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.

Search for the doubly heavy baryon Ξ_(bc)^(+)→ decaying to J/ψΞ_(c)^(+)

A first search for the Ξ_(bc)^(+)J/ψΞ_(c)^(+) decay is performed by the LHCb experiment with a data sample of proton-proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1 recorded at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. Two peaking structures are seen with a local (global) significance of 4.3(2.8) and 4.1(2.4) standard deviations at masses of 6571 and 6694 MeV/c2, respectively. Upper limits are set on the Ξ+bc baryon production cross-section times the branching fraction relative to that of the B+c→J/ψD+s decay at centre-of-mass energies of 8 and 13 TeV, in the Ξ+bc and in the B+c rapidity and transverse-momentum ranges from 2.0 to 4.5 and 0 to 20GeV/c, respectively. Upper limits are presented as a function of the Ξ+bc mass and lifetime.

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 rare decays W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D^(0)γ at LHCb

A search for the rare decays W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D0γis performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV,corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0fb−1.No significant signal is observed for either decay mode and upper limits on their branching fractions are set using W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→μ+μ−decays as normalization channels.The upper limits are 6.5×10^(−4) and 2.1×10^(−3) at 95% confidence level for the W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D^(0)γ decay modes,respectively.This is the first reported search for the Z→D^(0)γ decay,while the upper limit on the W+→D+sγbranching fraction improves upon the previous best limit.

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^(+).

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.

Future Physics Programme of BESⅢ

There has recently been a dramatic renewal of interest in hadron spectroscopy and charm physics. This renaissance has been driven in part by the discovery of a plethora of charmonium-like XYZ states at BESⅢ and B factories, and the observation of an intriguing proton-antiproton threshold enhancement and the possibly related X(1835) meson state at BESⅢ, as well as the threshold measurements of charm mesons and charm baryons. We present a detailed survey of the important topics in tau-charm physics and hadron physics that can be further explored at BESⅢ during the remaining operation period of BEPCⅡ. This survey will help in the optimization of the data-taking plan over the coming years, and provides physics motivation for the possible upgrade of BEPCⅡ to higher luminosity.

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.

Observation of the Crab Nebula with LHAASO-KM2A−a performance study

A sub-array of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory(LHAASO),KM2A is mainly designed to observe a large fraction of the northern sky to hunt for γ-ray sources at energies above 10 TeV.Even though the detector construction is still underway,half of the KM2A array has been operating stably since the end of 2019.In this paper,we present the KM2A data analysis pipeline and the first observation of the Crab Nebula,a standard candle in very high energy γ-ray astronomy.We detect γ-ray signals from the Crab Nebula in both energy ranges of 10-100 TeV and>100 TeV with high significance,by analyzing the KM2A data of 136 live days between December 2019 and May 2020.With the observations,we test the detector performance,including angular resolution,pointing accuracy and cosmic-ray background rejection power.The energy spectrum of the Crab Nebula in the energy range 10-250 TeV fits well with a single power-law function dN/dE=(1.13±0.05stat±0.08sys)×10^(-14).(E/20 TeV)-309±0.06stat±0.02syscm^(-2) s^(-1) TeV^(-1).It is consistent with previous measurements by other experiments.This opens a new window of γ-ray astronomy above 0.1 PeV through which new ultrahigh-energy γ-ray phenomena,such as cosmic PeVatrons,might be discovered.

Performance of LHAASO-WCDA and observation of the Crab Nebula as a standard candle

The first Water Cherenkov detector of the LHAASO experiment(WCDA-1)has been operating since April 2019.The data for the first year have been analyzed to test its performance by observing the Crab Nebula as a standard candle.The WCDA-1 achieves a sensitivity of 65 mCU per year,with a statistical threshold of 5 cr.To accomplish this,a 97.7%cosmic-ray background rejection rate around 1 TeV and 99.8%around 6 TeV with an ap proximate photon acceptance of 50%is achieved after applying an algorithm to separate gamma-induced showers.The angular resolution is measured using the Crab Nebula as a point source to be approximately 0.45°at 1 TeV and better than 0.2°above 6 TeV,with a pointing accuracy better than 0.05°.These values all match the design specifications.The energy resolution is found to be 33%for gamma rays around 6 TeV.The spectral energy distribution of the Crab Nebula in the range from 500 GeV to 15.8 TeV is measured and found to be in agreement with the results from other TeV gamma ray observatories.

Search for the doubly charmed baryon ■

A search for the doubly charmed baryon ■^+cc is performed through its decay to theΛ^+c K^-π^+ final state,using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7,8 and 13 TeV.The data correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb^-1.No significant signal is observed in the mass range from 3.4 to 3.8 GeV/c^2.Upper limits are set at 95%credibility level on the ratio of the ■^+cc production cross-section times the branching fraction to that ofΛ^+c and ■^++cc baryons.The limits are determined as functions of the ■^+cc mass for different lifetime hypotheses,in the rapidity range from 2.0 to 4.5 and the transverse momentum range from 4 to 15 GeV/c.

Geometrical reconstruction of fluorescence events observed by the LHAASO experiment

The LHAASO-WFCTA experiment,which aims to observe cosmic rays in the sub-EeV range using the fluorescence technique,uses a new generation of high-performance telescopes.To ensure that the experiment has ex-cellent detection capability associated with the measurement of the energy spectrum,the primary composition of cosmic rays,and so on,an accurate geometrical reconstruction of air-shower events is fundamental.This paper de-scribes the development and testing of geometrical reconstruction for stereo viewed events using the WFCTA(Wide Field of view Cherenkov/Fluorescence Telescope Array)detectors.Two approaches,which take full advantage ofthe WFCTA detectors.are investigated.One is the stereo-angular method,which uses the pointing of triggered SiPMs in the shower trajectory,and the other is the stereo-timing method,which uses the triggering time of the fired SiPMs.The results show that both methods have good geometrical resolution:the resolution of the stereo-timing method is slightly better than the stereo-angular method because the resolution of the latter is slightly limited by the shower track length.

