Feasibility guidelines for kaonic atom experiments with ultra-high-resolution X-ray spectrometry

Recent studies of strong-interaction effects in kaonic atoms suggest that analysing so-called ‘lower’ and ‘upper’ levels in the same atom could separate one-nucleon absorption from multinucleon processes. The present work examines the feasibility of direct measurements of upper level widths in addition to lower level widths in future experiments, using superconducting microcalorimeter detectors. About ten elements are identified as possible candidates for such experiments, all of medium-weight and heavy nuclei. New experiments focused on achieving good accuracy for widths of such pairs of levels could contribute significantly to our knowledge of the image–nucleon interaction in the nuclear medium.