STCF conceptual design report (Volume 1): Physics & detector

The superτ-charm facility(STCF)is an electron–positron collider proposed by the Chinese particle physics community.It is designed to operate in a center-of-mass energy range from 2 to 7 GeV with a peak luminosity of 0.5×10^(35) cm^(–2)·s^(–1) or higher.The STCF will produce a data sample about a factor of 100 larger than that of the presentτ-charm factory—the BEPCII,providing a unique platform for exploring the asymmetry of matter-antimatter(charge-parity violation),in-depth studies of the internal structure of hadrons and the nature of non-perturbative strong interactions,as well as searching for exotic hadrons and physics beyond the Standard Model.The STCF project in China is under development with an extensive R&D program.This document presents the physics opportunities at the STCF,describes conceptual designs of the STCF detector system,and discusses future plans for detector R&D and physics case studies.

Amplitude analysis of the decays D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(+)π^(−)and D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(0)π^(0)

Using e^(+)e^(−)annihilation data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb^(−1)taken at the center-of-mass energy√s=3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector,a joint amplitude analysis is performed on the decays D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(+)π^(−)and D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(0)π^(0)(non-η).The fit fractions of individual components are obtained,and large interferences among the dominant components of the decays D^(0)→a_(1)(1260)π,D^(0)→π(1300)π,D^(0)→ρ(770)ρ(770),and D^(0)→2(ππ)_(S)are observed in both channels.With the obtained amplitude model,the CP-even fractions of D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(+)π^(−)and D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(0)π^(0)(non-η)are determined to be(75.2±1.1_(stat).±1.5_(syst.))%and(68.9±1.5_(stat).±2.4_(syst.))%,respectively.The branching fractions of D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(+)π^(−)and D^(0)→π^(+)π^(−)π^(0)π^(0)(non-η)are measured to be(0.688±0.010_(stat.)±0.010_(syst.))%and(0.951±0.025_(stat.)±0.021_(syst.))%,respectively.The amplitude analysis provides an important model for the binning strategy in measuring the strong phase parameters of D^(0)→4πwhen used to determine the CKM angleγ(ϕ_(3))via the B^(−)→DK^(−)decay.

Determination of the number ofψ(3686)events taken at BESⅢ

The number ofψ(3686)events collected by the BESⅢdetector during the 2021 run period is determined to be(2259.3±11.1)×10~6 by counting inclusiveψ(3686)hadronic events.The uncertainty is systematic and the statistical uncertainty is negligible.Meanwhile,the numbers ofψ(3686)events collected during the 2009 and 2012run periods are updated to be(107.7±0.6)×10~6 and(345.4±2.6)×10~6,respectively.Both numbers are consistent with the previous measurements within one standard deviation.The total number ofψ(3686)events in the three data samples is(2712.4±14.3)×10~6.

Observation of e^(+)e^(-)→pppñπ-+c.c.

Using data taken at 29 center-of-mass energies between 4.16 and 4.70 GeV with the BESⅢdetector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of approximately 18.8 fb^(-1),the process e^(+)e^(-)→pppñπ+c.c.is observed for the first time with a statistical significance of 11.5σ.The average Born cross sections in the energy ranges of(4.160,4.380)GeV,(4.400,4.600)GeV and(4.610,4.700)GeV are measured to be(21.5±5.7±1.2)fb,(46.3±10.6±2.5)fb and(59.0±9.4±3.2)fb,respectively,where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.The line shapes of the pñ and ppπ^(-)invariant mass spectra are consistent with phase space distributions,indicating that no hexaquark or di-baryon state is observed.

Search for hidden-charm tetraquark with strangeness in e^(+)e^(−)→K^(+)D_(s)^(∗−) D^(∗0 )+ c.c.

We report a search for a heavier partner of the recently observed Z_(cs)(3985)^(-) state,denoted as Z_(cs)^('-),in the process e^(+)e^(−)→K^(+)D_(s)^(∗−) D^(∗0 )+ c.c.,based on e^(*)e^(-)collision data collected at the center-of-mass energies of √s=4.661,4.682 and 4.699 GeV with the BESIII detector.The Z_(cs)^('-) is of interest as it is expected to be a candidate for a hidden-charm and open-strange tetraquark.A partial-reconstruction technique is used to isolate K^(+)recoil-mass spectra,which are probed for a potential contribution from Z_(cs)^('-)→D_(s)^(∗−) D^(∗0 )+ c.c.We find an excess of Z_(cs)^('-)→D_(s)^(*-)-D^(*0)(c.c.)candidates with a significance of 2.1o,after considering systematic uncertainties,at a mass of(4123.5±0.7_(sat)±4.7_(syst.))MeV/c^(2).As the data set is limited in size,the upper limits are evaluated at the 90%confidence level on the product of the Born cross sections(σ^(Borm))and the branching fraction(B)of Z_(cs)^('-)→D_(s)^(*-)-D^(*0),under different assumptions of the Z_(cs)^('-) mass from 4.120 to 4.140 MeV and of the width from 10 to 50 MeV at the three center-of-mass energies.The upper limits of σ^(Born).B are found to be at the level of O(1)pb at each energy.Larger data samples are needed to confirm the Z_(cs)^('-) state and clarify its nature in the coming years.

