Chiral-loop and vector-meson contributions to η → ππγγ decays

The process η → π⁰π⁰γγ is discussed in Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT). Special attention is deveted to one-loop corrections, η-η′ mixing effects and vector-meson dominance of ChPT counter-terms. The less interesting η → π⁺π⁻γγ transition is briefly discussed too.     

Symmetry breaking and the decays ψ′ → J/ψπ(η) and J/ψ → η(η′) γ

The theoretical mechanisms for the decays ψ′ → ψπ⁰ and ψ′ → ψη, which violate SU₂ and SU₃, respectively discussed. It is argued that symmetry breaking in the decay amplitudes may be as important as π⁰ −η −η′ mixing. The π⁰ −η mechanism ψ′ → ψν → ψπ⁰ leads to Γ(ψ′ → ψπ⁰) = (3.3±1.0) × 10⁻³ Γ(ψ′ → ψν), but this number may be enhanced by a factor as large as 12 by π⁰−η′ mixing and isospin violation in the decay amplitude. The related decays ψ → ηγ and ψ → η′γ are also discussed.     

Supersymmetric contributions to direct CP violation in K→ππγ decays

We analyze the supersymmetric contributions to direct–CP–violating observables in K→ππγ decays induced by gluino–mediated magnetic–penguin operators. We find that ε′_+−γ and the differential width asymmetry of K^±→π^±π⁰γ decays could be substantially enhanced with respect to their Standard Model values, especially in the scenario where ε′/ε is dominated by supersymmetric contributions. These observables could therefore provide a useful tool to search for New Physics effects in |ΔS|=1 transitions, complementary to ε′/ε and rare decays.     

η → 3π to one loop

We calculate the amplitude of the decays η → π⁰π⁺π⁻ and η → π⁰π⁰π⁰ to first non-leading order in the low-energy expansion. It is shown that the infrared singularities of chiral perturbation theory strongly enhance the perturbation generated by the quark mass term. The corrections of order m_s increase the current algebra prediction for the rate by more than a factor of two and remove the well-known discrepancy between the low-energy theorems of current algebra and experiment.     

Study of ω-, η-, η′- and D-mesic nuclei

Using the quark-meson coupling (QMC) model, we investigate whether ω, η, η′ and D⁻ mesons form meson-nucleus bound states. Our results suggest that one should expect to find η- and ω-nucleus bound states in all the nuclei considered. Furthermore, it is shown that the D⁻ meson will form quite narrow bound states with ²⁰⁸Pb.     

Experimental study of the time-dependent rate of K → πππ

The time-dependence of the decay rate of initially pure K⁰ into the final state (π⁺π⁻π⁰) has been studied in search for the decay k_S⁰→π⁺π⁻π⁰. No evidence is found in a sample of 384 observed events. The ratio of the CP -violating K_S⁰ amplitude and the K_L⁰ amplitude is η₊₋₀ = (0.13_−0.20^+0.17) + i(0.17_−0.26^+0.27); the ratio of the CP-conserving K_S⁰ amplitude and the K_L⁰ amplitude is < 0.4. The energy dependence of the K⁰→π⁺π⁻π⁰ matrix element is found to be a₊₋₀ = −0.31 ± 0.03.     

Upper limit on the decay Σ(1385)→Σγ and cross section for γΣ→Λπ

Coherent Λπ⁻ production on Pb of 600 GeV Σ⁻ hyperons has been studied with the SELEX facility at Fermilab. Using the Primakoff formalism, we set a 90% CL upper limit on the radiative decay width Γ[Σ(1385)⁻→Σ⁻γ]<9.5 keV, and estimate the cross section for γΣ⁻→Λπ⁻ at  GeV to be 56±16 μb.     

