Can e⁺e^- → ηπ⁺π^- be detected at DAΦNE?

Abstract:

Studying the annihilation of e⁺e^- into hadrons is of great interest in the search for physics beyond the standard model. The cross sections of specific hadronic channels can be used in precise test of the Standard Model, or to estimate the anomalous muon magnetic moment, for which there are discrepancies between theory and experiment.

This thesis focuses on one particular hadronic channel, e⁺e^-→ ηπ⁺π^- with the final state π⁺π^-γγ. As background, the reaction e⁺e^- → π⁺π^-π⁰ is chosen. By simulations using the Monte Carlo event generator PHOKHARA and the data analysis framework ROOT, the feasibility of detecting the aforementioned reaction with the detector KLOE at the electron-positron collider DAΦNE is studied. The detector acceptance and expected number of events is evaluated both for the signal and the background. An analysis program that can be used for feasibility studies of e⁺e^- → ηπ⁺π^- was written.

The simulations indicate that the signal significance from an experiment at DAΦNE would be 2.4σ and thus lower than the confidence level required for detection. A definitive statement can however only be made after further investigations into minimizing the background and studies of additional final states with other decays of the η-meson and their corresponding background reactions.