High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer Research Articles

The HADES-RICH upgrade using Hamamatsu H12700 MAPMTs with DiRICH FEE + Readout

The High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) is operational since the year 2000 and uses a hadron blind RICH detector for electron identification. The RICH photon detector is currently replaced by Hamamatsu H12700 MAPMTs with a readout system based on the DiRICH front-end module. The electronic readout chain is being developed as a joint effort of the HADES-, CBM- and PANDA collaborations and will also be used in the photon detectors for the upcoming Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) and PANDA experiments at FAIR . This article gives a brief overview on the photomultipliers and their quality assurance test measurements, as well as first measurements of the new DiRICH front-end module in final configurations.

Studying Strangeness Production with HADES

The High-Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer (HADES) operates in the 1 - 2A GeV energy regime in fixed target experiments to explore baryon-rich strongly interacting matter in heavy-ion collisions at moderate temperatures with rare and penetrating probes. We present results on the production of strange hadrons below their respective NN threshold energy in Au+Au collisions at 1.23A GeV ([see formula in PDF] = 2.4 GeV). Special emphasis is put on the enhanced feed-down contribution of ϕ mesons to the inclusive yield of K- and its implication on the measured spectral shape of K-. Furthermore, we investigate global properties of the system, confronting the measured hadron yields and transverse mass spectra with a Statistical Hadronization Model (SHM) and a blastwave parameterization, respectively. These supplement the world data of the chemical and kinetic freeze-out temperatures.

Λpinteraction studied via femtoscopy inp+Nbreactions atsNN=3.18GeV

We report on the first measurement of $p\Lambda$ and $pp$ correlations via the femtoscopy method in p+Nb reactions at $\mathrm{\sqrt{s_{NN}}=3.18} ~\mathrm{GeV}$, studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES). By comparing the experimental correlation function to model calculations, a source size for $pp$ pairs of $r_{0,pp}=2.02 \pm 0.01(\mathrm{stat})^{+0.11}_{-0.12} (\mathrm{sys}) ~\mathrm{fm}$ and a slightly smaller value for $p\Lambda$ of $r_{0,\Lambda p}=1.62 \pm 0.02(\mathrm{stat})^{+0.19}_{-0.08}(\mathrm{sys}) ~\mathrm{fm}$ is extracted. Using the geometrical extent of the particle emitting region, determined experimentally with $pp$ correlations as reference together with a source function from a transport model, it is possible to study different sets of scattering parameters. The $p\Lambda$ correlation is proven sensitive to predicted scattering length values from chiral effective field theory. We demonstrate that the femtoscopy technique can be used as valid alternative to the analysis of scattering data to study the hyperon-nucleon interaction.

Studyingρ–N couplings with HADES in pion-induced reactions

The High-Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) operates at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt with pion, proton and heavyion beams provided by the synchrotron SIS18. In summer 2014, HADES took data using a pion beam on carbon and polyethylene targets. A large part of the data was taken at a pion beam momentum of 0.69 GeV/c in order to explore di-pion and di-electron production in the second resonance region and the sub-threshold coupling of the ρ to baryonic resonances. In this contribution lepton identification will be discussed as well the purity of reconstructed e + e − . Finally we will show the preliminary di-electon raw spectra.

Study of the quasi-free [formula omitted] reaction with a deuterium beam at 1.25 GeV/nucleon

The tagged quasi-free np→npπ+π− reaction has been studied experimentally with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at GSI at a deuteron incident beam energy of 1.25 GeV/nucleon (s∼2.42 GeV/c for the quasi-free collision). For the first time, differential distributions of solid statistics for π+π− production in np collisions have been collected in the region corresponding to the large transverse momenta of the secondary particles. The invariant mass and angular distributions for the np→npπ+π− reaction are compared with different models. This comparison confirms the dominance of the t-channel with ΔΔ contribution. It also validates the changes previously introduced in the Valencia model to describe two-pion production data in other isospin channels, although some deviations are observed, especially for the π+π− invariant mass spectrum. The extracted total cross section is also in much better agreement with this model. Our new measurement puts useful constraints for the existence of the conjectured dibaryon resonance at mass M∼2.38 GeV and with width Γ∼70 MeV.