Search for the weak decayψ(3686)→■+c.c.

Using(448.1±2.9)×10^(6)ψ(3686)for the weak baryonic decayψ(3686)→Λc+∑-+c.c..The analysis procedure is optimized using a blinded method.No significant signal is observed,and the upper limit on the branching fraction(B)ofψ(3686)→Λc+∑-+c.c.is set as 1.4×10^(-5)at the 90%confidence level.

Observations of the Cabibbo-Suppressed decays Λ_(c)^(+)→nπ+π^(0),nπ^(+)π^(-)π^(+) and the Cabibbo-Favored decay Λ_(c)^(+)→nK^(-)π^(+)π^(+)

Using electron-positron annihilation data samples corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.5 fb-1,collected by the BESⅢdetector in the energy region between 4599.53 MeV and 4698.82 MeV,we report the first observations of the Cabibbo-suppressed decaysΛ_(c)^(+)→nπ^(+)π^(0),Λ_(c)^(+)→nπ^(+)π^(-)π^(+),and the Cabibbo-favored decayΛ_(c)^(+)→nK^(-)π^(+)π^(+)with statistical significances of 7.9σ,7.8σ,and>10σ,respectively.The branching fractions of these decays are measured to be B(Λ_(c)^(+)→nπ^(+)π^(0))=(0.64±0.09±0.02)%,B(Λ_(c)^(+)→nπ^(+)π^(-)π^(+))=(0.45±0.07±0.03)%,and B(Λ_(c)^(+)→nK^(-)π^(+)π^(+))=(1.90±0.08±0.09)%,where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.We find that the branching fraction of the decayΛ_(c)^(+)→nπ^(+)π^(0)is about one order of magnitude higher than that ofΛ_(c)^(+)→nπ^(+).

Construction of Non-Equilibrium Gas Distribution Functions through Expansions in Peculiar Velocity Space

Gas distribution function plays a crucial role in the description of gas flows at the mesoscopic scale.In the presence of non-equilibrium flow,the distribution function loses its rotational symmetricity,making the mathematical derivation difficult.From both the Chapman-Enskog expansion and the Hermite polynomial expansion(Grad’s method),we observe that the non-equilibrium effect is closely related to the peculiar velocity space(C).Based on this recognition,we propose a new methodology to construct the non-equilibrium distribution function from the perspective of polynomial expansion in the peculiar velocity space of molecules.The coefficients involved in the non-equilibrium distribution function can be exactly determined by the compatibility conditions and the moment relationships.This new framework allows constructing non-equilibrium distribution functions at any order of truncation,and the ones at the third and the fourth order have been presented in this paper for illustration purposes.Numerical validations demonstrate that the new method is more accurate than the Grad’s method at the same truncation error for describing non-equilibrium effects.Two-dimensional benchmark tests are performed to shed light on the applicability of the new method to practical engineering problems.

Measurements of the center-of-mass energies of e^(+)e^(-)collisions at BESIII

During the 2016-17 and 2018-19 running periods,the BESIII experiment collected 7.5 fb of e^(+)e^(-)collision data at center-of-mass energies ranging from 4.13 to 4.44 GeV.These data samples are primarily used for the study of excited charmonium and charmoniumlike states.By analyzing the di-muon process e^(+)e^(-)→(γISR=FSR)μ^(+)μ^(-),we measure the center-of-mass energies of the data samples with a precision of 0.6 MeV.Through a run-by-run study,we find that the center-of-mass energies were stable throughout most of the data-collection period.

Study of BESIII trigger efficiencies with the 2018 J/ψ data

Using a dedicated data sample taken in 2018 on the J/ψpeak,we perform a detailed study of the trigger efficiencies of the BESIII detector.The efficiencies are determined from three representative physics processes,namely Bhabha scattering,dimuon production and generic hadronic events with charged particles.The combined efficiency of all active triggers approaches 100%in most cases,with uncertainties small enough not to affect most physics analyses.