Radiative decay of ρ and φ mesons in a chiral unitary approach

We study the ρ⁰ and φ decays into π⁺π⁻γ, π⁰π⁰γ and φ into π⁰ηγ using a chiral unitary approach to deal with the final state interaction of the MM system. The final state interaction modifies only moderately the large momenta tail of the photon spectrum of the ρ⁰→π⁺π⁻γ decay. In the case of φ decay the contribution to π⁺π⁻γ and π⁰π⁰γ decay proceeds via kaonic loops and gives a distribution of ππ invariant masses in which the f₀(980) resonance shows up with a very distinct peak. The spectrum found for φ→π⁰π⁰γ decay agrees with the recent experimental results obtained at Novosibirsk. The branching ratio for φ→π⁰ηγ, dominated by the a₀(980), is also in agreement with recent Novosibirsk results.     

On the pp → ppη(η′) reactions near threshold

The production rate for η′ in pp → ppη′ at rest is calculated in a covariant one boson exchange model, previously applied to study π⁰ and η production in NN collisions. The transition amplitudes for the elementary BN → η′N processes with B being the meson exchanged (B = π, σ, η, , ω and a₀) are taken to be the sum of s- and u-channels with a nucleon in the intermediate states, and an a₀ meson pole in a t-channel. The couplings of the η′ to hadrons are a factor 0.4 weaker than the respective η-hadron couplings, as suggested by a quark model and a singlet-octet mixing angle θ = −23°. The model reproduces near threshold cross sections for the quasielastic processes π⁻p → nη(η′) and pp → ppη(η′) reactions.     

Observation of backward η production

The production of η mesons has been observed at high momentum transfer in the reaction π⁻p → nη. The ratio between this cross-section and that for backward charge exchange yields a value for the relative couplings g²_ηNN/g²_πNN.     

Study of impulse model in reaction Kd → pΛπ+ neutrals

In an analysis of 1114 events of the type K⁻d → pΛ⁰π⁻+ neutrals with ‘spectator’ proton momentum in excess of 0.11 GeV/c we have found that the number of protons having a momentum in the range 0.25–1.2 GeV/c exceeds that predicted on the basis of the impulse model using the Hulthén distribution by 3 : 1. Final-state interactions in which the proton does not form resonances with the other final-state particles are mainly held responsible for this effect.     

Model amplitude analysis of πp→ππn

We present an amplitude analysis of the process π⁻p→π⁺π⁻n at 15 GeV/c assuming spin and phase coherence of the production amplitude. The bearing of the results on aspects of dipion production phenomenology is discussed.     

B→ηlν decays and the flavor-singlet form factors

We study semileptonic decays B→η^(′)lν, taking into account the flavor-singlet contribution (F^singlet₊) to the B→η^(′) form factors, which arises from the two-gluon emission in a decaying B meson. It has been recently pointed out that, in addition to large weak annihilation effects, the unknown value of F^singlet₊ prevents accurate theoretical estimates in the analysis of B→η′K decays in QCD factorization. We present a certain method to determine F^singlet₊ with a reasonable accuracy, using B→η^(′)lν and B→πlν decays. We also investigate the possible effect of F^singlet₊ on the estimated branching ratios (BRs) for B→η^(′)lν and find that the BR for B→η′lν is particularly sensitive to the effect of F^singlet₊.     

The decay ω(782)→5π in chiral theory.

The arguments are put forward that the many pion decays ω→2π⁺2π⁻π⁰ and π⁺π⁻3π⁰ provide an ideal test site for testing the predictions of chiral models of the vector meson decays into many pions. Using the approach based on the Weinberg Lagrangian or, in a new language, the Lagrangian of hidden local symmetry added with the term induced by the anomalous Lagrangian of Wess and Zumino, the partial widths of these decays are evaluated, and their excitation curves in e⁺e⁻ annihilation are obtained. The discussed are the perspectives of the experimental study of the decays ω→5π in e⁺e⁻ annihilation and photoproduction.     

