Simulation study of particle identification using cluster counting technique for the BESIII drift chamber

Abstract: The particle identification of charged hadrons, especially for the separation of $K$ and $\pi$, is crucial for the flavour physics study. Ionization measurement with the cluster counting technique, which has much less fluctuation than traditional $dE/dx$ measurement, is expected to provide better particle identification for the BESIII experiment. Simulation studies, including a Garfield++ based waveform analysis and a performance study of K/\pi identification in the BESIII, offline software system have been performed. The results show that $K/\pi$ separation power and PID efficiency would be improved significantly in the momentum range above 1.2 GeV/c using cluster counting technique even with conservative resolution assumption.