New determination of theηtransition form factor in the Dalitz decayη→e+e−γwith the Crystal Ball/TAPS detectors at the Mainz Microtron
The Dalitz decay eta -> e(+) e(-) gamma has been measured in the gamma p -> eta p reaction with the Crystal Ball and TAPS multiphoton spectrometers, together with the photon-tagging facility at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. The experimental statistic used in this work is one order of magnitude greater than in any previous measurement of eta -> e(+) e(-) gamma. The value obtained for the slope parameter Lambda(-2) of the eta transition form factor, Lambda(-2) = (1.95 +/- 0.15(stat) +/- 0.10(syst)) GeV-2, is in good agreement with recent measurements conducted in eta -> e(+) e(-) gamma and eta -> mu(+) mu(-) gamma decays, as well as with recent form-factor calculations. The uncertainty obtained i…
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 …
Photoproduction of $\eta$ $\pi$ pairs off nucleons and deuterons
Quasi-free photoproduction of $\pi\eta$-pairs has been investigated from threshold up to incident photon energies of 1.4 GeV, respectively up to photon-nucleon invariant masses up to 1.9 GeV. Total cross sections, angular distributions, invariant-mass distributions of the $\pi\eta$ and meson-nucleon pairs, and beam-helicity asymmetries have been measured for the reactions $\gamma p\rightarrow p\pi^0\eta$, $\gamma n\rightarrow n\pi^0\eta$, $\gamma p\rightarrow n\pi^+\eta$, and $\gamma n\rightarrow p\pi^-\eta$ from nucleons bound inside the deuteron. For the $\gamma p$ initial state data for free protons have also been analyzed. Finally, the total cross sections for quasi-free production of $…
Measurement of theγp→K0Σ+reaction with the Crystal Ball/TAPS detectors at the Mainz Microtron
The gamma p -> K-0 Sigma(+) reaction has been measured from threshold to E-gamma = 1.45 GeV (W-CM = 1.9 GeV) using the Crystal Ball and TAPS multiphoton spectrometers together with the photon tagging facility at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. In the present experiment, this reaction was searched for in the 3 pi(0)p final state, by assuming K-S(0) -> pi(0)pi(0) and Sigma(+) -> pi(0)p. The experimental results include total and differential cross sections as well as the polarization of the recoil hyperon. The new data significantly improve empirical knowledge about the gamma p -> K-0 Sigma(+) reaction in the measured energy range. The results are compared to previous measurements and model predict…
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 …
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}.
Determination of the η-transition form factor in the γp→pη→pγe+e− reaction
The Dalitz decay η→γe+e− has been measured using the combined Crystal Ball and TAPS photon detector setup at the electron accelerator MAMI-C. Compared to the most recent transition form-factor measurement in the e+e− channel, statistics have been improved by one order of magnitude. The e+e− invariant mass distribution shows a deviation from the QED prediction for a point-like particle, which can be described by a form-factor. Using the usual monopole transition form-factor parameterization, F(m2)=(1−m2/Λ2)−1, a value of Λ−2=(1.92±0.35(stat)±0.13(syst)) GeV−2 has been determined. This value is in good agreement with a recent measurement of the η Dalitz decay in the μ+μ− channel and with rece…
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…
K+Λ and K+Σ0 photoproduction with fine center-of-mass energy resolution
Measurements of γp→K+Λγp→K+Λ and γp→K+Σ0γp→K+Σ0 cross-sections have been obtained with the photon tagging facility and the Crystal Ball calorimeter at MAMI-C. The measurement uses a novel K+K+ meson identification technique in which the weak decay products are characterized using the energy and timing characteristics of the energy deposit in the calorimeter, a method that has the potential to be applied at many other facilities. The fine center-of-mass energy (W) resolution and statistical accuracy of the new data results in a significant impact on partial wave analyses aiming to better establish the excitation spectrum of the nucleon. The new analyses disfavor a strong role for quark–diqua…
Experimental study of theγp→ηpreaction with the Crystal Ball detector at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI-C)
The gamma p - = W >= 1.87 GeV). Bremsstrahlung photons produced by the 1.5-GeV electron beam of the Mainz Microtron MAMI-C and momentum analyzed by the Glasgow tagging spectrometer were used for the eta-meson production. Our accumulation of 3.8 x 10(6) gamma p -< eta p -< 3 pi(0) p -< 6 gamma p events allows a detailed study of the reaction dynamics. The gamma p -< eta p differential cross sections were determined for 120 energy bins and the full range of the production angles. Our data show a dip near W = 1680 MeV in the total cross section caused by a substantial dip in eta production at forward angles. The data are compared to predictions of previous SAID and MAID partial-wave analyses a…
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.
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 the circular beam asymmetry in the γ→p→π0ηp reaction
Abstract The circular photon asymmetry for π 0 η photoproduction on the proton was measured for the first time at the tagged photon facility of the MAMI C accelerator using the Crystal Ball/TAPS photon spectrometer. The experimental results are interpreted within a phenomenological isobar model that confirms the dominant role of the Δ ( 1700 ) D 33 resonance. The measured asymmetry allows us to identify small contributions from positive-parity resonances via interference terms with the dominant D 33 amplitude.
Narrow Structure in the Excitation Function of eta Photoproduction off the Neutron
The photoproduction of $\eta$-mesons off nucleons bound in $^2$H and $^3$He has been measured in coincidence with recoil protons and recoil neutrons for incident photon energies from threshold up to 1.4 GeV. The experiments were performed at the Mainz MAMI accelerator, using the Glasgow tagged photon facility. Decay photons from the $\eta\rightarrow 2\gamma$ and $\eta\rightarrow 3\pi^0$ decays and the recoil nucleons were detected with an almost $4\pi$ electromagnetic calorimeter combining the Crystal Ball and TAPS detectors. The data from both targets are of excellent statistical quality and show a narrow structure in the excitation function of $\gamma n\rightarrow n\eta$. The results from…