Observation of the cosmic ray moon shadowing effect with the ARGO-YBJ experiment

Cosmic rays are hampered by the Moon and a deficit in its direction is expected (the so-called Moon shadow). The Moon shadow is an important tool to determine the performance of an air shower array. Indeed, the westward displacement of the shadow center, due to the bending effect of the geomagnetic field on the propagation of cosmic rays, allows the setting of the absolute rigidity scale of the primary particles inducing the showers recorded by the detector. In addition, the shape of the shadow permits to determine the detector point spread function, while the position of the deficit at high energies allows the evaluation of its absolute pointing accuracy. In this paper we present the obser…

Measurement of e+e−→π+π−ψ(3686) from 4.008 to 4.600 GeV and observation of a charged structure in the π±ψ(3686) mass spectrum

We study the process e(+)e(-) -> p(+)p(-)psi(3686) using 5.1 fb(-1) of data collected at 16 center-of-mass energy (root s) points from 4.008 to 4.600 GeV by the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider. The measured Born cross sections for e(+)e(-) -> p(+)p(-)psi(3686) are consistent with previous results, but with much improved precision. A fit to the cross section shows contributions from two structures: the first has M = 4209.5 +/- 7.4 +/- 1.4 MeV/c(2) and Gamma = 80.1 +/- 24.6 +/- 2.9 MeV, and the second has M = 4383.8 +/- 4.2 +/- 0.8 MeV/c(2) and Gamma = 84.2 +/- 12.5 +/- 2.1 MeV, where the first errors are statistical and the second systematic. The lower-mass resonance is obse…

Search for Gamma-Ray Emission from the Sun during Solar Minimum with the ARGO-YBJ Experiment

The hadronic interaction of cosmic rays with solar atmosphere can produce high energy gamma-rays. The gamma-ray luminosity is correlated both with the flux of primary cosmic rays and the intensity of the solar magnetic field. The gamma-rays below 200 GeV have been observed by Fermi without any evident energy cutoff. The bright gamma-ray flux above 100 GeV has been detected only during solar minimum. The only available data in the TeV range come from the HAWC observations, however, outside the solar minimum. The ARGO-YBJ data set has been used to search for sub-TeV/TeV gamma-rays from the Sun during the solar minimum from 2008 to 2010, the same time period covered by the Fermi data. A suitab…

Search for the radiative leptonic decay D+→γe+νe

Using an electron-positron collision data sample of 2.93 fb(-1) collected at a center-of-mass energy of root s = 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, we present the first search for the radiative leptonic decay D+ -> gamma e(+)nu(e). The analysis is performed with a double-tag method. We do not observe a significant D+ -> gamma e(+)nu(e) signal, and obtain an upper limit on the branching fraction of D+ -> gamma e(+)nu(e) decay with the energy of radiative photon larger than 10 MeV of 3.0 x 10(-5) at the 90% confidence level.

Long-term monitoring of the TeV emission from Mrk 421 with the ARGO-YBJ experiment

ARGO-YBJ is an air shower detector array with a fully covered layer of resistive plate chambers. It is operated with a high duty cycle and a large field of view. It continuously monitors the northern sky at energies above 0.3 TeV. In this paper, we report a long-term monitoring of Mrk 421 over the period from 2007 November to 2010 February. This source was observed by the satellite-borne experiments Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer and Swift in the X-ray band. Mrk 421 was especially active in the first half of 2008. Many flares are observed in both X-ray and gamma-ray bands simultaneously. The gamma-ray flux observed by ARGO-YBJ has a clear correlation with the X-ray flux. No lag between the X-r…

Calibration of the RPC charge readout in the ARGO-YBJ experiment

""The charge readout of Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) is implemented in the ARGO-YBJ experiment to measure the charged particle density of the shower front up to 10^4\\\/m^2, enabling the study of the primary cosmic rays with energies in the ''knee'' region. As the first time for RPCs being used this way, a telescope with RPCs and scintillation detectors is setup to calibrate the number of charged particles hitting a RPC versus its charge readout. Air shower particles are taken as the calibration beam. The telescope was tested at sea level and then moved to the ARGO-YBJ site for coincident operation with the ARGO-YBJ experiment. The charge readout shows good linearity with the particle de…

Measurement of the absolute branching fraction of D + → K̅ 0 e + ν e via K̅ 0 → π 0 π 0

By analyzing 2.93 fb(-1) data collected at the center-of-mass energy root s = 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure the absolute branching fraction of the semileptonic decay D+ -> (K) over bar (0)e(+)nu(e) to be B(D (+) -> (K) over bar (0)e(+)nu(e)) = (8.59 +/- 0.14 +/- 0.21)% using (K) over bar (0) -> K-S(0) -> pi(0) pi(0), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. Our result is consistent with previous measurements within uncertainties..

