Simulation Study of Particle Identification Using Cluster Counting Technique for the BESIII Drift Chamber

The particle identification of charged hadrons, especially for the separation of $K$ and $π$, 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/πidentification in the BESIII, offline software system have been performed. The results show that $K/π$ 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.