pp and ππ intensity interferometry in collisions of Ar+KCl at 1.76A GeV

Results on pp, π+π+, and π-π- intensity interferometry are reported for collisions of Ar+KCl at 1.76$A$~GeV beam energy, studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at SIS18/GSI. The experimental correlation functions as a function of the relative momentum are compared to model calculations allowing the determination of the space-time extent of the corresponding emission sources. The π π source radii are found significantly larger than the pp emission radius. The present radii do well complement the source-size excitation functions of the collision system of size $A+A \simeq 40+40$. The pp source radius at fixed beam energy is found to increase linearly with the cube r…

Resonances in QCD

We report on the EMMI Rapid Reaction Task Force meeting 'Resonances in QCD', which took place at GSI October 12-14, 2015. A group of 26 people met to discuss the physics of resonances in QCD. The aim of the meeting was defined by the following three key questions: What is needed to understand the physics of resonances in QCD? Where does QCD lead us to expect resonances with exotic quantum numbers? What experimental efforts are required to arrive at a coherent picture? For light mesons and baryons only those with ${\it up}$, ${\it down}$ and ${\it strange}$ quark content were considered. For heavy-light and heavy-heavy meson systems, those with ${\it charm}$ quarks were the focus. This docum…

Double pion photoproduction off nuclei - Are there effects beyond final-state interaction?

Photoproduction of $\pi^{0}\pi^{0}$ and $\pi^{0}\pi^{\pm}$ pairs from nuclei has been measured over a wide mass range ($^2$H, $^{7}$Li, $^{12}$C, $^{40}$Ca, and $^{\rm nat}$Pb) for photon energies from threshold to 600 MeV. The experiments were performed at the MAMI accelerator in Mainz, using the Glasgow photon tagging spectrometer and a 4$\pi$ electromagnetic calorimeter consisting of the Crystal Ball and TAPS detectors. A shift of the pion-pion invariant mass spectra for heavy nuclei to small invariant masses has been observed for $\pi^0$ pairs but also for the mixed-charge pairs. The precise results allow for the first time a model-independent analysis of the influence of pion final-sta…

Coherent photoproduction of η-mesons off 3He – search for η-mesic nuclei

Coherent photoproduction of $\eta$-mesons off $^3$He, i.e. the reaction $\gamma ^3{He}\rightarrow \eta ^3{He}$, has been investigated in the near-threshold region. The experiment was performed at the Glasgow tagged photon facility of the Mainz MAMI accelerator with the combined Crystal Ball - TAPS detector. Angular distributions and the total cross section were measured using the $\eta\rightarrow \gamma\gamma$ and $\eta\rightarrow 3\pi^0\rightarrow 6\gamma$ decay channels. The observed extremely sharp rise of the cross section at threshold and the behavior of the angular distributions are evidence for a strong $\eta {^3{He}}$ final state interaction, pointing to the existence of a resonant …

The isospin structure of photoproduction of πη pairs from the nucleon in the threshold region

Abstract Photoproduction of πη-pairs from nucleons has been investigated from threshold up to incident photon energies of ≈ 1.4 GeV. The quasi-free reactions γ p → p π 0 η , γ n → n π 0 η , γ p → n π + η , and γ n → p π − η were for the first time measured from nucleons bound in the deuteron. The corresponding reactions from a free-proton target were also studied to investigate final-state interaction effects (for neutral pions the free-proton results could be compared to previous measurements; the γ p → n π + η reaction was measured for the first time). For the π 0 η final state coherent production via the γ d → d π 0 η reaction was also investigated. The experiments were performed at the …

Differential cross sections for coherent and incoherent neutral-pion photoproduction from calcium

Differential and absolute cross sections for the coherent reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$(\ensuremath{\gamma},${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$${)}^{40}$Ca g.s., as well as for the incoherent reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$(\ensuremath{\gamma},${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{0}$${)}^{40}$Ca(g.s.), have been measured with monochromatic photons in the threshold region (${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$=157--169 MeV). The differential cross section for the coherent process exhibits a diffraction minimum due to the nuclear mass form factor while the incoherent cross section is rather structureless. The cross sections are in good agreement with recent distorted-wave impulse-approximation calculations.