Evidence of Two Resonant Structures in e+e−→π+π−hc

The cross sections of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) hc at center-of-mass energies from 3.896 to 4.600 GeVare measured using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider. The cross sections are found to be of the same order of magnitude as those of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) J/psi and e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) psi (2S), but the line shape is inconsistent with the Y states observed in the latter two modes. Two structures are observed in the e(+)e(-) -> pi(+) pi(-) hc cross sections around 4.22 and 4.39 GeV/c(2), which we call Y(4220)and Y(4390), respectively. A fit with a coherent sum of two Breit-Wigner functions results in a mass of (4218.4(- 4.5)…

Observation of Λc+→nKS0π+

We report the first direct measurement of decays of the Lambda(+)(c) baryon involving the neutron. The analysis is performed using 567 pb(-1) of e(+)e(-) collision data collected at root s = 4.599 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. We observe the decay Lambda(+)(c) -> nK(S)(0)pi(+) and measure the absolute branching fraction to be B(Lambda(+)(c) -> nK(S)(0)pi(+)) = [1.82 +/- 0.23(stat) +/- 0.11(syst)]%. A comparison to B[Lambda(+)(c) -> p( (K) over bar pi)(0)] provides an important test of isospin symmetry and final state interactions.

Measurement of integrated luminosity and center-of-mass energy of data taken by BESIII at

Chinese physics / C 41(11), 113001 (2017). doi:10.1088/1674-1137/41/11/113001

Observation of e+e−→ηhc at center-of-mass energies from 4.085 to 4.600 GeV

We observe for the first time the process e(+) e(-) -> eta h(c) with data collected by the BESIII experiment. Significant signals are observed at the center-of-mass energy root s = 4.226 GeV, and the Born cross section is measured to be (9.5(-2.0)(+2.2)) pb. Evidence for eta h(c) is observed at root s = 4.358 GeV with a Born cross section of (10.0(-2.7)(+3.1)) pb, and upper limits on the production cross section at other center-of-mass energies between 4.085 and 4.600 GeV are determined.

Determination of the Spin and Parity of the Zc(3900)

The spin and parity of the Z(c)(3900)(+/-) state are determined to be J(P) = 1(+) with a statistical significance larger than 7 sigma over other quantum numbers in a partial wave analysis of the process e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-) J/psi We use a data sample of 1.92 fb(-1) accumulated at root s = 4.23 and 4.26 GeV with the BESIII experiment. When parametrizing the Z(c)(3900)(+/-) with a Flatte-like formula, we determine its pole mass M-pole = (3881.2 +/- 4.2(stat) +/- 52.7(syst)) MeV/c(2) and pole width Gamma(pole) = (51.8 +/- 4.6(stat) +/- 36.0(syst)) MeV. We also measure cross sections for the process e(+)e(-) -> Z(c)(3900)(+)pi(-) + c.c. -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-) and determine an upper limit at the …

Software Timing Calibration of the ARGO-YBJ Detector

The ARGO-YBJ experiment is mainly devoted to search for astronomical gamma sources. The arrival direction of air showers is reconstructed thanks to the times measured by the pixels of the detector. Therefore, the timing calibration of the detector pixels is crucial in order to get the best angular resolution and pointing accuracy. Because of the large number of pixels a hardware timing calibration is practically impossible. Therefore an off-line software calibration has been adopted. Here, the details of the procedure and the results are presented. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Precision Study of η′→γπ+π− Decay Dynamics

Using a low background data sample of 9.7×10^{5}  J/ψ→γη^{'}, η^{'}→γπ^{+}π^{-} events, which are 2 orders of magnitude larger than those from the previous experiments, recorded with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, the decay dynamics of η^{'}→γπ^{+}π^{-} are studied with both model-dependent and model-independent approaches. The contributions of ω and the ρ(770)-ω interference are observed for the first time in the decays η^{'}→γπ^{+}π^{-} in both approaches. Additionally, a contribution from the box anomaly or the ρ(1450) resonance is required in the model-dependent approach, while the process specific part of the decay amplitude is determined in the model-independent approach.

