Production of Hyperons, Strange Mesons and Search for Hypernuclei in Interactions of Carbon, Argon and Krypton Beams in the BM@N Experiment

The BM@N (Baryonic Matter at Nuclotron) is the first experiment in operation at the NICA-Nuclotron accelerator complex. The BM@N scientific program comprises the study of dense nuclear matter produced in heavy-ion collisions in the intermediate energy range between the SYS-18 and NICA/FAIR facilities. The first experiments were performed with deuteron and carbon beams with kinetic energy ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 GeV per nucleon on fixed targets. An extended configuration of the BM@N setup was realized in the next runs with argon and krypton beams. First preliminary physics results are presented on Lambda hyperon production in carbon-nucleus interactions at a beam kinetic energy of 4 GeV per nucleon. Signals of Lambda hyperons, charged pions, kaons and light nuclear fragments are identified in argon-nucleus interactions. The performance of the upgraded BM@N central tracker is evaluated for the reconstruction of strange particles and hypernuclei in heavy-ion interactions.

Automated summary

The BM@N experiment at the NICA-Nuclotron accelerator complex is the first of its kind, focusing on the study of dense nuclear matter produced in heavy-ion collisions. Initial experiments used deuterons and carbon beams, with later runs involving argon and krypton beams. Preliminary physics results include the production of Lambda hyperons in carbon-nucleus interactions and the identification of various particles in argon-nucleus interactions. The performance of the upgraded BM@N central tracker in reconstructing strange particles and hypernuclei in heavy-ion interactions is also evaluated.