Neutron Skin ofPb208from Coherent Pion Photoproduction

Information on the size and shape of the neutron skin on (208)Pb is extracted from coherent pion photoproduction cross sections measured using the Crystal Ball detector together with the Glasgow tagger at the MAMI electron beam facility. On exploitation of an interpolated fit of a theoretical model to the measured cross sections, the half-height radius and diffuseness of the neutron distribution are found to be c(n)=6.70±0.03(stat.)  fm and a(n)=0.55±0.01(stat.)(-0.03)(+0.02)(sys.)  fm, respectively, corresponding to a neutron skin thickness Δr(np)=0.15±0.03(stat.)(-0.03)(+0.01)(sys.)  fm. The results give the first successful extraction of a neutron skin thickness with an electromagnetic p…

Search for the charge-conjugation-forbidden decayω→ηπ0

A new upper limit of 2.3x10{sup -4} on the branching ratio of the decay {omega}{yields}{eta}{pi}{sup 0} has been obtained using the Crystal Ball multiphoton spectrometer at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. This decay is forbidden by charge-conjugation invariance of the strong and electromagnetic interactions. We have also obtained the upper limit of 2.3x10{sup -4} for the forbidden decay {omega}{yields}3{pi}{sup 0} and the upper limit of 2.4x10{sup -4} for {omega}{yields}2{pi}{sup 0}.

First measurement of the polarization observable E and helicity-dependent cross sections in single π 0 photoproduction from quasi-free nucleons

The double-polarization observable $E$ and the helicity-dependent cross sections $\sigma_{1/2}$ and $\sigma_{3/2}$ have been measured for the first time for single $\pi^{0}$ photoproduction from protons and neutrons bound in the deuteron at the electron accelerator facility MAMI in Mainz, Germany. The experiment used a circularly polarized photon beam and a longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target. The reaction products, recoil nucleons and decay photons from the $\pi^0$ meson were detected with the Crystal Ball and TAPS electromagnetic calorimeters. Effects from nuclear Fermi motion were removed by a kinematic reconstruction of the $\pi^{0}N$ final state. A comparison to data mea…

Accurate Test of Chiral Dynamics in theγ→p→π0pReaction

A precision measurement of the differential cross sections dσ/dΩ and the linearly polarized photon asymmetry Σ≡(dσ⊥-dσ∥)/(dσ⊥+dσ∥) for the γp→π0p reaction in the near-threshold region has been performed with a tagged photon beam and almost 4π detector at the Mainz Microtron. The Glasgow-Mainz photon tagging facility along with the Crystal Ball/TAPS multiphoton detector system and a cryogenic liquid hydrogen target were used. These data allowed for a precise determination of the energy dependence of the real parts of the S- and all three P-wave amplitudes for the first time and provide the most stringent test to date of the predictions of chiral perturbation theory and its energy region of a…

Photoproduction of $ \pi^{0}$ -pairs off protons and off neutrons

Total cross sections, angular distributions, and invariant-mass distributions have been measured for the photoproduction of $\pi^0\pi^0$ pairs off free protons and off nucleons bound in the deuteron. The experiments were performed at the MAMI accelerator facility in Mainz using the Glasgow photon tagging spectrometer and the Crystal Ball/TAPS detector. The accelerator delivered electron beams of 1508 and 1557~MeV, which produced bremsstrahlung in thin radiator foils. The tagged photon beam covered energies up to 1400~MeV. The data from the free proton target are in good agreement with previous measurements and were only used to test the analysis procedures. The results for differential cros…

Quasifree photoproduction of eta mesons off protons and neutrons

Differential and total cross sections for the quasifree reactions $\ensuremath{\gamma}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\eta}p$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\eta}n$ have been determined at the MAMI-C electron accelerator by using a liquid deuterium target. Photons were produced via bremsstrahlung from the 1.5 GeV incident electron beam and energy tagged with the Glasgow photon tagger. Decay photons of the neutral decay modes $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and coincident recoil nucleons were detected in a combin…

Measurement of the beam-helicity asymmetry I⊙ in the photoproduction of π0-pairs off the proton and off the neutron

Abstract Beam-helicity asymmetries have been measured at the MAMI accelerator in Mainz for the photoproduction of neutral pion pairs in the reactions γ → p → p π 0 π 0 and γ → d → ( n ) p π 0 π 0 , γ → d → ( p ) n π 0 π 0 off free protons and off quasi-free nucleons bound in the deuteron for incident photon energies up to 1.4 GeV. Circularly polarized photons were produced from bremsstrahlung of longitudinally polarized electrons and tagged with the Glasgow magnetic spectrometer. Decay photons from the π 0 mesons, recoil protons, and recoil neutrons were detected in the 4π covering electromagnetic calorimeter composed of the Crystal Ball and TAPS detectors. After kinematic reconstruction of…

First measurement of the helicity dependence of 3He photoreactions in the Δ(1232) resonance region

The first measurement of the helicity dependence of the total inclusive 3He photo-absorption cross section and of the partial cross sections for several reaction channels was carried out at MAMI (Mainz) in the photon energy range between 150 and 500 MeV. The experiment used the large acceptance Crystal Ball spectrometer, complemented by charged particle and vertex detectors, a circularly polarised tagged photon beam and a longitudinally polarised high-pressure 3He gas target. The results obtained give information on the GDH integral on 3He and on the neutron and allow an investigation of the modifications of nucleon properties inside 3He.

