Kaonic Atom X-ray Spectroscopy: From SIDDHARTA-2 to the EXKALIBUR Program

F. Sgaramella; L. Abbene; F. Artibani; M. Bazzi; G. Borghi; D. Bosnar; M. Bragadireanu; A. Buttacavoli; A. Clozza; F. Clozza; R. Del Grande; L. De Paolis; K. Dulski; C. Fiorini; I. Friščić; C. Guaraldo; T. Hashimoto; M. A. Iliescu; M. Iwasaki; A. Khreptak; S. Manti; J. Marton; P. Moskal; H. Ohnishi; F. Principato; A. Scordo; M. Silarski; D. Sirghi; F. Sirghi; M. Skurzok; A. Spallone; K. Toho; J. Zmeskal; C. Curceanu

arXiv · 2610.07865

Kaonic Atom X-ray Spectroscopy: From SIDDHARTA-2 to the EXKALIBUR Program

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Abstract

X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic atoms offers a unique experimental window on the interplay between low-energy strong interaction and precision atomic physics studies. This article reviews the scientific progress achieved with SIDDHARTA-2 at DAFNE and discusses how it shapes the next generation measurements. Particular emphasis is given to EXKALIBUR, a multifacility program designed to perform measurements of kaon-nucleus interactions across the periodic table and to extend kaonic atom spectroscopy toward precision tests of bound-state QED and the charged-kaon mass extraction. The first proposed strong interaction campaign at J-PARC aims to investigate kaonic atoms with solid Li, Be, and B targets using new 1-mm-thick Silicon Drift Detectors and high-resolution TES microcalorimeters, exploiting isotope pairs to isolate nuclear-structure and kaon-multinucleon effects. Measurements of Mg, Al, Si, and S with CdZnTe detectors will broaden this study toward heavier nuclei. EXKALIBUR will establish a systematic experimental framework for testing low-energy strong interaction with strangeness and bound-state QED predictions across a broad range of kaonic atoms.

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F. Sgaramella, L. Abbene, F. Artibani, M. Bazzi, G. Borghi, D. Bosnar, M. Bragadireanu, A. Buttacavoli, A. Clozza, F. Clozza, R. Del Grande, L. De Paolis, K. Dulski, C. Fiorini, I. Friščić, C. Guaraldo, T. Hashimoto, M. A. Iliescu, M. Iwasaki, A. Khreptak, S. Manti, J. Marton, P. Moskal, H. Ohnishi, F. Principato, A. Scordo, M. Silarski, D. Sirghi, F. Sirghi, M. Skurzok, A. Spallone, K. Toho, J. Zmeskal, C. Curceanu. 2026-10-06. Kaonic Atom X-ray Spectroscopy: From SIDDHARTA-2 to the EXKALIBUR Program. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.07865

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