Kaonic Atoms and the Strangeness Frontier: A Strangeness Odyssey at the DAΦNE Collider
Thursday, December 18, 2025, 16:00
WHGA/001
Catalina Curceanu, LNF
Abstract:
Unraveling how the strong force operates in the low‐energy regime remains one of the most fascinating challenges in contemporary physics. Kaonic atoms, exotic systems in which a negatively charged kaon replaces an electron, provide a unique probe of this domain. By precisely measuring their X‐ray spectra, we gain direct access to the kaon‐nucleon and kaon‐nucleus interactions, offering essential input for low‐energy QCD and for understanding dense astrophysical matter, such as neutron stars.
At the DAΦNE collider in Frascati, the SIDDHARTA and SIDDHARTA‐2 collaborations have pioneered precision spectroscopy of kaonic atoms, achieving world‐leading results with Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) and introducing, for the first time, CZT detectors in a collider environment. After completing the most accurate measurements of kaonic hydrogen, we have recently finalized the first‐ever measurement of kaonic deuterium, a milestone for the field, and opened new directions toward bound‐state QED studies with exotic atoms.
Looking ahead, PSI offers an exceptional environment to extend these investigations. Its intense low‐energy beams, precision detector facilities, and deep expertise in muonic and pionic atoms create natural synergies for next‐generation experiments on exotic atoms and quantum bound systems.
In this seminar, I will present the latest results from DAΦNE, discuss their implications for low‐energy QCD and astrophysics, and explore the potential for joint initiatives at PSI, building on the advanced X‐ray detector technologies we have developed to further probe the fundamental interactions shaping our Universe.