Measurement of higher-order multipole amplitudes in ψ(3686)→γχc1,2 with χc1,2→γJ/ψ and search for the transition ηc(2S)→γJ/ψ

Using 106 x 10(6) psi(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector, we measure multipole amplitudes for the decay psi(3686) ->; gamma chi(c1,2) -> gamma gamma J/psi beyond the dominant electric-dipole amplitudes. The normalized magnetic-quadrupole (M2) amplitude for psi(3686) -> gamma chi(c1,2) -> gamma gamma J/psi and the normalized electric-dipole amplitudes for psi(3686) -> gamma chi(c2) -> gamma J/psi and determined. The M2 amplitudes for psi(3686) -> gamma chi(c1) and ; chi(c1,2) -> gamma J/psi are found to differ significantly from zero and are consistent with theoretical predictions. We also obtain the ratios of M2 contributions of psi(3686) and J/psi decays to;2,chi(c1,2,) b(2)(1…

Observation of an Anomalous Line Shape of the η′π+π− Mass Spectrum near the pp¯ Mass Threshold in J/ψ→γη′π+π−

Amplitude analysis of the χc1→ηπ+π− decays

Using 448.0 x 10(6) psi(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector, an amplitude analysis is performed for psi(3686) -> gamma chi(c1), chi(c1) ->eta pi(+)pi(-) decays. The most dominant two- body structure observed is a(0)(980)(+/-) pi(-/+); a(0)(980)(+/-) -> eta pi(+/-.) line shape is modeled using a dispersion relation, and a significant nonzero a(0) (980) coupling to the eta'pi channel is measured. We observe chi(c1) -> a(2)(1700)pi production for the first time, with a significance larger than 17 sigma. The production of mesons with exotic quantum numbers, J(PC) = 1(-+), is investigated, and upper limits for the branching fractions chi(c1) -> pi(1)(1400)(+/-)pi(-/+) , chi(c1) -> pi…

Light-component spectrum of the primary cosmic rays in the multi-TeV region measured by the ARGO-YBJ experiment

The ARGO-YBJ experiment detects extensive air showers in a wide energy range by means of a full-coverage detector which is in stable data taking in its full configuration since November 2007 at the YBJ International Cosmic Ray Observatory (4300 m a.s.l., Tibet, People's Republic of China). In this paper the measurement of the light-component spectrum of primary cosmic rays in the energy region $(5\textdiv{}200)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$ is reported. The method exploited to analyze the experimental data is based on a Bayesian procedure. The measured intensities of the light component are consistent with the recent CREAM results and higher than that obtained adding the proton and helium sp…

The Status of the ARGO Experiment at YBJ

The ARGO-YBJ experiment, located at Yangbajing, Tibet, China, performed by a wide Sino-Italian collaboration, is designed to study cosmic rays, sub-TeV gamma ray sources and GeV Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) emission in the northern hemisphere, by means of detecting small size EAS (Extensive Air Shower) using a full coverage RPC (Resistive Plate Chamber) carpet. The central carpet of the detector is installed and put into operation to date, with 1900 m^2 of the carpet already operating since December 2004. With a trigger multiplicity of ≥60 hits, corresponding to a primary mode energy of 2 TeV, the angular resolution of EAS measurements is < 1 degree for showers with more than 500 recorded hits. We…

Mean Interplanetary Magnetic Field Measurement Using the ARGO-YBJ Experiment

The sun blocks cosmic ray particles from outside the solar system, forming a detectable shadow in the sky map of cosmic rays detected by the ARGO-YBJ experiment in Tibet. Because the cosmic ray particles are positive charged, the magnetic field between the sun and the earth deflects them from straight trajectories and results in a shift of the shadow from the true location of the sun. Here we show that the shift measures the intensity of the field which is transported by the solar wind from the sun to the earth.

The cosmic ray proton plus helium energy spectrum measured by the ARGO-YBJ experiment in the energy range 3-300 TeV

The ARGO-YBJ experiment is a full-coverage air shower detector located at the Yangbajing Cosmic Ray Observatory (Tibet, People's Republic of China, 4300 m a.s.l.). The high altitude, combined with the full-coverage technique, allows the detection of extensive air showers in a wide energy range and offer the possibility of measuring the cosmic ray proton plus helium spectrum down to the TeV region, where direct balloon/space-borne measurements are available. The detector has been in stable data taking in its full configuration from November 2007 to February 2013. In this paper the measurement of the cosmic ray proton plus helium energy spectrum is presented in the region 3-300 TeV by analyzi…

Early warning for VHE gamma-ray flares with the ARGO-YBJ detector

Detecting and monitoring emissions from flaring gamma-ray sources in the very-high-energy (VHE, > 100 GeV) band is a very important topic in gamma-ray astronomy. The ARGO-YBJ detector is characterized by a high duty cycle and a wide field of view. Therefore, it is particularly capable of detecting flares from extragalactic objects. Based on fast reconstruction and analysis, real-time monitoring of 33 selected VHE extragalactic sources is implemented. Flares exceeding a specific threshold are reported timely, hence enabling the follow-up observation of these objects using more sensitive detectors, such as Cherenkov telescopes. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of J/ψ and ψ(3686)→Σ(1385)0Σ¯(1385)0 and Ξ0Ξ¯0

Abstract We study the decays of J / ψ and ψ ( 3686 ) to the final states Σ ( 1385 ) 0 Σ ¯ ( 1385 ) 0 and Ξ 0 Ξ ¯ 0 based on a single baryon tag method using data samples of ( 1310.6 ± 7.0 ) × 10 6 J / ψ and ( 447.9 ± 2.9 ) × 10 6 ψ ( 3686 ) events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The decays to Σ ( 1385 ) 0 Σ ¯ ( 1385 ) 0 are observed for the first time. The measured branching fractions of J / ψ and ψ ( 3686 ) to Ξ 0 Ξ ¯ 0 are in good agreement with, and much more precise than, the previously published results. The angular parameters for these decays are also measured for the first time. The measured angular decay parameter for J / ψ → Σ ( 1385 ) 0 Σ ¯ ( 1385 ) 0 , …

Observation of TeV gamma rays from the Cygnus region with the ARGO-YBJ experiment

We report the observation of TeV gamma-rays from the Cygnus region using the ARGO-YBJ data collected from 2007 November to 2011 August. Several TeV sources are located in this region including the two bright extended MGRO J2019+37 and MGRO J2031+41. According to the Milagro data set, at 20 TeV MGRO J2019+37 is the most significant source apart from the Crab Nebula. No signal from MGRO J2019+37 is detected by the ARGO-YBJ experiment, and the derived flux upper limits at 90% confidence level for all the events above 600 GeV with medium energy of 3 TeV are lower than the Milagro flux, implying that the source might be variable and hard to be identified as a pulsar wind nebula. The only statist…

Improved measurements of branching fractions for ηc→ϕϕ and ωϕ

Using (223.7 +/- 1.4) x 10(6) J / Psi events accumulated with the BESIII detector, we study eta(c) decays to phi phi and omega phi final states. The branching fraction of n(c) -> phi phi is measured to be Br(eta(c) -> phi phi) = (2.5 +/- 0(-0.7)(+0.3) +/- 0.6) X 10(-3,) where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is from the uncertainty of Br(J / Psi -> gamma eta(C)). No significant signal for the double Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka suppressed decay of eta(c) -> omega phi is observed, and the upper limit on the branching fraction is determined to be Br(eta(c) -> omega phi) < 2.5 x 10(-4) at the 90% confidence level.

Galactic Cosmic-Ray Anisotropy in the Northern hemisphere from the ARGO-YBJ Experiment during 2008-2012

This paper reports on the observation of the sidereal large-scale anisotropy of cosmic rays using data collected by the ARGO-YBJ experiment over 5 years (2008-2012). This analysis extends previous work limited to the period from 2008 January to 2009 December, near the minimum of solar activity between cycles 23 and 24. With the new data sample, the period of solar cycle 24 from near minimum to maximum is investigated. A new method is used to improve the energy reconstruction, allowing us to cover a much wider energy range, from 4 to 520 TeV. Below 100 TeV, the anisotropy is dominated by two wide regions, the so-called “tail-in” and “loss-cone” features. At higher energies, a dramatic change…

Precise Measurement of the e+e−→π+π−J/ψ Cross Section at Center-of-Mass Energies from 3.77 to 4.60 GeV

The cross section for the process e(+)e(-)-> pi(+) pi(-) J/psi is measured precisely at center-of-mass energies from 3.77 to 4.60 GeV using 9 fb(-1) of data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring. Two resonant structures are observed in a fit to the cross section. The first resonance has a mass of (222.0 +/- 3.1 +/- 1.4) MeV/ c(2) and a width of (44.1 +/- 4.3 +/- 2.0)MeV, while the second one has a mass of (4320.0 +/- 10.4 +/- 7.0)MeV/c(2) and a width of (101.4(- 19.7)(+25.3) +/- 10.2) MeV, where the first errors are statistical and second ones are systematic. The first resonance agrees with the Y(4260) resonance reported by previous experiments. The precisi…

Energy spectrum of cosmic protons and helium nuclei by a hybrid measurement at 4300 m a.s.l.