Measurement of Ξcc++ production in pp collisions at s1/2=13 TeV

The production of ■baryons in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 13 TeV is measured in the transverse-momentum range 4<pT<15GeV/c and the rapidity range2.0<y<4.5.The data used in this measurement correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.7fb^-1,recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2016.The ratio of the ■ production cross-section times the branching fraction of the■→∧^+cK^-π^+ π^+decay relative to the prompt ∧^+c production cross-section is found to be(2.22±0.27±0.29)×10^-4,assuming the central value of the measured lifetime,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

Observation of e^+e^-→D_s^+■^((*)0)K^- and study of the P-wave D_s mesons

Studies of e^+e~→D_s^+■^((*)0)K^-and the P-wave charmed-strange mesons are performed based on an e^+e^-collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 567 pb^(-1) collected with the BESIII detector at s^(1/2)=4.600 GeV. The processes of e^+e^-→D_s^+■^(*0)K^- and D_s^+■~0K^- are observed for the first time and are found to be dominated by the modes D_s^+D_(s1)(2536)^-and D_s^+D_(s2)~*(2573)^-, respectively. The Born cross sections are measured to be σ~B(e^+e^-→D_s^+■^(*0)K^-) =(10.1±2.3±0.8) pb and σ~B(e^+e^-→D_s^+■~0K^-) =(19.4±2.3± 1.6) pb, and the products of Born cross section and the decay branching fraction are measured to be σ~B(e^+e^-→D_s^+D_(s1)(2536)^-+c.c.)·B(D_(s1)(2536)^-→■^(*0)K^-)=(7.5±1.8±0.7) pb and σ~B(e^+e^-→D_s^+D_(s2)~*(2573)^-+ c.c.)·B(D_(s2)~*(2573)^-→■~0 K^-)=(19.7 ± 2.9 ±2.0) pb. For the D_(s1)(2536)^-and D_(s2)~*(2573)^-mesons, the masses and widths are measured to be M(D_(s1)(2536)^-)=(2537.7±0.5 ±3.1) MeV/c2, Γ(D_(s1)(2536)^-) =(1.7 ±1.2 ±0.6)MeV, and M(D_(s2)~*(2573)^-)=(2570.7±2.0 ±1.7) MeV/c^2, Γ(D_(s2)~*(2573)^-)=(17.2 ±3.6 ±1.1) MeV. The spin-parity of the D_(s2)~*(2573)^-meson is determined to be J^p= 2^+. In addition, the processes e^+e^-→D_s^+■^((*)0)K^-are searched for using the data samples taken at four(two) center-of-mass energies between 4.416(4.527) and 4.575 GeV, and upper limits at the 90% confidence level on the cross sections are determined.

■^(−)_(b)→J/ψΛK^(−)衰变中一个J/ψΛ结构的迹象与■^(−)激发态的发现

夸克和胶子组成的粒子统称强子,其中包含4个或以上组分夸克的强子被称为奇异强子.目前实验上发现的奇异强子最多包含5个夸克,称为五夸克态.对五夸克态的深入研究可以检验对强相互作用的理解.利用质心能量为7、8和13 TeV,总积分亮度9 fb^(−1)的质子-质子对撞数据,大型强子对撞机底夸克实验(LHCb)采用全谱分析的方法,研究了■^(−)_(b)→J/ψΛK^(−)衰变过程中的共振态结构.实验发现J/ψΛ系统中存在质量约为4.46 MeV/c^(2)的共振结构存在的迹象,其显著程度为3.1倍标准偏差,性质与五夸克态相符.这是实验上首次观测到包含奇异夸克的五夸克态的存在证据,为五夸克态的理论研究和后续的实验探索提供了重要的依据.除此之外,实验还精细测量了ΛK−系统中部分共振态的共振参数,精度远高于当前世界平均值,这对加深传统重子谱学的认识有着重要的意义.

Closed-Loop Control of MEMS Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA)

This paper reports the development of an optical power regulator based on surface-micromachined variable optical attenuators (VOAs). By use of closed-loop control circuits, each VOA module implements the functions of power setpoint tracking, disturbance rejection and ripple suppression.

Evidence for the decays of ∧_c^+→∑^+η and ∑^+η’

We study the hadronic decays of ∧c^+ to the final states ∑^+η and ∑^+η, using an e^+e^- annihilation data sample of 567 pb^-1 taken at a center-of-mass energy of 4.6 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. We find evidence for the decays ∧^+→∑^+η and ∑^+η' and with statistical significance of and , respectively. Normalizing to the reference decays ∧^+→∑^+π^0 and ∑^+ω, we obtain the ratios of the branching fractions B(∧C^+→∑^+η)/V(∧^→∑^+π^0)and B(∧C^+→∑^+η)/B(∧C^+→∑^+ω)to be and , respectively. The upper limits at the 90% confidence level are set to be B(∧C^→∑^+η)/V(∧^+→∑^+π^0)<0.58 and B(∧C^+→∑^+η)/B(∧C^+→∑^+ω)<1.2. Using BESIII measurements of the branching fractions of the reference decays, we determine B(∧C^+→∑^+η)=(0.41±019±0.05)%(<0.68%) and B(∧C^+→∑^+η)=(1.34+0.53+0.19)%(<1.9%). Here, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The obtained branching fraction of ∧C^+→∑^+η is consistent with the previous measurement, and the branching fraction of ∧C^+→∑^+η is measured for the first time.