DIRAC Experiment and Test of Low-Energy QCD

The low-energy QCD predictions to be tested by the DIRAC experiment are revised. The experimental method, the setup characteristics and capabilities, along with first experimental results are reported. Preliminary analysis shows good detector performance: alignment error via $\Lambda$ mass measurement $m_\Lambda = 1115.6 MeV/c^2$ with $\sigma = 0.92 MeV/c^2$, $p \pi^-$ relative momentum resolution $\sigma_Q \approx 2.7 MeV/c$, and evidence for $\pi^

Detection of Pionium with DIRAC

The aim of the DIRAC experiment at CERN is to provide an accurate determination of S-wave pion-pion scattering lengths from the measurement of the lifetime of the pi+ pi- atom. The measurement will be done with precision comparable to the level of accuracy of theoretical predictions, formulated in the context of Chiral Perturbation Theory. Therefore, the understanding of chiral symmetry breaking of QCD will be submitted to a stringent test

First measurement of the π+π−\pi^+\pi^- atom lifetime

The goal of the DIRAC experiment at CERN (PS212) is to measure the $\pi^+\pi^-$ atom lifetime with 10% precision. Such a measurement would yield a precision of 5% on the value of the $S$-wave $\pi\pi$ scattering lengths combination $|a_0-a_2|$. Based on part of the collected data we present a first result on the lifetime, $\tau=[2.91 ^{+0.49}_{-0.62}]\times 10^{-15}$ s, and discuss the major systematic errors. This lifetime corresponds to $|a_0-a_2|=0.264 ^{+0.033}_{-0.020} m_{\pi}^{-1}$.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

DIRAC: A High Resolution Spectrometer for Pionium Detection

The DIRAC spectrometer has been commissioned at CERN with the aim of detecting $\pi^+ \pi^-$ atoms produced by a 24 GeV/$c$ high intensity proton beam in thin foil targets. A challenging apparatus is required to cope with the high interaction rates involved, the triggering of pion pairs with very low relative momentum, and the measurement of the latter with resolution around 0.6 MeV/$c$. The general characteristics of the apparatus are explained and each part is described in some detail. The main features of the trigger system, data-acquisition, monitoring and setup performances are also given.Comment: 49 pages, 37 figures. Figures 1, 2, 5 and 28 are removed because of size limitations imposed by hep-ex. They don't offer essential information. Latex class file 'elsart.cls' also provide

Detection of π+π−\pi^+\pi^-atoms with the DIRAC spectrometer at CERN

The goal of the DIRAC experiment at CERN is to measure with high precision the lifetime of the $\pi^+\pi^-$ atom ($A_{2\pi}$), which is of order $3\times10^{-15}$ s, and thus to determine the s-wave $\pi\pi$-scattering lengths difference $|a_{0}-a_{2}|$. $A_{2\pi}$ atoms are detected through the characteristic features of $\pi^+\pi^-$ pairs from the atom break-up (ionization) in the target. We report on a first high statistics atomic data sample obtained from p Ni interactions at 24 GeV/$c$ proton momentum and present the methods to separate the signal from the background.Comment: 19 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl