Search

The polarization observables T , E , P , H , and G in photoproduction of η mesons off protons are measured for photon energies from threshold to W = 2400 MeV (T), 2280 MeV (E), 1620 MeV ( P , H ), or 1820 MeV (G), covering nearly the full solid angle. The data are compared to predictions from the SAID, MAID, JuBo, and BnGa partial-wave analyses. A refit within the BnGa approach including further data yields precise branching ratios for the Nη decay of nucleon resonances. A Nη-branching ratio of 0.33 ± 0.04 for N ( 1650 ) 1 / 2 − is found, which reduces the large and controversially discussed Nη-branching ratio difference of the two lowest mass J P = 1 / 2 − -resonances significantly.

The production of $\eta^{\prime}$ mesons in coincidence with forward-going protons has been studied in photon-induced reactions on 12C and on a liquid hydrogen (LH2) target for incoming photon energies of 1.3-2.6 GeV at the electron accelerator ELSA. The $\eta^{\prime}$ mesons have been identified via the $\eta^{\prime} \rightarrow \pi^{0} \pi^{0}\eta \rightarrow 6 \gamma$ decay registered with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system. Coincident protons have been identified in the MiniTAPS BaF2 array at polar angles of $2^{\circ} \le \theta_{p} \le 11^{\circ}$ . Under these kinematic constraints the $\eta^{\prime}$ mesons are produced with relatively low kinetic energy ( $\approx 150$ MeV) since the coincident protons take over most of the momentum of the incident-photon beam. For the C-target this allows the determination of the real part of the $\eta^{\prime}$ -carbon potential at low meson momenta by comparing with collision model calculations of the $\eta^{\prime}$ kinetic energy distribution and excitation function. Fitting the latter data for $\eta^{\prime}$ mesons going backwards in the center-of-mass system yields a potential depth of $V = -(44 \pm 16(stat) \pm 15(syst))$ MeV, consistent with earlier determinations of the potential depth in inclusive measurements for average $\eta^{\prime}$ momenta of $\approx 1.1$ GeV/c. Within the experimental uncertainties, there is no indication of a momentum dependence of the $\eta^{\prime}$ -carbon potential. The LH2 data, taken as a reference to check the data analysis and the model calculations, provide differential and integral cross sections in good agreement with previous results for $\eta^{\prime}$ photoproduction off the free proton.

Quasi-free photoproduction of $ \eta{^\prime}$ -mesons off nucleons bound in the deuteron has been measured with the combined Crystal Barrel - TAPS detector. The experiment was done at a tagged photon beam of the ELSA electron accelerator in Bonn for incident photon energies from the production threshold up to 2.5GeV. The $ \eta{^\prime}$ -mesons have been detected in coincidence with recoil protons and recoil neutrons. The quasi-free proton data are in good agreement with the results for free protons, indicating that nuclear effects have no significant impact. The coincidence with recoil neutrons provides the first data for the $ \gamma$ n $ \rightarrow$ n $ \eta{^\prime}$ reaction. In addition, also first estimates for coherent $ \eta{^\prime}$ -production off the deuteron have been obtained. In agreement with model predictions, the total cross-section for this channel is found to be very small, at most at the level of a few nb. The data are compared to model calculations taking into account contributions from nucleon resonances and t -channel exchanges

Photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons off $^{12}$C, $^{40}$Ca, $^{93}$Nb, and $^{nat}$Pb nuclei has been measured with a tagged photon beam with energies between 0.6 and 2.2 GeV. The experiment was performed at the Bonn ELSA accelerator with the combined setup of the Crystal Barrel and TAPS calorimeters. It aimed at the in-medium properties of the S$_{11}$(1535) nucleon resonance and the study of the absorption properties of nuclear matter for $\eta$ mesons. Careful consideration was given to contributions from $\eta\pi$ final states and secondary production mechanisms of $\eta$-mesons e.g. from inelastic $\pi N$ reactions of intermediate pions. The analysis of the mass number scaling shows that the nuclear absorption cross section $\sigma_{N\eta}$ for $\eta$ mesons is constant over a wide range of the $\eta$ momentum. The comparison of the excitation functions to data off the deuteron and to calculations in the framework of a BUU-model show no unexplained in-medium modifications of the S$_{11}$(1535)., Comment: Accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J. A

The first measurements of the beam-target-helicity-asymmetries $E$ and $G$ in the photoproduction of $\omega$-mesons off protons at the CBELSA/TAPS experiment are reported. $E$ ($G$) was measured using circularly (linearly) polarised photons and a longitudinally polarised target. $E$ was measured over the photon energy range from close to threshold ($E_\gamma = 1108$~MeV) to $E_\gamma = 2300$~MeV and $G$ at a single energy interval of $1108 < E_\gamma, Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures

Photoproduction of two neutral pions off the proton is studied using linearly polarized photons, and the polarization observables I-s and I-c are measured for the first time. These two observables are unique to multi-meson final states; they characterize correlations between the linear photon polarization and the direction of outgoing single particles in photoproduction of three-body final states. The I-s and I-c distributions suggest that, in the 1.8 to 2.0 GeV mass region, the N(1520) 3/2(-)pi intermediate state is reached with reaction dynamics consistent with a dominant J(P) = 3/2(+) wave. These data are included in the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa) partial wave analysis which is based on a large variety of data; the analysis confirms a significant contribution from the reaction chain gamma p -> N(1900)3/2(+) -> N(1520)3/2(-)pi(0) -> p pi(0)pi(0). (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons from neutrons} \abstract{Results from measurements of the photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons from quasifree protons and neutrons are summarized. The experiments were performed with the CBELSA/TAPS detector at the electron accelerator ELSA in Bonn using the $\eta\to3\pi^{0}\to6\gamma$ decay. A liquid deuterium target was used for the measurement of total cross sections and angular distributions. The results confirm earlier measurements from Bonn and the MAMI facility in Mainz about the existence of a narrow structure in the excitation function of $\gamma n\rightarrow n\eta$. The current angular distributions show a forward-backward asymmetry, which was previously not seen, but was predicted by model calculations including an additional narrow $P_{11}$ state. Furthermore, data obtained with a longitudinally polarized, deuterated butanol target and a circularly polarized photon beam were analyzed to determine the double polarization observable $E$. Both data sets together were also used to extract the helicity dependent cross sections $\sigma_{1/2}$ and $\sigma_{3/2}$. The narrow structure in the excitation function of $\gamma n\rightarrow n\eta$ appears associated with the helicity-1/2 component of the reaction.

The reaction γ p → K S 0 Σ + is studied in the photon energy range from threshold. Linearly polarised photon beams from coherent bremsstrahlung enabled the first measurement of photon beam asymmetries in this reaction up to E γ = 1650 MeV . In addition, the recoil hyperon polarisation was determined through the asymmetry in the weak decay Σ + → p π 0 up to E γ = 2250 MeV . The data are compared to partial wave analyses, and the possible impact on the interpretation of a recently observed prominent structure in the cross section near the K ⁎ thresholds is discussed.

In a search for $\omega$ mesic states, the production of $\omega$-mesons in coincidence with forward going protons has been studied in photon induced reactions on $^{12}$C for incident photon energies of 1250 - 3100 MeV. The $\pi^0 \gamma$ pairs from decays of bound or quasi-free $\omega$-mesons have been measured with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system in coincidence with protons registered in the MiniTAPS forward array. Structures in the total energy distribution of the $\pi^0 \gamma$ pairs, which would indicate the population and decay of bound $\omega~^{11}$B states, are not observed. The $\pi^0 \gamma$ cross section of 0.3 nb/MeV/sr observed in the bound state energy regime between -100 and 0 MeV may be accounted for by yield leaking into the bound state regime because of the large in-medium width of the $\omega$-meson. A comparison of the measured total energy distribution with calculations suggests the real part $V_0$ of the $\omega~^{11}$B potential to be small and only weakly attractive with $V_0(\rho=\rho_0) = -15\pm$ 35(stat) $\pm$20(syst) MeV in contrast to some theoretical predictions of attractive potentials with a depth of 100 - 150 MeV., Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures

The excitation function and momentum distribution of $\eta^\prime$ mesons have been measured in photon induced reactions on $^{12}{}$C in the energy range of 1250-2600 MeV. The experiment was performed with tagged photon beams from the ELSA electron accelerator using the Crystal Barrel and TAPS detectors. The data are compared to model calculations to extract information on the sign and magnitude of the real part of the $\eta^\prime$-nucleus potential. Within the model, the comparison indicates an attractive potential of -($37 \pm 10(stat)\pm10(syst)$) MeV depth at normal nuclear matter density. Since the modulus of this depth is larger than the modulus of the imaginary part of the $\eta^\prime$-nucleus potential of -($10\pm2.5$) MeV, determined by transparency ratio measurements, a search for resolved $\eta^\prime$-bound states appears promising., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures

The photoproduction of $\omega$ and $\eta^\prime$ mesons off carbon and niobium nuclei has been measured as a function of the meson momentum for incident photon energies of 1.2-2.9 GeV at the electron accelerator ELSA. The mesons have been identified via the $\omega \rightarrow \pi^0 \gamma \rightarrow 3 \gamma$ and $\eta^\prime\rightarrow \pi^0 \pi^0\eta \rightarrow 6 \gamma$ decays, respectively, registered with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system. From the measured meson momentum distributions the momentum dependence of the transparency ratio has been determined for both mesons. Within a Glauber analysis the in-medium $\omega$ and $\eta^\prime$ widths and the corresponding absorption cross sections have been deduced as a function of the meson momentum. The results are compared to recent theoretical predictions for the in-medium $\omega$ width and $\eta^\prime$-N absorption cross sections. The energy dependence of the imaginary part of the $\omega$- and $\eta^\prime$-nucleus optical potential has been extracted. The finer binning of the present data compared to the existing data allows a more reliable extrapolation towards the production threshold. The modulus of the imaginary part of the $\eta^\prime$ nucleus potential is found to be about three times smaller than recently determined values of the real part of the $\eta^\prime$-nucleus potential, which makes the $\eta^\prime$ meson a suitable candidate for the search for meson-nucleus bound states. For the $\omega$ meson, the modulus of the imaginary part near threshold is comparable to the modulus of the real part of the potential. As a consequence, only broad structures can be expected which makes the observation of $\omega$ mesic states very difficult experimentally., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures

This paper reports on a measurement of the double-polarization observable G in $\pi^0$ photoproduction off the proton using the CBELSA/TAPS experiment at the ELSA accelerator in Bonn. The observable G is determined from reactions of linearly-polarized photons with longitudinally-polarized protons. The polarized photons are produced by bremsstrahlung off a properly oriented diamond radiator. A frozen spin butanol target provides the polarized protons. The data cover the photon energy range from 617 to 1325 MeV and a wide angular range. The experimental results for G are compared to predictions by the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa), J\"ulich-Bonn (J\"uBo), MAID and SAID partial wave analyses. Implications of the new data for the pion photoproduction multipoles are discussed.

The γ + p → K 0 + Σ + photoproduction reaction is investigated in the energy region from threshold to E γ = 2250 MeV . The differential cross section exhibits increasing forward-peaking with energy, but only up to the K ⁎ threshold. Beyond, it suddenly returns to a flat distribution with the forward cross section dropping by a factor of four. In the total cross section a pronounced structure is observed between the K ⁎ Λ and K ⁎ Σ thresholds.

The polarization observable I^s, a feature exclusive to the acoplanar kinematics of multi-meson final states produced via linearly polarized photons, has been measured for the first time. Results for the reaction g p -> p pi0 eta are presented for incoming photon energies between 970 MeV and 1650 MeV along with the beam asymmetry I^c. The comparably large asymmetries demonstrate a high sensitivity of I^s to the dynamics of the reaction. Fits using Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis demonstrate that the new polarization observables carry significant information on the contributing partial waves., 11 pages, 6 figures, v2 to appear in Phys. Lett. B

The photoproduction of 2π$^{0}$ mesons off protons was studied with the Crystal Barrel/TAPS experiment at the electron accelerator ELSA in Bonn. The energy of photons produced in a radiator was tagged in the energy range from 600 MeV to 2.5 GeV. Differential and total cross sections and pπ$^{0}$ π$^{0}$ Dalitz plots are presented. Part of the data was taken with a diamond radiator producing linearly polarized photons, and beam asymmetries were derived. Properties of nucleon and Δ resonances contributing to the pπ$^{0}$ π$^{0}$ final state were determined within the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa) partial-wave analysis. The data presented here allow us to determine branching ratios of nucleon and Δ resonances for their decays into pπ$^{0}$ π$^{0}$ via several intermediate states. Most prominent are decays proceeding via Δ(1232)π, N(1440)1/2$^{+}$ π, N(1520)3/2$^{−}$ π, N(1680)5/2$^{+}$ π, but also pf$_{0}$(500), pf$_{0}$(980), and pf$_{2}$(1270) contribute to the reaction.

The photoproduction of 2$\pi^0$ mesons off protons was studied with the Crystal Barrel/TAPS experiment at the electron accelerator ELSA in Bonn. The energy of photons produced in a radiator was tagged in the energy range from 600\,MeV to 2.5\,GeV. Differential and total cross sections and $p\pi^0\pi^0$ Dalitz plots are presented. Part of the data was taken with a diamond radiator producing linearly polarized photons, and beam asymmetries were derived. Properties of nucleon and $\Delta$ resonances contributing to the $p\pi^0\pi^0$ final state were determined within the BnGa partial wave analysis. The data presented here allow us to determine branching ratios of nucleon and $\Delta$ resonances for their decays into $p\pi^0\pi^0$ via several intermediate states. Most prominent are decays proceeding via $\Delta(1232)\pi$, $N(1440)1/2^+\pi$, $N(1520)3/2^-\pi$, $N(1680)5/2^+\pi$, but also $pf_0(500)$, $pf_0(980)$, and $pf_2(1270)$ contribute to the reaction.

The N pi(0)pi(0) decays of positive-parity N* and Delta* resonances at about 2 GeV are studied at ELSA by photoproduction of two neutral pions off protons. The data reveal clear evidence for several intermediate resonances: Delta(1232), N(1520)3/2(-), and N(1680)5/2(+), with spin parities J(P) = 3/2(+), 3/2(-), and 5/2(+). The partial wave analysis (within the Bonn-Gatchina approach) identifies N(1440)1/2(+) and the N(pi pi)s (wave) (abbreviated as N sigma here) as further isobars and assigns the final states to the formation of nucleon and Delta resonances and to nonresonant contributions. We observe the know Delta(1232)pi decays of Delta(1910)1/2(+), Delta(1920)3/2(+), Delta(1905)5/2(+), Delta(1950)7/2(+), and of the corresponding spin-parity series in the nucleon sector, N(1880)1/2(+), N(1900)3/2(+), N(2000)5/2(+), and N(1990)7/2(+). For the nucleon resonances, these decay modes are reported here for the first time. Further new decay modes proceed via N(1440)1/2(pi)(+), N(1520)3/2(pi)(-) , N(1680)5/2(pi)(+), and N sigma. The latter decay modes are observed in the decay of N* resonances and at most weakly in Delta(*) decays. It is argued that these decay modes provide evidence for a 3-quark nature of N* resonances rather than a quark-diquark structure.

Omega photoproduction off hydrogen and deuterium has been studied with the tagged photon beam of the ELSA accelerator in Bonn for photon energies up to 2.0 GeV. The omega meson has been identified via the omega -> pi(0) gamma -> gamma gamma gamma decay mode, using the combined setup of the Crystal Barrel/TAPS detector systems. Both inclusive and exclusive analyses have been carried out. Differential and total cross-sections have been derived for omega mesons produced off free protons and off protons and neutrons bound in deuterium. The cross-section for the production off the bound neutron is found to be a factor of a parts per thousand 1.3 larger than the one off the bound proton in the incident beam energy region 1.2 GeV

Photoproduction off protons of the pπ 0 η three-body final state was studied with the Crystal Barrel/TAPS detector, at the electron stretcher accelerator ELSA in Bonn, for incident energies from the π 0 η production threshold up to 2.5 GeV. Differential cross sections and the total cross sections are presented. The use of linearly polarized photons gives access to the polarization observables Σ, I s , and I c , the latter two characterize beam asymmetries in case of three-body final states. Δ(1232)η, N(1535)1/2− π, and pa 0(980) are the dominant isobars contributing to the reaction. The partial wave analysis confirms the existence of some nucleon and Δ resonances, for which so far only fair evidence was reported. A large number of decay modes of known nucleon and Δ resonances is presented. It is shown that detailed investigations of decay branching ratios may provide a key to unravelling the structure of nucleon and Δ resonances.

The first measurement of the helicity dependence of the photoproduction cross section of single neutral pions off protons is reported for photon energies from 600 to 2300 MeV, covering nearly the full solid angle. The data are compared to predictions from the SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial wave analyses. Strikingly large differences between data and predictions are observed, which are traced to differences in the helicity amplitudes of well-known and established resonances. Precise values for the helicity amplitudes of several resonances are reported.

The results obtained at the BGO-OD experiment with the BGO calorimeter, equipped with the new electronic readout based on sampling ADCs, during the tests performed with the beam time of March and June 2012 are presented. The proper functioning of the apparatus has allowed the reconstruction of the pseudo-scalar mesons π0 and η invariant masses. The simulation of the η' photoproduction reaction prepared for a proposal to the joint ELSA-MAMI Physics Advisory Committee is also presented.

The first measurement is reported of the double-polarization observable G in photoproduction of neutral pions off protons, covering the photon energy range from 620 to 1120 MeV and the full solid angle. G describes the correlation between the photon polarization plane and the scattering plane for protons polarized along the direction of the incoming photon. The observable is highly sensitive to contributions from baryon resonances. The new results are compared to the predictions from SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial wave analyses. In spite of the long-lasting efforts to understand {\gamma}p -> p{\pi} 0 as the simplest photoproduction reaction, surprisingly large differences between the new data and the latest predictions are observed which are traced to different contributions of the N (1535) with spin-parity J^P = 1/2^- and N (1520) with J^P = 3/2^- . In the third resonance region, where N (1680) with J^P = 5/2^+ production dominates, the new data are reasonably close to the predictions., Comment: Submitted for publication in PRL

Precise data for quasi-free photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons off the deuteron have been measured at the Bonn ELSA accelerator with the combined Crystal Barrel/TAPS detector for incident photon energies up to 2.5 GeV. The $\eta$-mesons have been detected in coincidence with recoil protons and neutrons. Possible nuclear effects like Fermi motion and re-scattering can be studied via a comparison of the quasi-free reaction off the bound proton to $\eta$-production off the free proton. No significant effects beyond the folding of the free cross section with the momentum distribution of the bound protons have been found. These Fermi motion effects can be removed by an analysis using the invariant mass of the $\eta$-nucleon pairs reconstructed from the final state four-momenta of the particles. The total cross section for quasi-free $\eta$-photoproduction off the neutron reveals even without correction for Fermi motion a pronounced bump-like structure around 1 GeV of incident photon energy, which is not observed for the proton. This structure is even narrower in the invariant mass spectrum of the $\eta$-neutron pairs. Position and width of the peak in the invariant mass spectrum are $W\approx 1665$ MeV and FWHM $\Gamma\approx 25$ MeV. The data are compared to the results of different models., Comment: accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J. A

The photoproduction of {omega} mesons off protons has been studied at the Bonn ELSA accelerator from threshold to E{sub {gamma}}=1700 MeV. Linearly polarized beams were produced via coherent bremsstrahlung. Large photon asymmetries in excess of 50% were obtained. For the first time the pion asymmetries associated with the {omega}{yields}{pi}{sup 0}{gamma} decay were measured and found close to zero. The asymmetries indicate s-channel resonance formation on top of t-channel exchange processes.

Precise data for quasi-free photoproduction of η-mesons off the deuteron have been measured at the Bonn ELSA accelerator with the combined Crystal Barrel/TAPS detector for incident photon energies up to 2.5GeV. The η-mesons have been detected in coincidence with recoil protons and neutrons. Possible nuclear effects like Fermi motion and re-scattering can be studied via a comparison of the quasi-free reaction off the bound proton to η-production off the free proton. No significant effects beyond the folding of the free cross-section with the momentum distribution of the bound protons have been found. These Fermi motion effects can be removed by an analysis using the invariant mass of the η-nucleon pairs reconstructed from the final-state four-momenta of the particles. The total cross-section for quasi-free η-photoproduction off the neutron reveals even without correction for Fermi motion a pronounced bump-like structure around 1GeV of incident photon energy, which is not observed for the proton. This structure is even narrower in the invariant-mass spectrum of the η-neutron pairs. Position and width of the peak in the invariant-mass spectrum are W ≈ 1665 MeV and FWHM Γ ≈ 25 MeV. The data are compared to the results of different models.

Meson photoproduction is a key tool for the experimental investigation of the nucleon excitation spectrum. To disentangle the specific couplings of resonances, in addition to the rather well measured pion and eta photoproduction channels it is mandatory to obtain information on channels involving strange and vector mesons and higher mass pseudoscalar mesons, and the associated multi-particle final states with both charged and neutral particles. In this respect, the new BGO-OD experiment at the ELSA accelerator of the University of Bonn's Physikalisches Institut provides unique instrumentation. We describe the experiment, present its status and the initial program of measurements.