Measurement of the reaction γp → K0Σat photon energies up to 2.6 GeV⋆

The reaction p K⁰⁺ was measured in the photon energy range from threshold up to 2.6 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility, ELSA, in Bonn. Results are presented on the reaction cross-section and the polarization of the ⁺ as a function of the kaon production angle in the centre-of-mass system, cos^c.m._K, and the photon energy. The cross-section is lower and varies less with photon energy and kaon production angle than that of p K⁺⁰. The ⁺ is polarized predominantly at cos^c.m._K 0. The data presented here are more precise than previous ones obtained with SAPHIR and extend the photon energy range to higher values. They are compared to isobar model calculations.     

Study of the reaction γp → K+Λ(1520) at photon energies up to 2.65 GeV

The reaction γp → K ⁺ Λ(1520) was measured in the energy range from threshold to 2.65 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility ELSA in Bonn. The Λ(1520) production cross-section was analyzed in the decay modes pK ^?, $ n\bar K^0 $ , Σ ^± π ^?, and Λπ ⁺ π ^? as a function of the photon energy and the squared four-momentum transfer t . While the cross-sections for the inclusive reactions rise steadily with energy, the cross-section of the process γp → K ⁺ Λ(1520) peaks at a photon energy of about 2.0 GeV, falls off exponentially with t , and shows a slope flattening with increasing photon energy. The angular distributions in the t-channel helicity system indicate neither a K nor a K ^* exchange dominance. Rather, the rapid change of the angular distribution with energy suggests that, in addition to t -channel K and K^* exchange, amplitudes for formation of nucleon resonances in the s-channel play an important role.     

Measurement of γp→K + Λ and γp→K + Σ 0 at photon energies up to 1.47 GeV

The reactions pK ⁺ and pK ^{+ 0} have been measured with the multiparticle detector system SAPHIR at ELSA in Bonn. Besides the differential cross sections the polarization and, for the first time, the ⁰ polarization have been determined in a photon induced reaction. All data are presented as functions of the photon energy (from threshold up to 1.47 GeV) and of the kaon production angle (0°–180°). The polarization of both and ⁰ is substantial at all energies and varies strongly with the production angle.This work is supported by the Bundesminister für Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), FK 06 BN 621 I     

Study of theK + K − π+ π− system centrally produced in the reactions π+ p→π+(K + K − π+ π−)p andpp→p(K + K − π+ π−)p at 85 GeV/c

The reactions π⁺ p→π⁺(K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^? p andpp→p(K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^?)p where the (K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^?) system is centrally produced have been studied at 85 GeV/c. 48% of the final state proceeds through single or double vector meson resonant production i.e.,K ^*0(890) (37%), ? (4%),ρ ⁰ (7%). Evidence is found for associatedK ^*0 (890) \(\bar K\) ^*o (890) production (6.4±1.1%) with a cross section ten times higher than that found for associated ? ? production in the same experiment.     

Study of the centrally producedK 1 0 K ± π∓ system at 85 GeV/c

We have analyzed theK ₁ ⁰ K ^± π^? system in the reactions π⁺/pp→π⁺/p(K ₁ ⁰ K ^± π^?)p. A spin-parity analysis of theK ₁ ⁰ K ^± π^? system in the “4C” channel confirms the existence of the 1⁺⁺ E meson which decays mainly throughK ^* \(\bar K\) . The data allow the presence of a 0^?+ wave at a level of 14% of theE/ι signal. The production ofD andE mesons in the channels where theK ₁ ⁰ K ^± π^? system is produced along with a π⁰ or π⁺π^? system is suppressed.     

Form factor π0 → γ* + γ* at different photon virtualities

The π⁰ γγ vertex for virtual photons of squared masses q ₁ ² and q ₂ ² plays a vital rôle in several physical processes; for example for q ₁ ² < 0, q ₂ ² < 0, in the two-photon physics reaction e ⁺ e ^? → e ⁺ e ^?π⁰, and for q ₁ ² > 0, q ₂ ² > 0, in the annihilation process e ⁺ e ^? → π⁰ l ⁺l^?. It is also of interest because of its link to the axial anomaly. We suggest a new approach to this problem. We have obtained a closed analytic expression for the vertex in the limit in which at least one of ¦q ₁ ² ¦ and ¦q ₂ ² ¦ is large for arbitrary fixed values of the ratio q ₁ ² /q ₂ ² . We compare our results with those obtained previously by Brodsky and Lepage. It should be straightforward to test our predictions experimentally.     