Subthreshold Ξ^{-} production in collisions of p(3.5 GeV)+Nb.

Results on the production of the double strange cascade hyperon Ξ^{-} are reported for collisions of p(3.5 GeV)+Nb, studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at SIS18 at GSI Helmholtzzentrum for Heavy-Ion Research, Darmstadt. For the first time, subthreshold Ξ^{-} production is observed in proton-nucleus interactions. Assuming a Ξ^{-} phase-space distribution similar to that of Λ hyperons, the production probability amounts to P_{Ξ^{-}}=[2.0±0.4(stat)±0.3(norm)±0.6(syst)]×10^{-4} resulting in a Ξ^{-}/(Λ+Σ^{0}) ratio of P_{Ξ^{-}}/P_{Λ+Σ^{0}}=[1.2±0.3(stat)±0.4(syst)]×10^{-2}. Available model predictions are significantly lower than the measured Ξ^{-} yield.

Backtracking algorithm for lepton reconstruction with HADES

The High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung investigates dilepton and strangeness production in elementary and heavy-ion collisions. In April - May 2012 HADES recorded 7 billion Au+Au events at a beam energy of 1.23 GeV/u with the highest multiplicities measured so far. The track reconstruction and particle identification in the high track density environment are challenging. The most important detector component for lepton identification is the Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector. Its main purpose is the separation of electrons and positrons from large background of charged hadrons produced in heavy-ion collisions. In order to improve lepton identification this backtracking algorithm was developed. In this contribution we will show the results of the algorithm compared to the currently applied method for e+/-identification. Efficiency and purity of a reconstructed e+/- sample will be discussed as well.

Protons and light fragments in Ar+KCl at 1.76 AGeV measured with HADES

We present transverse momentum spectra, rapidity distributions and multiplicities of protons, deuterons and tritons measured with the High Acceptance DiElectronSpectrometer HADES in the reaction Ar(1.76A GeV)+KCl. This completes the HADES data set measured in this reaction, comprising dielectronsand various lighter hadrons.

Lambda hyperon production and polarization in collisions of p(3.5 GeV)+Nb

Results on $ \Lambda$ hyperon production are reported for collisions of p(3.5 GeV) + Nb , studied with the High-Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at SIS18 at GSI Helmholtzzentrum for Heavy-Ion Research, Darmstadt. The transverse mass distributions in rapidity bins are well described by Boltzmann shapes with a maximum inverse slope parameter of about 90 MeV at a rapidity of y = 1.0, i.e. slightly below the center-of-mass rapidity for nucleon-nucleon collisions, $ y_{cm}=1.12$ . The rapidity density decreases monotonically with increasing rapidity within a rapidity window ranging from 0.3 to 1.3. The $ \Lambda$ phase-space distribution is compared with results of other experiments and with predictions of two transport approaches which are available publicly. None of the present versions of the employed models is able to fully reproduce the experimental distributions, i.e. in absolute yield and in shape. Presumably, this finding results from an insufficient modelling in the transport models of the elementary processes being relevant for $ \Lambda$ production, rescattering and absorption. The present high-statistics data allow for a genuine two-dimensional investigation as a function of phase space of the self-analyzing $ \Lambda$ polarization in the weak decay $ \Lambda\rightarrow p\pi^{-}$ . Finite negative values of the polarization in the order of 5-20% are observed over the entire phase space studied. The absolute value of the polarization increases almost linearly with increasing transverse momentum for p t > 300 MeV/c and increases with decreasing rapidity for y < 0.8 .

Forward scintillation hodoscope for nuclear fragment detection at the high acceptance dielectron spectrometer (HADES) setup

The main characteristics of the forward scintillation hodoscope and readout electronics of the high acceptance dielectron spectrometer (HADES) at GSI (Darmstadt, Germany) are presented. Methods for adjustment and amplitude-time calibration of hodoscope detectors using cosmic rays and results of measurements of the Au + Au reaction at a beam energy of 1.24 GeV/nucleon are described. The use of the forward hodoscope for tagging the n + p reaction by means of the deuteron beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target is discussed. A procedure for determining the reaction plane angle in event-by-event analysis of the Au + Au reaction data (at 1.24 GeV/nucleon) is presented.

