3.90\pm1.21(\rm stat.)\pm0.23 (\rm syst.))\times10^{-6}$. The $90\%$ confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions of the other modes having a significance of less than $3\sigma$ are determined. These results are consistent with theoretical calculations using the nonrelativistic QCD factorization approach.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. The fit range was extended to include X(4160) signal according to referee's suggestions. Other results unchanged. Paper was accepted for publication as a regular article in Physical Review

Particle identification performance of the prototype aerogel RICH counter for the Belle II experiment

We have developed a new type of particle identification device, called an aerogel ring imaging Cherenkov (ARICH) counter, for the Belle II experiment. It uses silica aerogel tiles as Cherenkov radiators. For detection of Cherenkov photons, hybrid avalanche photo-detectors (HAPDs) are used. The designed HAPD has a high sensitivity to single photons under a strong magnetic field. We have confirmed that the HAPD provides high efficiency for single-photon detection even after exposure to neutron and $gamma$-ray radiation that exceeds the levels expected in the 10-year Belle II operation. In order to confirm the basic performance of the ARICH counter system, we carried out a beam test at the using a prototype of the ARICH counter with six HAPD modules. The results are in agreement with our expectations and confirm the suitability of the ARICH counter for the Belle II experiment. Based on the in-beam performance of the device, we expect that the identification efficiency at $3.5,{rm GeV}/c$ is 97.4% and 4.9% for pions and kaons, respectively. This paper summarizes the development of the HAPD for the ARICH and the evaluation of the performance of the prototype ARICH counter built with the final design components

Measurement of two-particle correlations of hadrons in ▫e+e−e^+ e^-▫ collisions at Belle

The measurement of two-particle angular correlation functions in high-multiplicity e+e− collisions at √s=10.52  GeV is reported. In this study, the 89.5  fb−1 of hadronic e+e− annihilation data collected by the Belle detector at KEKB are used. Two-particle angular correlation functions are measured in the full relative azimuthal angle (Δϕ) and three units of pseudorapidity (Δη), defined by either the electron beam axis or the event-shape thrust axis, and are studied as a function of charged-particle multiplicity. The measurement in the thrust axis analysis, with mostly outgoing quark pairs determining the reference axis, is sensitive to the region of additional soft gluon emissions. No significant anisotropic collective behavior is observed with either coordinate analyses. Near-side jet correlations appear to be absent in the thrust axis analysis. The measurements are compared to predictions from various event generators and are expected to provide new constraints to the phenomenological models in the low-energy regime

Search for B decays to final states with the η c meson

We report a search for B decays to selected final states with the ηc meson: B± → K±ηcπ+π−, B± → K±ηcω, B± → K±ηcη and B± → K±ηcπ0. The analysis is based on 772 × 10^6 B¯B pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider. We set 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions of the studied B decay modes, independent of intermediate resonances, in the range (0.6–5.3)×10^−4. We also search for molecular-state candidates in the D^0 ¯D^∗0 − ¯D^0D^∗0, D^0 ¯D^0 + ¯D^0D^0 and D^∗0¯D^∗0 + ¯D^∗0D^∗0 combinations, neutral partners of the Z(3900)± and Z(4020)±, and a poorly understood state X(3915) as possible intermediate states in the decay chain, and set 90% confidence level upper limits on the product of branching fractions to the mentioned intermediate states and decay branching fractions of these states in the range (0.6–6.9)×10^−5