Subthreshold K<Superscript>-</Superscript>-meson production in proton-nucleus reactions revisited

We study the inclusive K^--meson production in proton-nucleus collisions in the subthreshold energy regime in the framework of a spectral function approach for incoherent primary proton-nucleon and secondary pion-nucleon production processes. Our approach takes properly into account the effect of the nuclear mean-field potentials on these processes, as well as the final-state interaction (FSI) among the outgoing nucleons participating in the one-step antikaon creation process. A detailed comparison of the model calculations of the K^- differential cross-sections for the reactions p + ⁹Be, p + ⁶³Cu, and p + ¹⁹⁷Au at subthreshold energies with the currently available experimental data obtained recently at the ITEP proton synchrotron and at SIS/GSI is given. We find that our calculation, which includes both the nuclear density-dependent mean-field potentials and the elementary NN-FSI effects on the K^- production from the direct mechanism, is able to reproduce the energy dependences of the invariant differential cross-sections for the “hard” antikaon creation in p- ⁹Be and p- ⁶³Cu collisions. This result contradicts previous estimates which used only density-dependent mean fields in calculating the K^- yield from this mechanism. We further show that the NN-FSI effects play a minor role in describing the data on the spectrum of the relatively soft K^--mesons from p- ¹⁹⁷Au interactions at incident energy of 2.5GeV. We find that the relative strength of the proton- and pion-induced reaction channels in the subthreshold energy regime is governed by the kinematics of the experiment under consideration. We also explore the influence of the antikaon mean-field potential on the K^- yield at low antikaon momenta. Received: 26 July 2001 / Accepted: 23 December 2002 / Published online: 8 April 2003     

Observation of K+d correlations from pA collisions

Results of a first experiment on (K^+p) and (K^+d) correlations from proton-carbon (pC) and proton-deuteron (pd) interactions at beam energies above and much below the threshold for elementary kaon production in nucleon-nucleon reactions ( T _NN = 1580 MeV) are discussed. These data, obtained with the ANKE spectrometer at COSY-Jülich, provide first direct evidence for K⁺ production via the two-step mechanism and an indication for a cluster mechanism. It is shown that both processes contribute significantly in pC collisions at 1200 MeV, while they are strongly suppressed at 2300 MeV and also in pd-interactions at 1344 MeV. It is emphasized that the underlying kinematics can be exploited to distinguish between these reaction mechanisms. Received: 26 November 2002 / Accepted: 26 March 2003 / Published online: 20 May 2003     

Strange-baryon production asymmetry in K<Superscript>±</Superscript>N interactions

The asymmetry of strange-baryon production in Kp interactions at high energies is considered in the framework of the Quark-Gluon String Model. The contribution of the string-junction mechanism to the strange baryon production is analysed.     

KNΛ and KNΣ coupling constants from the Chiral Bag Model

The KNΛ and KNΣ coupling constants have been calculated in the framework of the Chiral Bag Model(CBM). We find −3.88 ≤g _KNΛ≤−3.67 and 1.15 ≤g _KNΣ≤ 1.24 by taking into account pseudoscalar mesons (π, K) and vector mesons (ρ, ω, K ^*) field effects. Particularly, it is shown that vector mesons make significant contributions to the coupling constants g _KNΛ and g _KNΣ. Our values are existing within the experimental limits compared to the phenomenological values extracted from the kaon photoproduction and kaon-nucleon scattering experiments. Also, form factors are suggested for the πNN, πNΔ, KNΛ and KNΣ couplings. Received: 17 August 1998 / Revised version: 22 December 1998     

Threshold enhancement in η photoproduction from 2H and 4He

The photoproduction of η-mesons from ²H and ⁴He has been studied for energies close to the production thresholds. The experiments were carried out with the tagged photon beam of the Mainz MAMI accelerator. The η-mesons were detected via their two photon decays with the electromagnetic calorimeter TAPS. Total cross-sections, angular and momentum distributions of the η-mesons have been determined for both reactions. The total cross-sections in the threshold region show a large enhancement over the predictions of a participant-spectator model, indicating significant final-state interaction effects. The results are compared to recent model calculations taking into account nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-η final-state interaction effects on different levels of sophistication. Received: 23 November 2001 / Accepted: 11 February 2002     

Two-pion production in deuteron-deuteron collisions at low energies

The cross-section for the dd →^4Heππ reaction is estimated near threshold in a two-step model where a pion created in a first interaction produces a second pion in a subsequent interaction. This approach, which describes well the rates of 2π and η production in the pd →^3Heππ and dd →^4Heη reactions, leads to predictions that are much too low compared to experiment. Alternatives to this and the double-Δ model will have to be sought to explain these data.     

