DIRAC Experiment at CERN: Lifetime Measurement of Pionium

The DIRAC experiment, a magnetic double arm spectrometer, aims to measure the $\pi^+\pi^-$ atom lifetime with 10% precision, using the high intensity 24 GeV/c proton beam of the CERN Proton Synchrotron. Since the value of this lifetime of order $10^{-15}$~s is dictated by strong interaction at low energy, a precise measurement of this quantity enables to study characteristic pion parameters in detail and to submit predictions of QCD to a severe check.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures (eps and ps), conference, use dubna98.st

Experimental status of pionium at CERN

The DIRAC Collaboration presents a first search for "atomic pi(+) pi(-) pairs" from ionization of pionium.Comment: 2 pages, LaTex, 2 figures, talk at Chiral Dynamics 2000, Newport News (USA), July 17-20, 200