Photoproduction of theωmeson on the proton near threshold

An experimental study of omega photoproduction on the proton was conducted by using the Crystal Ball and TAPS multiphoton spectrometers together with the photon tagging facility at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. The gamma p -> omega p differential cross sections are measured from threshold to the incident-photon energy E-gamma = 1.40 GeV (W = 1.87 GeV for the center-of-mass energy) with 15-MeV binning in E-gamma and full production-angle coverage. The quality of the present data near threshold gives access to a variety of interesting physics aspects. As an example, an estimation of the omega N scattering length alpha(omega p) is provided.

Perspectives in hadron and quark dynamics

Measurement of theH1(γ⃗, p⃗)π0Reaction Using a Novel Nucleon Spin Polarimeter

We report the first large-acceptance measurement of polarization transfer from a polarized photon beam to a recoiling nucleon. The measurement pioneers a novel polarimetry technique, which can be applied to many other nuclear and hadron physics experiments. The commissioning reaction of $^{1}H(\mathrm{\ensuremath{\gamma}P\vec},\text{ }\mathrm{pP\vec}){\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ in the range $0.4l{E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}l1.4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ validates the technique and provides essential new data to constrain the excitation spectrum of the nucleon.

Photoproduction ofπ0Mesons off Neutrons in the Nucleon Resonance Region

Precise angular distributions have been measured for the first time for the photoproduction of π0 mesons off neutrons bound in the deuteron. The effects from nuclear Fermi motion have been eliminated by a complete kinematic reconstruction of the final state. The influence of final-state-interaction effects has been estimated by a comparison of the reaction cross section for quasifree protons bound in the deuteron to the results for free protons and then applied as a correction to the quasifree neutron data. The experiment was performed at the tagged photon facility of the Mainz Microtron MAMI with the Crystal Ball and TAPS detector setup for incident photon energies between 0.45 and 1.4 GeV…

First measurement of helicity-dependent cross sections in π0η photoproduction from quasi-free nucleons

The helicity-dependent cross sections for the photoproduction of $\pi^0\eta$ pairs have been measured for the first time. The experiment was performed at the tagged photon facility of the Mainz MAMI accelerator with the combined Crystal Ball - TAPS calorimeter. The experiment used a polarized deuterated butanol target and a circularly polarized photon beam. This arrangement allowed the $\sigma_{1/2}$ (photon and target spin antiparallel) and $\sigma_{3/2}$ (parallel spins) components to be measured for quasi-free production of $\pi^0\eta$ pairs off protons and neutrons. The main finding is that the two helicity components contribute identically, within uncertainties, for both participant pr…

The electron-nucleus collider project

Abstract In the context of the discussion about the future physics program of the GSI laboratory the physics potential of an electron-nucleus collider at about s = 1000GeV2 is being explored.

Electromagnetic calorimetry with PbWO/sub 4/ in the energy regime below 1 GeV

The study of the performance and application of PbWO/sub 4/ in electromagnetic calorimetry at energies far below 1 GeV has been continued. The significantly improved optical and scintillation properties of 15 cm long Nb/La-doped crystals, optimized for the ECAL/CMS calorimeter, are documented. The lineshape, energy and time response of a 5/spl times/5 matrix are tested with monoenergetic photons up to 790 MeV energy and compared to previous measurements. First attempts have been made to enhance the scintillation yield by suitable dopants (Mo,Tb) for applications at very low photon energies. As a first large scale project at medium energies, the proposed concept for a compact photon spectrom…

Physics with Antiprotons at the Future GSI Facility

Recently GSI presented the plans for a major new international research facility (http://www.gsi.de/GSI-future/). Highly luminous secondary beams with excellent quality encompassing the production of antiprotons will be delivered. In a High Energy Storage Ring (HESR) with a bending power of 50 Tm antiprotons will be cooled either stochastically or by electrons. The envisaged limits are a momentum range of 1.5 to 15 GeV/c and a luminosity of 2 × 1032 cm-2 s-1. Four major physical research goals can be addressed: high precision charmonium spectroscopy, medium effects of open and hidden charm, the search for glueballs and hybrids, and the production of hypernuclei.