The pp→K<Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">Σ</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript>n cross-section from missing-mass spectra

We utilize existing inclusive data on K⁺-meson momentum spectra of the reaction pp→K ⁺ X at T _p = 2.3-2.85GeV to deduce total cross-sections for pp→K ⁺ Σ ⁺ n. The method used to extract those cross-sections is explained and discussed in detail. Our result for T _p = 2.85GeV is consistent with the data point from a direct measurement at the same beam energy. The cross-section obtained for T _p = 2.3GeV is with 13.7±2.3μb considerably smaller than the value found in a recent experiment by the COSY-11 Collaboration at a somewhat lower beam energy, indicating that the pp→K ⁺ Σ ⁺ n reaction cross-section could exhibit a rather unusual energy dependence.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Λ</Emphasis>N scattering length from the reaction <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>d→K<Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">Λ</Emphasis>n

The prospects of utilizing the strangeness production reaction γd→K ⁺ Λn for the determination of the Λn low-energy scattering parameters are investigated. The spin observables that need to be measured in order to isolate the Λn singlet (¹ S ₀) and triplet (³ S ₁) states are identified. Possible kinematical regions where the extraction of the Λn scattering lengths might be feasible are discussed.     

The reaction pp→pΛK + near threshold

We analyze the recent total cross section data for pp→pΛK ⁺ near threshold measured at COSY. Using an effective range approximation for the on-shell pΛ S-wave final state interaction we extract from these data the combination ?= (2|K _s|²+|K _t|²)^−1/2= 0.38 fm⁴ of the singlet (K _s) and triplet (K _t) threshold transition amplitudes. We present an exploratory calculation of various (tree-level) vector and pseudoscalar meson exchange diagrams. Pointlike ω-exchange alone and the combined (ρ⁰,ω,K^*+)-exchange can explain the experimental value of ?. The pseudoscalar meson exchanges based on a SU(3) chiral Lagrangian turn out to be too large. However, when adding π⁰-exchange in combination with the resonant πN→S ₁₁(1650) →KΛ transition and introducing monopole form factors with a cut-off Λ_c= 1.5 GeV one is again able to reproduce the experimental value of ?. More exclusive measurements are necessary to reveal the details of the pp→pΛK ⁺ production mechanism. Received: 28 October 1998 / Revised version: 12 January 1999     

Search for exotics in γD↦φnp reactions near threshold<Superscript>⋆</Superscript>

We discuss coherent and incoherent φ -meson photoproduction off the deuteron at low energy and small momentum transfer with the aim to check whether the recent experimental data need for their interpretation an inclusion of exotic channels. Our analysis of the differential cross-section and spin-density matrix elements shows that new data on the γD → φX reaction at E _γ ∼ 2 GeV may be understood on the basis of conventional dynamics.     

Novel approach to pion and eta production in proton-proton collisions near threshold

We evaluate the threshold matrix–element for the reaction pp→ppπ⁰ in a fully relativistic Feynman diagrammatic approach. We employ a simple effective range approximation to take care of the S–wave pp final–state interaction. The experimental value for the threshold amplitude A = (2.7 −i0.3) fm⁴ can be reproduced by contributions from tree level chiral (long–range) pion exchange and short–range effects related to vector meson exchanges, with ω-exchange giving the largest individual contribution. Pion loop effects appear to be small. We stress that the commonly used heavy baryon formalism is not applicable in the NN–system above the pion production threshold due to the large external momentum, |p|≃ (Mm _π)^−1/2, with M and m _π the nucleon and the pion mass, respectively. We furthermore investigate the reaction pp→pnπ⁺ near threshold within the same approach. We extract from the data the triplet threshold amplitude as B = (2.8 −i1.5) fm⁴. Its real part can be well understood from (relativistic) tree level meson–exchange diagrams. In addition, we investigate the process pp→ppη near threshold. We use a simple factorization ansatz for the ppη final–state interaction and extract from the data the modulus of the threshold amplitude, |C|= 1.32 fm⁴. With g _ηN= 5.3, this value can be reproduced by (relativistic) tree level meson–exchange diagrams and η–rescattering, whose strength is fixed by the ηN scattering length. We also comment on the recent near threshold data for η^′–production. Received: 27 November 1998     

Medium effects on φ decays to dilepton and kaon-antikaon pairs in relativistic heavy ion reactions

We consider the role of rescattering of secondary kaons on the dilepton branching ratio of the φ-meson. In-medium mass modifications and broadening of kaons and φ-mesons are taken into account. We find in the framework of a Bjorken scenario for the time evolution of the expanding fireball that the φ yield from dimuons is moderately or at least only slightly enhanced compared to that from kaon-antikaon pairs. The relation to experimental yields measured by the NA49, NA50 and CERES Collaborations at CERN SPS and the PHENIX Collaboration at RHIC is discussed.     

