Performance of the diamond active target prototype for the PADME experiment at the DAΦNE BTF

Abstract The PADME experiment at the DA Φ NE Beam-Test Facility (BTF) is designed to search for the gauge boson of a new U ( 1 ) interaction in the process e + e − → γ + A ′ , using the intense positron beam hitting a light target. The A ′ , usually referred as a dark photon, is assumed to decay into invisible particles of a secluded sector and it can be observed by searching for an anomalous peak in the spectrum of the missing mass measured in events with a single photon in the final state. The measurement requires the determination of the 4-momentum of the recoil photon, performed by a homogeneous, highly segmented BGO crystals calorimeter. A significant improvement of the missing mass resolution is possible using an active target capable of determining the average position of the positron pulse with a resolution of less than 1 mm. This report presents the performance of a real size (2  ×  2 cm 2 ) PADME active target made of a thin (50 μ m ) diamond sensor, with graphitic strips produced via laser irradiation on both sides. The measurements are based on data collected in a beam test at the BTF in November 2015.