η in the nuclear medium within a chiral unitary approach

The s-wave η self-energy in the nuclear medium is calculated in a chiral unitary approach. A coupled channel Bethe–Salpeter equation is solved to obtain the effective ηN interaction in the medium. The base model reproduces well the free space πN elastic and inelastic scattering at the ηN threshold or N^*(1535) region. The Pauli blocking on the nucleons, binding potentials for the baryons and self-energies of the mesons are incorporated, including the η self-energy in a self-consistent way. Our calculation predicts about −54−i29 MeV for the optical potential at normal nuclear matter for an η at threshold but also shows a strong energy dependence of the potential.     

ηη′ threshold enhancement in p annihilations into πηη′ at rest

We report on the observation of an ηη′ threshold enhancement produced in p annihilations at rest into π⁰ηη′, which we identify with the recently discovered ƒ₀(1500).     

Observation of inclusive η production in ee annihilation at CM energies of 34 GeV

The inclusive production of η mesons at CM energies around 34 GeV has been studied for e⁺e⁻ annihilation into hadrons. The average number of η-mesons per event is found to be 0.72 ± 0.10 (stat.) ± 0.18 (syst.). The abundance of η's is studied as a function of event shape parameters and it is compared to the corresponding π⁰ rates.     

Nb/Au/(1 1 0)YBa2Cu3O7−δ Josephson junctions: evidence against atomic scaled “corner junctions”

We report on I–V characteristics for in situ formed Nb/Au/(1 1 0)YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) Josephson junction, where the homoepitaxial (1 1 0)YBCO film shows ultra-smooth surface morphology. The field dependence of critical supercurrent I_c shows anisotropic large junction behavior with normal Fraunhofer patterns expected from BCS model of d_x²−y² wave superconductors. This strongly suggests that the Nb/Au/(1 1 0)YBCO junctions cannot be regarded as atomic scaled corner junctions, in contrast with (0 0 1)/(1 1 0)YBCO grain boundary junctions to show “π-junction” with a pronounced dip near zero fields in field modulation of I_c.     

Single and double dissociation in πp collisions at 11 and 16 GeV/c

The reactions π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺p, π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺π^op and π⁻p → 2π⁻2π⁺n are analysed at 11 and 16 GeV/c using longitudinal phase space (LPS) plots. The weighted LPS distributions for π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺p is dominated by two well separated structures corresponding to single diffraction dissociation of the pion, π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)p, and of the proton, π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻π⁺p). The former is more abundant than the latter, and both are approximately constant with energy. In contrast, processes of type π⁻p → (2π)(πp) decrease with increasing energy.

In the five-body reactions the weighted LPS distribution reveals especially at 16 GeV/c a maximum for single dissociation of the proton into 3πp, namely π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻π⁺π^op); this process is likely to be diffractive. The neutron channel has a corresponding maximum displaced toward a multiperipheral configuration π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻2π⁺)n. Another strong maximum corresponds to the pion dissociation π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺π^o)p. This is interpreted to be an ω-exchange process because no analogous structure occurs in π⁻p → (2π⁻2π⁺)n. Finally, a broad structure reveals double dissociation of both incident particles; it occurs in the two channels π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)(π^op) and π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)(π⁺n), being stronger in the latter. Further analysis of this process in terms of isospin exchange suggests that it is partially diffractive. Factorization is also discussed.

An appendix gives general aspects of the LPS analysis for the asymptotic study of n-body collisions at very high energy.     

Magnetic moment of the Δ (1232) resonance

The reaction γp → π^°γ′p has been measured with the TAPS BaF₂ calorimeter at the Mainz Microtron accelerator facility MAMI for energies between √2 = 1221–1331 MeV. Cross sections differential in angle and energy have been determined for the photon γ′ in three bins of the excitation energy. This reaction channel provides access to the magnetic dipole moment of the Δ⁺(1232) resonance and, for the first time, a value of μ_Δ+ = (2.7^+1.0_−1.3(stat) ± 1.5(syst) ± (theor)) π_N has been extracted.