Polarization in hyperon photo- and electro-production<Superscript>⋆</Superscript>

Multiple polarization observables must be measured to access the amplitude structure of pseudoscalar meson photoproduction off the proton. The hyperon-producing reactions are especially attractive to study, since the weak decays allow straightforward measurement of the induced and recoil polarization observables. In this paper we emphasize γ + p → K ⁺ + Λ , discussing recent measurements of C_x, C_z, and P for this reaction. An empirical constraint on the helicity amplitudes is obtained. A simplified model involving spin-flip and spin-non-flip amplitudes is presented. Finally, a semi-classical model of how the polarization may arise is presented.     

Studying the ω<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> elastic and inelastic cross section with nucleons

We explore the possibility to measure the elastic and inelastic ωN cross section in p+d→d+ω+p _sp and p+A reactions. Our studies indicate that the elastic scattering cross sections can be determined for ω momenta above 1 GeV/c in p+d reactions by gating on high proton spectator momenta whereas the ωN absorption cross section down to low relative ω momenta is most effectively studied in p+A reactions at beam energies 2.0–2.7 GeV. Received: 15 October 1999     

Conventional view versus FINUDA claims of a deeply bound K<Superscript>-</Superscript>pp state

We critically revise the recent claims of a deeply bound K^-pp state associated to a peak seen in the Λp invariant-mass spectrum following nuclear K^- absorption reactions measured by the FINUDA Collaboration. An explicit theoretical simulation shows that the peak is simply generated from a two-nucleon absorption process, like K ^- pp→Λp, followed by final-state interactions of the produced particles with the residual nucleus.     

Measurement of the η production in proton-proton collisions with the COSY time-of-flight spectrometer

The reaction pp → ppη was measured at excess energies of 15 and 41 MeV at an external target of the Jülich Cooler Synchrotron COSY with the time-of-flight spectrometer. About 25000 events were measured for the excess energy of 15 MeV and about 8000 for 41 MeV. Both protons of the process ppη were detected with an acceptance of nearly 100% and the η was reconstructed by the missing-mass technique. For both excess energies the angular distributions are found to be nearly isotropic. In the invariant-mass distributions strong deviations from the pure phase space distributions are seen. Received: 24 May 2002 / Accepted: 20 September 2002 / Published online: 17 January 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: e.roderburg@fz-juelich.de Communicated by M. Gar?on     

Analysis of eta production using a generalized Lee model

We have investigated the processes N(π, π)N and N(π, η)N close to eta threshold using a simple, nonrelativistic Lee model which has the advantage of being analytically solvable. It is then possible to study the Riemann sheets of the S-matrix and the behavior of its resonance poles especially close to threshold. A theoretical simulation of the experimental cusp effect at eta threshold leads to a characteristic distribution of poles on the Riemann sheets. We find a pole located in the 4_th Riemann sheet that up to now has not been discussed. It belongs to the cusp peak at eta threshold. In addition we obtain the surprising result using the Lee model that the resonance S¹¹(1535) does not play a large role. The main features of the experimental data can be reproduced without explicitly introducing this resonance. Furthermore, we have also studied the reactions N(γ, π)N and N(γ, η)N and find reasonable agreement between the data and both models with and without the S¹¹(1535) resonance. Received: 5 March 1998 / Revised version: 23 June 1998     

Photoproduction of neutral pion pairs from the proton

Double neutral pion photoproduction from the proton has been measured at MAMI for photon energies between threshold and 820 MeV. The reaction was identified by an invariant mass and missing mass analysis. From threshold up to 370 MeV the total cross-section does not exceed 30 nb. For higher energies it shows a smooth rise until it reaches a maximum of about 10 μb at E _γ = 740 MeV. Dalitz plots of m ²(π⁰π⁰) versus m ²(p,π⁰) for seven bins of incident photon energy have been analysed. For E _γ > 610 MeV, a strong contribution of a sequential decay is observed with the Δ(1232)-resonance as intermediate state. A comparison to model calculations shows that these sequential decays presumably originate from the D ₁₃(1520) and also the P ₁₁(1440)-resonance. Received: 6 June 2000 / Accepted: 18 August 2000     

The kaon form factor in the light-cone quark model

The electromagnetic form factor of the kaon meson is calculated in the light-cone formalism of the relativistic constituent quark model. The calculated K⁺ form factor is consistent with almost all of the available experimental data at low-energy scale, while other properties of the kaon could also be interrelated in this representation with reasonable parameters. Predictions of the form factors for the charged and neutral kaons at a higher-energy scale are also given, and we find the non-zero K⁰ form factor at Q ²≠ 0 due to the mass difference between the strange and down quarks inside K⁰. Received: 21 June 2002 / Accepted: 29 July 2002 / Published online: 3 December 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: mabq@phy.pku.edu.cn Communicated by A. Sch?fer