The PANDA experiment at FAIR is an antiproton experiment and it will offer unique possibilities for the study of hadron physics including hyperon physics. With the PANDA detector, it will be possible to exclusively reconstruct hyperon-antihyperon events. Hyperons are relatively long-lived particles (10−10s), which can travel for a distance of up to a few meters before decaying into their reconstructible decay products. In this project, I focus on the reaction p̅ p → Ξ̄+ Ξ− → Λ̅ π+ Λ π− → p̅ π+π+ p π− π−. The Ξ− (cascade) hyperons take a special role as they are the lightest hyperons to introduce a sequential decay topology, i.e., Ξ− → Λ π− → p π− π− (and c.c.). This constitutes a substantial challenge for the reconstruction algorithms. In this thesis, a Monte-Carlo simulation study of realistic track and event reconstruction of this Ξ̄+ Ξ− reaction in the region near the production threshold is done, and the event generation of the Ξ̄+ Ξ− reaction channel was performed by the EvtGen event generator in PandaRoot. For various realistic tracking algorithms, track and event reconstruction performance levels were investigated in PandaRoot.

The proton is a bound state of quarks which are held together by the strong force, mediated by gluons. The understanding of the proton structure is presently one of the central issues in hadron physics. The present work reports on phenomenological and experimental studies related to the possibilities offered by the future antiproton beam at the FAIR facility at Darmstadt, in the momentum range between 1.5 and 15 GeV/c. After a classification of the reaction channels which are accessible in antiproton-proton annihilation, the main features of the PANDA detector are described. A chapter of this thesis is dedicated to the study of the optical coupling between crystals and photodiodes in the electromagnetic calorimeter, which will be operated at low temperature (-25° C). Mechanical, thermal, optical properties and radiation hardness of two commercial glues are quantified.Feasibility studies of the reaction barp → e+e− for the Time-Like proton form factor measurements at PANDA are presented. The electromagnetic structure of the proton is parametrized in terms of electric GE and magnetic GM form factors. The electromagnetic interaction is well described by the theory of quantum electrodynamics. The traditional tool to determine proton electromagnetic form factors is polarized and unpolarized electron-proton elastic scattering, assuming that the interaction occurs through the exchange of one virtual photon. The crossed symmetry channels pbarp ↔ e+e− allowto access the Time-Like region. The background reactions are also studied, in particular the pbarp → π+π− channel. The results obtained from a realistic Monte Carlo simulation using PANDARoot show that the proton form factor ratio can be measured at PANDA with unprecedented accuracy. The effects of radiative corrections due to real and virtual photon emission are considered.Based on a model independent formalism, the calculation of the experimental observables for the pbarp → e+e− reaction is extended to the annihilation into a heavy lepton pair which carries the same physical information on the proton structure as the electrons. In this case, the lepton mass can not be neglected. The same formalism is also applied in Space-Like region to the elastic scattering of protons from electrons at rest (pe-inverse kinematics). We suggest that the elastic pe scattering can be used to polarize and/or to measure the polarization of high energy proton (antiproton) beams, and allows a precise measurement of the proton charge radius.

Le proton est un état lié de quarks qui sont maintenus ensemble par l’interaction forte dont les médiateurs sont les gluons. La compréhension de la structure du proton est actuellement l’une des questions centrales de laphysique hadronique. Le présent travail rend compte des études phénoménologiques et expérimentales reliées aux possibilités offertes par le faisceau d’antiprotons qui sera disponible au futur complexe accélérateur FAIR à Darmstadt, dans la gamme d’impulsion entre 1.5 et 15 GeV/c. Après une classification des réactions qui sont accessibles dans l’annihilation proton-antiproton, les caractéristiques principales du détecteur PANDA sont décrites. Un chapitre de cette thèse est consacré à l’étude du couplage optique entre les cristaux et les photo-diodes du calorimètre électromagnétique, qui sera exploité à basse température (-25° C). Les propriétés mécaniques, thermiques, optiques et la résistance aux radiations de deux colles commerciales sont quantifiées.Des études de faisabilité de la réaction pbarp → e+e− pour la mesure des facteurs de forme du proton dans la region temps à PANDA sont présentées. La structure électromagnétique du proton est parametrisée par ses facteurs de forme électrique GE et magnétique GM. L’interaction électromagnétique est bien décrite par la théorie de l’électrodynamique quantique. L’outil usuel pour déterminer les facteurs de forme électromagnétiques du proton est la diffusion élastique électron-proton polarisée et non polarisée, sous l’hypothèse que l’interaction se produit par l’échange d’un seul photon virtuel. La reaction croisée pbarp → e+e− permet d’accéder à la region temps. Les réactions du bruit de fond sont également étudiées, en particulier la réaction pbap → π+π−. Les résultats obtenus à partir d’une simulation Monte Carlo réaliste en utilisant le logiciel PANDARoot montre que le rapport des facteurs de forme du proton peut etre mesuré à PANDA avec une précision sans précédent. Les effets des corrections radiatives dus à l’émission de photons réels et virtuels sont considérés.Basé sur un formalisme modèle indépendant, le calcul des observables expérimentales pour la reaction pbap → e+e− est étendue à l’annihilation en une paire de leptons lourds qui porte la méme information physique sur la structure du proton que les électrons. Dans ce cas, la masse du lepton ne peut pas etre négligée. Le méme formalisme est également appliqué dans la région espace à la diffusion élastique des protons par des électrons au repos (cinématique inverse). La diffusion pe-élastique puisse etre utilisée pour polariser et/ou mesurer la polarisation des faisceaux de protons (antiprotons)de haute énergie, et elle permette également de mesurer le rayon de charge du proton. / The proton is a bound state of quarks which are held together by the strong force, mediated by gluons. The understanding of the proton structure is presently one of the central issues in hadron physics. The present work reports on phenomenological and experimental studies related to the possibilities offered by the future antiproton beam at the FAIR facility at Darmstadt, in the momentum range between 1.5 and 15 GeV/c. After a classification of the reaction channels which are accessible in antiproton-proton annihilation, the main features of the PANDA detector are described. A chapter of this thesis is dedicated to the study of the optical coupling between crystals and photodiodes in the electromagnetic calorimeter, which will be operated at low temperature (-25° C). Mechanical, thermal, optical properties and radiation hardness of two commercial glues are quantified.Feasibility studies of the reaction barp → e+e− for the Time-Like proton form factor measurements at PANDA are presented. The electromagnetic structure of the proton is parametrized in terms of electric GE and magnetic GM form factors. The electromagnetic interaction is well described by the theory of quantum electrodynamics. The traditional tool to determine proton electromagnetic form factors is polarized and unpolarized electron-proton elastic scattering, assuming that the interaction occurs through the exchange of one virtual photon. The crossed symmetry channels pbarp ↔ e+e− allowto access the Time-Like region. The background reactions are also studied, in particular the pbarp → π+π− channel. The results obtained from a realistic Monte Carlo simulation using PANDARoot show that the proton form factor ratio can be measured at PANDA with unprecedented accuracy. The effects of radiative corrections due to real and virtual photon emission are considered.Based on a model independent formalism, the calculation of the experimental observables for the pbarp → e+e− reaction is extended to the annihilation into a heavy lepton pair which carries the same physical information on the proton structure as the electrons. In this case, the lepton mass can not be neglected. The same formalism is also applied in Space-Like region to the elastic scattering of protons from electrons at rest (pe-inverse kinematics). We suggest that the elastic pe scattering can be used to polarize and/or to measure the polarization of high energy proton (antiproton) beams, and allows a precise measurement of the proton charge radius.