The energy spectrum of cosmic Hydrogen and Helium nuclei has been measured, below the so-called "knee", by using a hybrid experiment with a wide field-of-view Cherenkov telescope and the Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) array of the ARGO-YBJ experiment at 4300 m above sea level. The Hydrogen and Helium nuclei have been well separated from other cosmic ray components by using a multi-parameter technique. A highly uniform energy resolution of about 25% is achieved throughout the whole energy range (100 TeV - 700 TeV). The observed energy spectrum is compatible with a single power law with index gamma=-2.63+/-0.06.

ARGO-YBJ constraints on very high energy emission from GRBs

The ARGO-YBJ (Astrophysical Radiation Ground-based Observatory at YangBaJing) experiment is designed for very high energy $\gamma$-astronomy and cosmic ray researches. Due to the full coverage of a large area ($5600 m^2$) with resistive plate chambers at a very high altitude (4300 m a.s.l.), the ARGO-YBJ detector is used to search for transient phenomena, such as Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Because the ARGO-YBJ detector has a large field of view ($\sim$2 sr) and is operated with a high duty cycle ($>$90%), it is well suited for GRB surveying and can be operated in searches for high energy GRBs following alarms set by satellite-borne observations at lower energies. In this paper, the sensitivit…

Highlights from the ARGO-YBJ Experiment

""The ARGO-YBJ experiment at YangBaJing in Tibet (4300m a.s.l.) has been taking data with its full layout since October 2007. Here we present a few significant results obtained in gamma-ray astronomy and cosmic-ray physics. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of gamma-ray emission from point-like sources (Crab Nebula, MRK 421), on the preliminary limit on the antiproton\\\/proton flux ratio, on the large-scale cosmic-ray anisotropy and on the proton-air cross-section. The performance of the detector is also discussed, and the perspectives of the experiment are outlined.""

Measurement of the cosmic ray antiproton/proton flux ratio at TeV energies with the ARGO-YBJ detector

Cosmic ray antiprotons provide an important probe to study the cosmic ray propagation in the interstellar space and to investigate the existence of dark matter. Acting the Earth-Moon system as a magnetic spectrometer, paths of primary antiprotons are deflected in the opposite sense with respect to those of the protons in their way to the Earth. This effect allows, in principle, the search for antiparticles in the direction opposite to the observed deficit of cosmic rays due to the Moon (the so-called `Moon shadow'). The ARGO-YBJ experiment, located at the Yangbajing Cosmic Ray Laboratory (Tibet, P.R. China, 4300 m a.s.l., 606 g/cm$^2$), is particularly effective in measuring the cosmic ray …

Proton-air cross section measurement with the ARGO-YBJ cosmic ray experiment

The proton-air cross section in the energy range 1-100 TeV has been measured by the ARGO-YBJ cosmic ray experiment. The analysis is based on the flux attenuation for different atmospheric depths (i.e. zenith angles) and exploits the detector capabilities of selecting the shower development stage by means of hit multiplicity, density and lateral profile measurements at ground. The effects of shower fluctuations, the contribution of heavier primaries and the uncertainties of the hadronic interaction models, have been taken into account. The results have been used to estimate the total proton-proton cross section at center of mass energies between 70 and 500 GeV, where no accelerator data are …

The analog Resistive Plate Chamber detector of the ARGO-YBJ experiment

The ARGO-YBJ experiment has been in stable data taking from November 2007 till February 2013 at the YangBaJing Cosmic Ray Observatory (4300 m a.s.l.). The detector consists of a single layer of Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) (6700 m2) operated in streamer mode. The signal pick-up is obtained by means of strips facing one side of the gas volume. The digital readout of the signals, while allows a high space–time resolution in the shower front reconstruction, limits the measurable energy to a few hundred TeV. In order to fully investigate the 1–10 PeV region, an analog readout has been implemented by instrumenting each RPC with two large size electrodes facing the other side of the gas volume…

Observation of the thunderstorm-related ground cosmic ray flux variations by ARGO-YBJ

A correlation between the secondary cosmic ray flux and the near-earth electric field intensity, measured during thunderstorms, has been found by analyzing the data of the ARGO-YBJ experiment, a full coverage air shower array located at the Yangbajing Cosmic Ray Laboratory (4300 m a. s. l., Tibet, China). The counting rates of showers with different particle multiplicities, have been found to be strongly dependent upon the intensity and polarity of the electric field measured during the course of 15 thunderstorms. In negative electric fields (i.e. accelerating negative charges downwards), the counting rates increase with increasing electric field strength. In positive fields, the rates decr…

