DISCRETE 2024 in Ljubljana

Search for the X17 QCD Axion in the η→π+π−e+e− decay with the HADES Detector

3 Dec 2024, 18:00

15m

Urška 1 (Exhibition and Convention center )

Parallel Session Talk Parallel track Neutrinos and ALPs 1

Speaker

Dr Marcin Zielinski (Jagiellonian University (PL))

Description

The High-Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) operates at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt with pion, proton and heavy-ion beams provided by the synchrotron SIS-18 [1]. In February 2022, the HADES Collaboration measured proton-proton collisions at 4.5 GeV momenta using the upgraded setup within the FAIR-Phase0 programme. One of the goals of the physics program of HADES is to test validity of Standard Model predictions and search for hints of new phenomena escaping know schemes. In particular using $\eta$ meson decays into channels with dileptons ($e^{+}{e}^{-}$ pairs) we are investigating the possible existence of $X_{17}$ boson which is a candidate to be an axion-like particle (ALP) [2,3]. In this scenario an intermediate state of $\eta$ decay could involve an existence of QCD axion through the sequence $\eta \to {\pi }^{+}{\pi }^{-}{X}_{17}(\to e^{+}{e}^{-})$. The $X_{17}$ particle is suspected to be an axial-vector gauge boson, which may mediate a fifth force with some coupling to SM particles. The conducted studies are moreover stimulated by recently observed anomalies in the invariant mass distribution of $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ in the isoscalar magnetic nuclear transitions of ${}^{8}Be$ and ${}^{4}He$ nuclei [4-6], which have been interpreted as the creation and decay of an intermediate particle $X_{17}$ with mass of about 17 MeV/c${}^2$ which have suppressed mixing with the neutral pion.

In this talk, we introduce general motivations for studies of a $X_{17}$ present analysis methodology and preliminary results from the data collected with high-resolution HADES spectrometer.

Bibliography:
[1] G. Agakichiev et al. (HADES), Eur. Phys. J. A 41, 243 (2009).
[2] D. S. M. Alves, Phys. Rev. D 103, 055018 (2021).
[3] D. S. M. Alves, S. Gonzàlez-Solís, J. High Energ. Phys. 2024, 264 (2024).
[4] A. J. Krasznahorkay et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 042501 (2016).
[5] A. J. Krasznahorkay et al., arXiv:1910.10459 (2019).
[6] A. J. Krasznahorkay et al., Phys. Rev. C 104, 044003 (2021).

Presentation materials

DISCRETE24-MarcinZielinski.pdf