SIDDHARTA-2 apparatus for kaonic atoms research on the DA$\Phi$NE collider

TL;DR

SIDDHARTA-2 is an advanced experiment at the DAΦNE collider designed to measure X-ray transitions in kaonic deuterium, aiming to deepen understanding of strong interactions involving strangeness and improve knowledge of antikaon-nucleon scattering.

Contribution

The paper introduces the upgraded SIDDHARTA-2 apparatus with innovative Silicon Drift Detectors for precise measurements of kaonic atoms, especially kaonic deuterium, at the DAΦNE collider.

Findings

Successful installation and commissioning of the SIDDHARTA-2 setup.

Enhanced detector technology for improved X-ray measurement precision.

Preparation for first measurement of 2p→1s transitions in kaonic deuterium.

Abstract

SIDDHARTA-2 represents a state-of-the-art experiment designed to perform dedicated measurements of kaonic atoms, which are particular exotic atom configurations composed of a negatively charged kaon and a nucleus. Investigating these atoms provides an exceptional tool to comprehend the strong interactions in the non-perturbative regime involving strangeness. The experiment is installed at the DA$\Phi$NE electron-positron collider, of the INFN National Laboratory of Frascati (INFN-LNF) in Italy, aiming to perform the first-ever measurement of the 2p$\rightarrow$1s X-ray transitions in kaonic deuterium, a crucial step towards determining the isospin-dependent antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths. Based on the experience gained with the previous SIDDHARTA experiment, which performed the most precise measurement of the kaonic hydrogen 2p$\rightarrow$1s X-ray transitions, the present apparatus has been upgraded with innovative Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs), distributed around a cryogenic gaseous target placed in a vacuum chamber at a short distance above the interaction region of the collider. We present a comprehensive description of the SIDDHARTA-2 setup including the optimization of its various components during the commissioning phase of the collider.