Physics with the KLOE-2 experiment at the upgraded DAϕ\phiNE

Investigation at a $\phi$--factory can shed light on several debated issues in particle physics. We discuss: i) recent theoretical development and experimental progress in kaon physics relevant for the Standard Model tests in the flavor sector, ii) the sensitivity we can reach in probing CPT and Quantum Mechanics from time evolution of entangled kaon states, iii) the interest for improving on the present measurements of non-leptonic and radiative decays of kaons and eta/eta$^\prime$ mesons, iv) the contribution to understand the nature of light scalar mesons, and v) the opportunity to search for narrow di-lepton resonances suggested by recent models proposing a hidden dark-matter sector. We also report on the $e^+ e^-$ physics in the continuum with the measurements of (multi)hadronic cross sections and the study of gamma gamma processes.Comment: 60 pages, 41 figures; added affiliation for one of the authors; added reference to section

Extra-terrestrial 53^{53}Mn in Antarctic ice

International audienceThe reasons why $^{53}$Mn (a cosmogenic radionuclide with a half-life of 3.7 × 10$^6$ y) appears as one of the best indicators of the presence of interplanetary dust are summarized. This paper reports the detection of $^{53}$Mn in pre-1952 snow samples collected on the Eastern Antarctic Plateau in the vicinity of Plateau Station. The measurements were carried out by neutron activation and X-ray spectrometry on three samples weighing a few hundred kg and covering each the time interval 1935–1950. The specific activity of $^{53}$Mn was found to be (0.82 ± 0.17) disint.min$^{−1}$/10$^3$ tons of snow, corresponding to a deposition rate at Plateau Station of (2.2 ± 0.5) × 10$^{−5}$ disint. min$^{-1}$ m$^{-2}$ y$^{-1}$. The mean global deposition rate would be three times higher if $^{53}$Mn were assumed to behave in the same way as stratospheric $^{90}$Sr. By comparing this figure with existing data on the meteorite flux reaching the earth and with the galactic and solar production rates of $^{53}$Mn, it is concluded that the bulk of the $^{53}$Mn found at Plateau Station is associated with interplanetary dust in which it had been produced by the action of solar protons on iron. The deposition rate of extra-terrestrial dust-borne iron must be between 1.3 × 10$^{-5}$ and 1.3 × 10$^{-4}$ g m$^{-3}$ y$^{-1}$ at Plateau Station. These results support jointly with other studies the concept of an interplanetary zodiacal cloud of dust with a chemical composition and density not essentially different from chondritic meteorites, with a relatively ‘flat’ grain size distribution and a mass influx to the earth of the order of 10$^5$ tons/y

Physics with the KLOE-2 experiment at the upgraded DAFNE

Investigation at a φ-factory can shed light on several debated issues in particle physics. We discuss: (i) recent theoretical development and experimental progress in kaon physics relevant for the Standard Model tests in the flavor sector, (ii) the sensitivity we can reach in probing CPT and Quantum Mechanics from time evolution of entangled-kaon states, (iii) the interest for improving on the present measurements of non-leptonic and radiative decays of kaons and η/ η' mesons, (iv) the contribution to understand the nature of light scalar mesons, and (v) the opportunity to search for narrow di-lepton resonances suggested by recent models proposing a hidden dark-matter sector. We also report on the e + e - physics in the continuum with the measurements of (multi)hadronic cross sections and the study of γ γ processes