Measurement of theDs+→ℓ+νℓbranching fractions and the decay constantfDs+

Using 482 pb(-1) of e(+) e(-) collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of root s = 4.009 GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure the branching fractions of the decays D-s(+) -> u(+)v(u) and D-s(+) -> tau(+)v(tau). By constraining the ratio of decay rates of Ds(+) to tau(+)v(u) and to u(+)v(u) to the Standard Model prediction, the branching fractions are determined to be B(D-s(+) -> u(+)v(u) = (0.495 +/- 0.067 +/- 0.026)% and B(D-s(+) -> tau(+)v(tau) = (4.83 +/- 0.65 +/- 0.26)% Using these branching fractions, we obtain a value for the decay constant f(Ds+) of (241.0 +/- 16.3 +/- 6.5) MeV, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.

Observation ofe+e−→γX(3872)at BESIII

Using data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider at center-of-mass energies of root s = 4.23, 4.26, and 4.36 GeV, we observe e(+)e(-) -> pi(0)pi(0)h(c) for the first time. The Born cross sections are measured and found to be about half of those of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-)h(c) within less than 2 sigma. In the pi(0)h(c) mass spectrum, a structure at 4.02 GeV/c(2) is found. It is most likely to be the neutral isospin partner of the Z(c)(4020)(+/-) observed in the process of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-)h(c) being found. A fit to the pi(0)h(c) invariant mass spectrum, with the width of the Z(c)(4020)(0) fixed to that of its charged isospin partner and pos…

Temperature effect on RPC performance in the ARGO-YBJ experiment

The ARGO-YBJ experiment has been taking data for nearly 2 years. In order to monitor continuously the performance of the Resistive Plate Chamber detectors and to study the daily temperature effects on the detector performance, a cosmic ray muon telescope was setup near the carpet detector array in the ARGO-YBJ laboratory. Based on the measurements performed using this telescope, it is found that, at the actual operating voltage of 7.2kV, the temperature effect on the RPC time resolution is about 0.04ns/degrees C and on the particle detection efficiency is about 0.03%/degrees C. Based on these figures we conclude that the environmental effects do not affect substantially the angular resoluti…

TeV gamma-ray survey of the Northern sky using the ARGO-YBJ detector

The ARGO-YBJ detector is an extensive air shower array that has been used to monitor the northern $\gamma$-ray sky at energies above 0.3 TeV from 2007 November to 2013 January. In this paper, we present the results of a sky survey in the declination band from $-10^{\circ}$ to $70^{\circ}$, using data recorded over the past five years. With an integrated sensitivity ranging from 0.24 to $\sim$1 Crab units depending on the declination, six sources have been detected with a statistical significance greater than 5 standard deviations. Several excesses are also reported as potential $\gamma$-ray emitters. The features of each source are presented and discussed. Additionally, $95\%$ confidence le…

Intrinsic linearity of bakelite Resistive Plate Chambers operated in streamer mode

Abstract Resistive Plate Chambers have largely been used in High Energy Physics and Cosmic Ray research. In view of using this detector for calorimetry applications it is important to know the maximum measurable particle density, or its intrinsic linearity limit, which is tightly related to the dimension of the discharge region. In this paper we report the results of measurements performed at the Beam Test Facility (INFN National Laboratory of Frascati, Italy) where the intrinsic linearity of bakelite RPCs operated in streamer mode has been tested at different impinging particle densities.

Precise Measurement of the e+e− → π+π−J/ψ Cross Section at Center-of-Mass Energies from 3.77 to 4.60 GeV

The cross section for the process e(+)e(-)-> pi(+) pi(-) J/psi is measured precisely at center-of-mass energies from 3.77 to 4.60 GeV using 9 fb(-1) of data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring. Two resonant structures are observed in a fit to the cross section. The first resonance has a mass of (222.0 +/- 3.1 +/- 1.4) MeV/ c(2) and a width of (44.1 +/- 4.3 +/- 2.0)MeV, while the second one has a mass of (4320.0 +/- 10.4 +/- 7.0)MeV/c(2) and a width of (101.4(- 19.7)(+25.3) +/- 10.2) MeV, where the first errors are statistical and second ones are systematic. The first resonance agrees with the Y(4260) resonance reported by previous experiments. The precisi…