Observation ofπ−K+andπ+K−Atoms

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.117.112001
• Publication Date: 2016-09-08T22:09:22Z
• Authors: B. Adeva; L. Afanasyev; Y. Allkofer; C. Amsler; A. Anania; S. Aogaki; A. Benelli; V. Brekhovskikh; T. Cechak; M. Chiba; P. Chliapnikov; P. Doskarova; D. Drijard; A. Dudarev; D. Dumitriu; D. Fluerasu; A. Gorin; O. Gorchakov; K. Gritsay; C. Guaraldo; M. Gugiu; M. Hansroul; Z. Hons; S. Horikawa; Y. Iwashita; V. Karpukhin; J. Kluson; M. Kobayashi; V. Kruglov; L. Kruglova; A. Kulikov; E. Kulish; A. Kuptsov; A. Lamberto; A. Lanaro; R. Lednicky; C. Mariñas; J. Martincik; L. Nemenov; M. Nikitin; K. Okada; V. Olchevskii; M. Pentia; A. Penzo; M. Plo; P. Prusa; G. Rappazzo; A. Romero Vidal; A. Ryazantsev; V. Rykalin; J. Saborido; J. Schacher; A. Sidorov; J. Smolik; F. Takeutchi; L. Tauscher; T. Trojek; S. Trusov; T. Urban; T. Vrba; V. Yazkov; Y. Yoshimura; M. Zhabitsky; P. Zrelov
• Keywords: Center (category theory)

The observation of hydrogenlike πK atoms, consisting π^{-}K^{+} or π^{+}K^{-} mesons, is presented. atoms are produced by 24 GeV/c protons from the CERN PS accelerator, interacting with platinum nickel foil targets. breakup (ionization) in same targets yields characteristic pairs, called "atomic pairs," small relative momenta Q pair center-of-mass system. upgraded DIRAC experiment observed 349±62 such atomic corresponding to a signal 5.6 standard deviations. This first statistically significant strange dimesonic atom.