A new hydrogen-filled Cherenkov detector for Kaon tagging at the NA62 experiment at CERN

Abstract: The precision measurement of $K^{+} \rightarrow \pi^{+} \nu \bar{\nu}$ at the NA62 experiment requires a kaon identification detector to have a time resolution better than 100ps, at least 95% kaon identification efficiency, and a pion misidentification probability of less than $10^{-4}$. Since the start of NA62 data taking in 2016, kaon identification has been performed by a differential Cherenkov with achromatic ring focus (CEDAR) detector with a nitrogen gas radiator. A new CEDAR using hydrogen (CEDAR-H) as a radiator gas has been developed to reduce the material in the beamline, reducing the beam particle scattering within the detector. CEDAR-H was validated during a two-week test beam at CERN in 2022 and was approved by the NA62 collaboration for use in data taking from 2023. The test beam results, installation and commissioning in the NA62 beamline are reported.