Changes in fine root biomass of Picea abies forests:predicting the potential impacts of climate change

Aims the impact of global warming on belowground processes,espe-cially on fine root production,is poorly understood in comparison with its aboveground counterpart.Methods Here,we compiled 227 measurements to assess the influence of temperature and precipitation on fine root biomass of Norway spruce(Picea abies[L.]Karst)forest ecosystems in the Eurasia boreal region.Important Findings We found that fine root biomass decreased significantly with lati-tudes.there was a biomass increase of 0.63 Mg ha−1 and 0.32 Mg ha−1 for fine roots<2 and<1 mm in diameter,respectively,with 1°C increase of mean annual temperature.there was an increase of 0.5 and 0.1 Mg ha−1 per 100 mm year−1 precipitation for the two size classes of fine roots.If the adaption of root production can match the pace of global warming and water is not a limiting factor for plant growth,fine root biomass would be expected to increase by 40-140%in response to the predicted increase in tem-perature(3-10°C)over the next century.Our analyses highlighted the strongly positive influences of temperature and precipitation on belowground function,suggesting that predicted future climate change could substantially enhance belowground biomass in the boreal region where the greatest warming is anticipated.this potential increase of belowground biomass,coupled with aboveground biomass,may provide a better understanding of climate-ecosystem feedbacks.

Number of J/ψ events at BESIII

Using inclusive decays of J/ψ aprecise determination of the number of J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector was performed.For the two data sets taken in 2009 and 2012,the numbers of J/ψ events were recalculated to be(224.0±1.3)×10^(6) and(1088.5±4.4)×10^(6),respectively;these numbers are in good agreement with the previous measurements. For the J/ψ sample taken in 2017-2019,the number of events was determined to be(8774.0±39.4)×10^(6).The total number of J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector was determined to be(10087±44)×10^(6),where the uncertainty is dominated by systematic effects,and the statistical uncertainty is negligible.

Measurement of integrated luminosities at BESⅢ for data samples at center-of-mass energies between 4.0 and 4.6 GeV

The integrated luminosities of data samples collected in the BESⅢ experiment in 2016-2017 at centerof-mass energies between 4.19 and 4.28 GeV are measured with a precision better than 1% by analyzing large-angle Bhabha scattering events.The integrated luminosities of old datasets collected in 2010-2014 are updated by considering corrections related to detector performance,offsetting the effect of newly discovered readout errors in the electromagnetic calorimeter,which can haphazardly occur.

Luminosities and energies of e^(+)e^(−) collision data taken between √s=4.61 GeV and 4.95 GeV at BESⅢ

From December 2019 to June 2021,the BESⅢ experiment collected approximately 5.85 fb^(−1) of data at center-of-mass energies between 4.61 and 4.95 GeV.This is the highest collision energy BEPCⅡ has reached to date.The accumulated e^(+)e^(−) annihilation data samples are useful for studying charmonium(-like)states and charmed-hadron decays.By adopting a novel method of analyzing the production of A_(c)^(+)A_(c)^(-) pairs in e^(+)e^(−) annihilation,the center-of-mass energies are measured with a precision of 0.6 MeV.Integrated luminosities are measured with a precision of better than 1% by analyzing the events of large-angle Bhabha scattering.These measurements provide important inputs to analyses based on these data samples.

Observation of the Y(4230)and a new structure in e^(+)e^(-)→K^(+)K^(-)J/Ψ

The cross sections of e^(+)e^(-)→K^(+)K^(-)J/Ψat center-of-mass energies from 4.127 to 4.600 GeV are measured based on 15.6 fb-1data collected with the BESⅢ detector operating at the BEPCⅡ storage ring.Two resonant structures are observed in the line shape of the cross sections.The mass and width of the first structure are measured to be(4225.3±2.3±21.5)MeV and(72.9±6.1±30.8)MeV,respectively.They are consistent with those of the established Y(4230).The second structure is observed for the first time with a statistical significance greater than 8σ,denoted as Y(4500).Its mass and width are determined to be(4484.7±13.3±24.1)MeV and(111.1±30.1±15.2)MeV,respectively.The first presented uncertainties are statistical and the second ones are systematic.The product of the electronic partial width with the decay branching fractionΓ(Y(4230)→e^(+)e^(−))B(Y(4230)→K^(+)K^(−)J/Ψ)is reported.