Nanodiamond photocathodes for MPGD-based single photon detectors at future EIC

We are developing gaseous photon detectors for Cherenkov imaging applications in the experiments at the future Electron Ion Collider. CsI, converting photons in the far ultraviolet range, is, so far, the only photoconverter compatible with the operation of gaseous detectors. It is very delicate to handle due to its hygroscopic nature: the absorbed water vapour decomposes the CsI molecule. In addition, its quantum efficiency degrades under ion bombardment. These are the key reasons to quest for novel, less delicate materials for photocathodes adequate for gaseous photon detectors. Layers of hydrogenated nanodiamond particles have recently been proposed as an alternative material and have shown promising characteristics. The performance of nanodiamond photocathodes coupled to thick GEM-based detectors is the object of our ongoing R\&D. The first phase of these studies includes the characterization of thick GEM coated with nanodiamond layers and the robustness of its photoconverting properties with respect to the bombardment by ions from the multiplication process in the gaseous detector. The approach is described in detail as well as all the results obtained so far within these exploratory studies

Double J/ψJ/\psi production in pion-nucleon scattering at COMPASS

We present the study of the production of double $J/\psi$ mesons using COMPASS data collected with a 190 GeV/$c$ $\pi^-$ beam scattering off NH$_{3}$, Al and W targets. Kinematic distributions of the collected double $J/\psi$ events are analysed, and the double $J/\psi$ production cross section is estimated for each of the COMPASS targets. The results are compared to predictions from single- and double-parton scattering models as well as the pion intrinsic charm and the tetraquark exotic resonance hypotheses. It is demonstrated that the single parton scattering production mechanism gives the dominant contribution that is sufficient to describe the data. An upper limit on the double intrinsic charm content of pion is evaluated. No significant signatures that could be associated with exotic tetraquarks are found in the double $J/\psi$ mass spectrum.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Collins and Sivers transverse-spin asymmetries in inclusive muoproduction of ρ0\rho^0 mesons

The production of vector mesons in deep inelastic scattering is an interesting yet scarsely explored channel to study the transverse spin structure of the nucleon and the related phenomena. The COMPASS collaboration has performed the first measurement of the Collins and Sivers asymmetries for inclusively produced $\rho^0$ mesons. The analysis is based on the data set collected in deep inelastic scattering in $2010$ using a $160\,\,\rm{GeV}/c$ $\mu^+$ beam impinging on a transversely polarized $\rm{NH}_3$ target. The $\rho^{0}$ mesons are selected from oppositely charged hadron pairs, and the asymmetries are extracted as a function of the Bjorken-$x$ variable, the transverse momentum of the pair and the fraction of the energy $z$ carried by the pair. Indications for positive Collins and Sivers asymmetries are observed

Spin Density Matrix Elements in Exclusive ρ0\rho ^0 Meson Muoproduction

We report on a measurement of Spin Density Matrix Elements (SDMEs) in hard exclusive $\rho ^0$ meson muoproduction at COMPASS using 160~GeV/$c$ polarised $\mu ^{+}$ and $\mu ^{-}$ 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/$c$)$^2$ $< p_{\rm{T}}^2 <$ 0.5 (GeV/$c$)$^2$. Here, $W$ denotes the mass of the final hadronic system, $Q^2$ the virtuality of the exchanged photon, and $p_{\rm{T}}$ the transverse momentum of the $\rho ^0$ 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 ($\gamma^*_T \to V^{ }_L$) 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 $\rho ^0$ production

ATHENA detector proposal - a totally hermetic electron nucleus apparatus proposed for IP6 at the Electron-Ion Collider

ATHENA has been designed as a general purpose detector capable of delivering the full scientific scope of the Electron-Ion Collider. Careful technology choices provide fine tracking and momentum resolution, high performance electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry, hadron identification over a wide kinematic range, and near-complete hermeticity.This article describes the detector design and its expected performance in the most relevant physics channels. It includes an evaluation of detector technology choices, the technical challenges to realizing the detector and the R&D required to meet those challenges

ATHENA detector proposal — a totally hermetic electron nucleus apparatus proposed for IP6 at the Electron-Ion Collider

ATHENA has been designed as a general purpose detector capable of delivering the full scientific scope of the Electron-Ion Collider. Careful technology choices provide fine tracking and momentum resolution, high performance electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry, hadron identification over a wide kinematic range, and near-complete hermeticity. This article describes the detector design and its expected performance in the most relevant physics channels. It includes an evaluation of detector technology choices, the technical challenges to realizing the detector and the R&amp;D required to meet those challenges