In-medium hadron properties measured with HADES

Many QCD based and phenomenological models predict changes of hadron properties in a strongly interacting environment. The results of these models differ significantly and the experimental determination of hadron properties in nuclear matter is essential. In this paper we present a review of selected physics results obtained at GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung GmbH by HADES (High-Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer). The e + e − pair emission measured for proton and heavy-ion induced collisions is reported together with results on strangeness production. The future HADES activities at the planned FAIR facility are also discussed.

Measurement of the quasi freenp→npπ+π−andnp→ppπ−π0reactions at 1.25 GeV With HADES

We present the results of two-pion production in tagged quasi-free np collisions at a deutron incident beam energy of 1.25 GeV/c measured with the High-Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) installed at GSI. The specific acceptance of HADES allowed for the first time to obtain high-precision data on π+π− and π−π0 production in np collisions in a region corresponding to large transverse momenta of the secondary particles. The obtained differential cross section data provide strong constraints on the production mechanisms and on the various baryon resonance contributions (∆∆, N(1440), N(1520), ∆(1600)). The invariant mass and angular distributions from the np → npπ+π −and np → ppπ−π0 reactions are compared with different theoretical model predictions.

Low mass dielectrons radiated off cold nuclear matter measured with HADES

The High Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer HADES [1] is installed at the Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung (GSI) accelerator facility in Darmstadt. It investigates dielectron emission and strangeness production in the 1-3 AGeV regime. A recent experiment series focusses on medium-modifications of light vector mesons in cold nuclear matter. In two runs, p+p and p+Nb reactions were investigated at 3.5 GeV beam energy; about 9·109 events have been registered. In contrast to other experiments the high acceptance of the HADES allows for a detailed analysis of electron pairs with low momenta relative to nuclear matter, where modifications of the spectral functions of vector mesons are predicted to be most prominent. Comparing these low momentum electron pairs to the reference measurement in the elementary p+p reaction, we find in fact a strong modification of the spectral distribution in the whole vector meson region.

Deep sub-threshold K*(892)0 production in collisions of Ar + KCl at 1.76 A GeV

Results on the deep sub-threshold production of the short-lived hadronic resonance K*(892)0 are reported for collisions of Ar + KCl at 1.76A GeV beam energy, studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at SIS18/GSI. The K*(892)0 production probability per central collision of \( P_{K^{*0}}=(4.4\pm 1.1 \pm 0.5)\times 10^{-4}\) and the K*(892)0/K0 ratio of \( P_{K^{*0}}/P_{K^0}=(1.9\pm 0.5\pm 0.3)\times 10^{-2}\) are determined at the lowest energy so far (i.e. deep below the threshold for the corresponding production in nucleon-nucleon collisions, \( \sqrt{s_{NN}}-\sqrt{s_{thr}}=-340\) MeV). The K*0/K0 ratio is compared with results of other experiments and with the predictions of the UrQMD transport approach and of the statistical hadronization model. The experimental K*0 yield and the K*0/K0 ratio are overestimated by the transport model by factors of about five and two, respectively. In a chemically equilibrated medium the ratio corresponds to a temperature of the thermalized system being systematically lower than the value determined by the yields of the stable and long-lived hadrons produced in Ar + KCl collisions. From the present measurement, we conclude that sub-threshold K* production either cannot be considered to proceed in a system being in thermal equilibrium or these short-lived resonances appear undersaturated, for example as a result of the rescattering of the decay particles in the ambient hadronic medium.

