Project C
Further Investigation of X(3872) and contribution to the hardware upgrade of BES III
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kühn and PD Dr. Sören Lange, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen
In this project, we propose to further investigate the X(3872) state and its relation to Y states,
1−− states. Most of the Y states were discovered in ISR radiation experiments at B-factories.
Recently, BESIII has observed the decay Y(4260) → γX(3872), where X(3872) → J/ψπ+π- ,
with a statistical significance of more than 5σ. We propose to investigate more X(3872) decay
modes, exploiting the existing BESIII data taken at and near the Y(4260) resonance as well as
future runs with large integrated luminosity in this mass region.
Specifically, we propose to search for hadronic decays into light mesons, such as X(3872) → nπ
or decays of X(3872) into pairs of vector mesons. Furthermore, we plan to investigate hadronic
transitions such as Y(4260) → π+π-X(3872). In order to increase the X(3872) data sample, we
plan to investigate the recoil mass method. Here, we do not require a complete reconstruction
of X(3872) → J/ψ+π- , where the number of reconstructed X(3872) events is reduced by the
product of the branching fraction of X(3872) → J/ψ+π- and the branching fraction of J/ψ →
e+e- , μ+μ-. This method appears to be very successful in the reconstruction of Z(3900) and
the hc .
In addition, we propose to measure the electronic width and potentially the total width of the
X(3872) in a direct mass scan, exploiting the rare process e+e- → X(3872) which is possible
via the exchange of two virtual photons. To test the feasibility of this approach, the BESIII collaboration has decided to search for
e+e- → χc1 . Here, the formation cross section and the background for a well established cc state will be investigated. The electronic width of χc1 is unknown and theoretical estimates vary between 0.46 eV and 0.044 eV. Assuming a width of 0.1 eV, the resulting cross section would be about 15 pB which is well measurable within one week of BESIII running.
If this experiment is successful, the same approach could be applied to the X(3872). Due to
the unknown internal structure of this state, no reliable predictions for its electronic width are
internal structure available at this time. If, however, e+e- → X(3872) can be observed, it might be possible to
measure the so far unknown total width of this state using a mass scan around the peak energy.
Furthermore, we propose a contribution to the planed BESIII detector upgrades. Here, the
group’s long-standing experience with FPGA based data acquisition - and trigger systems
would be used for an upgrade of the zero-degree calorimeter (ZDC), opening the possibility
of exclusive studies involving ISR processes over a wide kinematic range. Here the basic building block is the Compute Node, an FPGA based platform that our group has developed in
close collaboration with IHEP Beijing (Prof. Zhen-An Liu). This platform is currently being used
for the Belle II detector (Pixel Detector data acquisition and trigger system) as well as foreseen
for the future PANDA experiment at FAIR.
Das Projekt hat zwei Ziele: (i) die Untersuchung des exotischen X(3872) ¿ Zustands durch Suche nach weiteren hadronischen Zerfällen sowie die Messung der elektronischen Breite und der totalen Breite an BESIII; (ii) Beiträge zum BESIII Detektor - Upgrade im Bereich von Datenerfassung und Trigger für das Null-Grad-Kalorimeter zur Untersuchung von ISR - Prozessen.