Study of the reactionsπ − p→K 0 ∑ 0(1385) andπ − p→K + ∑ −(1385) at 3.95 GeV/c

The reactionsπ ^?p→K ⁰ ∑ ⁰(1385) andπ ^? p→K ⁺ ∑ ^?(1385) are studied at an incident momentum of 3.95 GeV/c using data from a high statistics bubble chamber experiment corresponding to approximately 90 events/μb. The total and differential cross sections and the density matrix elements of the Σ(1385) are presented. The results are compared with those obtained for the related processesπ ^pp→K ⁺ ∑ ⁺(1385) and \(K^ - p \to \pi ^ \mp \sum ^ \pm (1385)\) in this energy range. Evidence is presented for the existence of production mechanisms with exotic exchanges in thet channel.     

Study of K ± → e ± νπ 0 decays at the KMN setup

K ^± → e ^± νπ ⁰ decays have been studied using the KMN setup at the Institute for High Energy Physics (Protvino). The experiment has been performed in the 36-GeV/c hadron beams of the IHEP accelerator. The accumulated data allow us to select ～1.08M candidates for K _e3 decays. Analyzing the Dalitz plot of these events, we estimate the linear slope of the charge form factor to be λ ₊ = [30.44 ± 0.83(stat.) ± 0.74(syst.)] × 10^?3.     

Non-perturbative chiral approach to K−p → γY reactions

A recently developed non-perturbative chiral approach to describe the S = −1 meson-baryon reactions has been extended to investigate the near threshold K⁻p → γΛ,γΣ⁰ reactions. With the parameters governed by chiral SU(3) symmetry, we show that the predicted branching ratios Γ_K⁻p→γΛ/Γ_K⁻p→all and Γ_{K⁻p→γΣ⁰}/Γ_K⁻p→all are close to the experimental values. The coupling with the η channels, which was shown to be important in the S = −1 meson-baryon reactions, is also found to be significant here. Our results are consistent with the interpretation of the Λ(1405) as a quasi-bound meson-baryon state as found in other similar chiral approaches.     

Study of the mechanism of the 3He + p → p + p + d reaction at a 3He momentum of 5 GeV/c

The mechanism of the reaction ³He + p → p + p + d is studied by making use of the ITEP 80 cm liquid-hydrogen bubble chamber exposed to a beam of 5 GeV/c ³He nuclei. The reaction cross section is equal to 20.6 ± 0.3 mb. The phase-space regions associated with quasifree scattering (QFS) and final-state interactions (FSI) are selected. Angular, mass and momentum distributions of the reaction products are obtained in the entire kinematically allowed range. The experimental data in the QFS region are compared with theoretical calculations based on the simplest pole-diagram approximation. The ³He and deuteron wave functions (WF) correspond to the realistic RSC potential. The D-wave components of these WF are taken into account. The absolute value of the cross section and shape of the distributions are described as a whole reasonably well within the frame of the model considered in the kinematical region where FSI may be neglected. But at large spectator momenta there is an essential disagreement. The possible reasons for this are discussed.     

Study of inclusive production of π± and protons in\bar p p interactions at 32 GeV/c

Results are presented on the inclusive production of π^± mesons and protons in \(\bar p\) p interactions at an incident antiproton momentum of 32 GeV/c in the MIRABELLE bubble chamber, based on a sample of 55,000 inelastic events. The spectra of π⁺(π^?) andp( \(\bar p\) ) are separated in the whole kinematically admitted region of phase space by a statistical method. The semi-inclusive and inclusive cross sections and the main average characteristics of π andp production are calculated. The invariant differential cross sections are studied as functions of the Fevnman scaling variablex, the rapidity and the transverse momentum. Thex distribution of π^± mesons in the proton fragmentation region does not show any significant contribution from quark exchange or annihilation processes. A possible contribution of hard quark scattering on mesons or baryons is observed for large transverse momenta.     

Microscopic description of the reactions d + d → p + 3H and d + d → n + 3He at low energies

A collective adiabatic approach is used to explore the total and differential cross sections for the reactions d + d → p + ³H and d + d → n + ³He at incident-deuteron energies of up to 6 MeV. All substantially contributing partial waves of order not higher than that of G waves are taken into account. The experimental value of the difference of the cross sections for the above mirror reactions is reproduced theoretically under the assumption that nuclear forces obey the condition of isotopic invariance. The positions and amplitudes of the maxima in the calculated total cross sections virtually coincide with those of the corresponding experimental values. It is shown that, around the maxima of the cross sections under study, dominant contributions to them come from the P wave. The sensitivity of observables to the parameters of nucleon-nucleon interaction is analyzed.     