Progress in coupling MPGD-based photon detectors with nanodiamond photocathodes

The next generation of gaseous photon detectors is requested to overcome the limitations of the available technology, in terms of resolution and robustness. The quest for a novel photocathode, sensitive in the far vacuum ultra violet wavelength range and more robust than present ones, motivated an R&D programme to explore nanodiamond based photoconverters, which represent the most promising alternative to cesium iodine. A procedure for producing the novel photocathodes has been defined and applied on THGEMs samples. Systematic measurements of the photo emission in different Ar/CH$_4$ and Ar/CO$_2$ gas mixtures with various types of nanodiamond powders have been performed. A comparative study of the response of THGEMs before and after coating demonstrated their full compatibility with the novel photocathodes.The next generation of gaseous photon detectors is requested to overcome the limitations of the available technology, in terms of resolution and robustness. The quest for a novel photocathode, sensitive in the far vacuum ultra violet wavelength range and more robust than present ones, motivated an R&D programme to explore nanodiamond based photoconverters, which represent the most promising alternative to cesium iodine. A procedure for producing the novel photocathodes has been defined and applied on THGEMs samples. Systematic measurements of the photo emission in different Ar/CH4 and Ar/CO2 gas mixtures with various types of nanodiamond powders have been performed. A comparative study of the response of THGEMs before and after coating demonstrated their full compatibility with the novel photocathodes

Study of nanodiamond photocathodes for MPGD-based detectors of single photons

The proposed new Electron–Ion Collider poses a technical and intellectual challenge for the detector design to accommodate the long-term diverse physics goals envisaged by the program. This requires a 4π detector system capable of reconstructing the energy and momentum of final state particles with high precision. The Electron-Ion Collider also requires identification of particles of different masses over a wide momentum range. A diverse spectrum of Particle IDentification detectors has been proposed. Of the four types of detectors for hadron identification, three are based on Ring Imaging Cherenkov Counter technologies, and one is realized by the Time of Flight method. The quest for a novel photocathode, sensitive in the far vacuum ultraviolet wavelength range and more robust than cesium iodide, motivated an R&D; programme to explore nano-diamond (ND) based photocathodes, started by a collaboration between INFN and CNR Bari and INFN Trieste. Systematic measurements of the photoemission in different Ar:CH4 and Ar:CO2 gas mixtures with various types of ND powders and Hydrogenated ND (H-ND) powders are reported. A first study of the response of THGEMs coated with different photocathode materials is presented. The progress of this R&D; programme and the results obtained so far by these exploratory studies are described

Employment of nanodiamond photocathodes on MPGD-based HEP detector at the future EIC

In high momenta range, the construction of a Ring Imaging CHerenkov (RICH) detector for the particle identification at the future Electron Ion Collider (EIC) is a complicated task. A compact collider setup imposes to construct a RICH with a short radiator length, hence limiting the number of photons. The number of photons can be increase by choosing to work in far UV region. However, as standard fused-silica windows are opaque below 165 nm, therefore, a windowless RICH approach could be a possible choice. In the far UV range, CsI is a widely used photo-cathode (PC) to detect photons, but because of its hygroscopic nature, it is very delicate to handle. Its Quantum Efficiency (QE) degrades in high intensity ion fluxes. These are the key reasons to search a novel, less delicate PC with sensitivity in the far UV region. Hydrogenated nanodiamond films are proposed as an alternative PC material and shown to have promising characteristics. The performance of nanodiamond PC coupled to THGEM-based detectors is the objects of our ongoing R & D.The first phase of these studies includes the characterization of THGEMs coated with nanodiamont PC, the comparison of the effective QE in vacuum and in gaseous atmospheres, the hardness respect to the PC bombardment by ions from the multiplication process. The approach is described in detail as well as all the results obtained so far with these exploratory studies

Nanodiamond photocathodes for MPGD-based single photon detectors at future EIC

We are developing gaseous photon detectors for Cherenkov imaging applications in the experiments at the future Electron Ion Collider. CsI, converting photons in the far ultraviolet range, is, so far, the only photoconverter compatible with the operation of gaseous detectors. It is very delicate to handle due to its hygroscopic nature: the absorbed water vapour decomposes the CsI molecule. In addition, its quantum efficiency degrades under ion bombardment. These are the key reasons to quest for novel, less delicate materials for photocathodes adequate for gaseous photon detectors. Layers of hydrogenated nanodiamond particles have recently been proposed as an alternative material and have shown promising characteristics. The performance of nanodiamond photocathodes coupled to thick GEM-based detectors is the objects of our ongoing R&amp;D. The first phase of these studies includes the characterization of thick GEM coated with nanodiamond layers and the robustness of its photoconverting properties with respect to the bombardment by ions from the multiplication process in the gaseous detector. The approach is described in detail as well as all the results obtained so far within these exploratory studies