Performance of the HADES-TOF RPC wall in a Au + Au beam at 1.25 AGeV

In this work we present results concerning in beam operation of the new Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) Time of Flight (TOF) wall for the High Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer (HADES) at the Society for Heavy Ion Research (GSI), Darmstadt, Germany. The new RPC-TOF wall, fully integrated in the spectrometer, has been successfully operated under final conditions corresponding to collision of Au + Au at 1.25 AGeV.Results confirm an intrinsic uniform average time response of about 66 ps σ along with an intrinsic average longitudinal position resolution better than 8 mm σ, for particles with a momentum above 300 MeV/c selected with the tracking system of the spectrometer. The multihit capability of the system has also been investigated showing a slight degradation of time resolution when particles hit the detector at neighbouring cells. The matching efficiency of the RPC-TOF wall is quite homogeneous over the whole area showing an average value of about 95%

Strangeness balance in HADES experiments and theΞ−enhancement

The High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) data on strangeness production in Ar + KCl collisions at 1.76$A$ GeV are analyzed within a minimal statistical model. In the model the total negative strangeness content is fixed by the observed ${K}^{+}$ multiplicities. Particles with negative strangeness are assumed to remain in chemical equilibrium with themselves and in thermal equilibrium with the environment until a common freeze-out. Exact strangeness conservation in each collision event is explicitly preserved. This implies that $\ensuremath{\Xi}$ baryons can be released only in events where two or more kaons are produced. An increase of the fireball volume due to application of a centrality trigger in HADES experiments is taken into account. We find that experimental ratios of ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}/{K}^{+}$, $\ensuremath{\Lambda}/{K}^{+}$, and $\ensuremath{\Sigma}/{K}^{+}$ can be satisfactorily described provided in-medium potentials are taken into account. However, the calculated ${\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}/\ensuremath{\Lambda}/{K}^{+}$ ratio proves to be significantly smaller compared to the measured value (eight times less than the experimental median value and three times less than the lower error bar). Various scenarios to explain observed $\ensuremath{\Xi}$ enhancement are discussed. Arguments are given in favor of the $\ensuremath{\Xi}$ production in direct reactions. The rates of the possible production processes are estimated and compared.

Inclusive dielectron production in proton-proton collisions at 2.2 GeV beam energy

Data on inclusive dielectron production are presented for the reaction p+p at 2.2 GeV measured with the High Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer (HADES). Our results supplement data obtained earlier in this bombarding energy regime by DLS and HADES. The comparison with the 2.09 GeV DLS data is discussed. The reconstructed e+e- distributions are confronted with simulated pair cocktails, revealing an excess yield at invariant masses around 0.5 GeV/c2. Inclusive cross sections of neutral pion and eta production are obtained.

Dilepton and strangeness production probed with HADES

With the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at GSI we have studied dilepton production in the few-GeV energy regime in various collisions systems, from elementary NN, over pA, up to the medium-heavy Ar + KCl system. We have thus confirmed the puzzling results of the former DLS Collaboration at the Bevalac. While we have traced the origin of the excess pair yield in CC collisions to elementary pp and pn processes, in our Ar + KCl data a contribution from the dense phase of the collision has been identified. Together with the e+e− pairs, we have also obtained in the Ar + KCl system at 1.76 A GeV a high-statistics data set on open and hidden strangeness, i.e. K±, Ks0, Λ, ϕ, and Ξ−, allowing for a comprehensive discussion of strangeness production in this system.

Exploring compressed nuclear matter with the HADES

We report a few selected results from systematic studies of e+ e− production in C+C, Ar+KCl, p+p, d+p and p+Nb collisions performed by the High-Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) in the energy domain of 1–3.5 GeV kinetic energy per nucleon. The comparison of a N+N reference spectrum with the di-electron invariant-mass distribution measured in Ar+KCl collisions shows pronounced excess radiation. Medium effects have been further investigated in p+Nb interactions at 3.5 GeV by a direct comparison to p+p reactions measured at the same beam energy.

Strange baryon resonances in pp collisions measured with HADES

We present an analysis of the hyperons Λ(1405) and Σ(1385) + for p+p reactions at 3.5 GeV kinetic beam energy. The data were taken with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES). A Λ(1405) signal could be reconstructed in both charged decay channels Λ(1405)→Σ± π ∓ . The obtained statistics of the Σ(1385) + signal allows also differential studies.