On the production mechanism of Σ-hypernuclear systems in A(K −, π±) reactions

It is shown that the new data on the excitation energy E _exc spectrum of the residual nuclear system in the Σ-hypernuclear region in the reactions (K ^?, π^±) on ⁹Be and in the reaction (K ^?, π⁺) on ⁴He and ¹²C can be described without assuming the existence of excited Σ-hypernuclear states. The basis is formed by a simultaneous consideration of the quasifree Σ production and Σ-nuclear rescattering (elastic and with Σ → Λ conversion) with allowance for the interference of the respective amplitudes. To answer completely the question on the nature of the irregularities in E _exc spectrum, it is proposed to study the picture corresponding to the so-called moving complex singularity of the triangle graph with Σ rescattering: the position and the width of the peak in E _exc distribution should be appreciably changed with momentum transferred from the initial kaon to the final pion.     

The p + p → π+ + d reaction close to threshold at COSY

Differential and total cross sections of the p + p → π⁺ + d reaction close to threshold were measured employing a magnetic spectrograph with track reconstruction, a very thin liquid hydrogen target and an accelerated proton beam with high phase space density. The data resolve a previous discrepancy between the n + p → π⁰ + d and the π⁺ + d → 2p reaction close to threshold indicating that isospin symmetry may be broken in the s-wave part of the cross section.     

Measurement of the πmeson polarizabilities via the γp → γπ+n reaction

An experiment on the radiative ^{+}-meson photoproduction from the proton ( p ^{+}n) was carried out at the Mainz Microtron MAMI in the kinematic region 537MeV < E < 817MeV, 140^° 180^°. The ^{+}-meson polarizabilities have been determined from a comparison of the data with the predictions of two different theoretical models, the first one being based on an effective pole model with pseudoscalar coupling while the second one is based on diagrams describing both resonant and nonresonant contributions. The validity of the models has been verified by comparing the predictions with the present experimental data in the kinematic region where the pion polarizability contribution is negligible ( s₁ < 5m²) and where the difference between the predictions of the two models does not exceed 3%. In the region, where the pion polarizability contribution is substantial ( 5 < s₁/m² < 15, -12 < t/m² < - 2), the difference of the electric () and the magnetic () polarizabilities has been determined. As a result we find . This result is at variance with recent calculations in the framework of chiral perturbation theory.     

Study of the process e+e-→π+π-π0π0 at energies √s< 1 GeV

In an experiment with the Spherical Neutral Detector at VEPP-2M collider the cross section of the process e+e-→π+π-π0π0 was measured. At energies √s < 920 MeV this cross section was measured for the first time. The energy dependence of the cross section is well discribed by the vector dominance model with contributions from ρ, ρ' ρ", mesons. The decay probability ρ→π+π-π0π0was found to be Bρ = (1.60±0.74±0.18)×10-5. The upper limit for the decay ω→π+π-π0π0 was improved by two orders of magnitude compared to the previous measurements and is Bω < 2 × 10-4 at 90% confidence level.     

Study of the reaction γp → pπ0η

The reaction γp → pπ⁰η has been studied with the CBELSA detector at the tagged photon beam of the Bonn electron stretcher facility. The reaction shows contributions from Δ⁺(1232)η , N(1535)⁺π⁰ and pa ₀(980) as intermediate states. A partial-wave analysis suggests that the reaction proceeds via formation of six Δ -resonances, Δ(1600)P ₃₃ , Δ(1920)P ₃₃ , Δ(1700)D ₃₃ , Δ(1940)D ₃₃ , Δ(1905)F ₃₅ , Δ(2360)D ₃₃ , and two nucleon resonances N(1880)P ₁₁ and N(2200)P ₁₃ , for which pole positions and decay branching ratios are given.     

On the reactions p + p↦p + Λ + K+ and p + p↦p + Σ0 + K+ near thresholds

The cross-sections for the reactions of the strange production p + p ↦ p + Λ + K⁺ and p + p ↦ p + Σ⁰ + K⁺ near thresholds of the final states pΛK⁺ and pΣ⁰K⁺ are calculated in the effective Lagrangian approach. Our approach is based on the dominant contribution of the one-pion exchange and strong interaction of the colliding protons in the initial state. The theoretical values of the cross-sections agree reasonably well with the experimental data. The polarization properties of the Λ- and Σ⁰-hyperons are discussed.