Measurement of Spin-Density Matrix Elements in $ϕ(1020)\to K_S^0K_L^0$ Photoproduction with a Linearly Polarized Photon Beam at $E_γ=8.2-8.8$ GeV

The GlueX collaboration Afzal, F. ; Akondi, C.S. ; Albrecht, M. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 112 (2025) 025203, 2025.
Inspire Record 2907183 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.160000

We measure the spin-density matrix elements (SDMEs) for the photoproduction of $ϕ(1020)$ off of the proton in its decay to $K_S^0K_L^0$, using 105 pb$^{-1}$ of data collected with a linearly polarized photon beam using the GlueX experiment. The SDMEs are measured in nine bins of the squared four-momentum transfer $t$ in the range $-t=0.15-1.0$ GeV$^2$, providing the first measurement of their $t$-dependence for photon beam energies $E_γ= 8.2-8.8$ GeV. We confirm the dominance of Pomeron exchange in this region, and put constraints on the contribution of other Regge exchanges. We also find that helicity amplitudes where the helicity of the photon and the $ϕ(1020)$ differ by two units are negligible.

1 data table

Spin-density matrix elements of $\phi(1020)$ mesons produced by a linearly polarized photon beam in the helicity system. For each bin of $-t$, the limits of the bin range are given, along with the average $-\bar t$ and root-mean-square deviation $-t_\text{RMS}$ of all events that fall within the bin.


First Measurement of $a^0_2(1320)$ Polarized Photoproduction Cross Section

The GlueX collaboration Afzal, F. ; Akondi, C.S. ; Albrecht, M. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 112 (2025) 015204, 2025.
Inspire Record 2865315 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.156806

We measure for the first time the differential photoproduction cross section $d\sigma/dt$ of the $a_2(1320)$ meson at an average photon beam energy of 8.5~GeV, using data with an integrated luminosity of 104~pb$^{-1}$ collected by the GlueX experiment. We fully reconstruct the $\gamma p \to \eta\pi^0 p$ reaction and perform a partial-wave analysis in the $a_2(1320)$ mass region with amplitudes that incorporate the linear polarization of the beam. This allows us to separate for the first time the contributions of natural- and unnatural-parity exchanges. These measurements provide novel information about the photoproduction mechanism, which is critical for the search for spin-exotic states.

7 data tables

$a_2(1320)$ parity asymmetry, $P_{\sigma}$, in bins of four-momentum transfer. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic.

$a_2(1320)$ differential cross section split into different reflectivity components, $\frac{d\sigma^+}{dt}$ and $\frac{d\sigma^-}{dt}$, in bins of four-momentum transfer. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic.

$a_2(1320)$ differential cross section in the m=-1 projection split into different reflectivity components, $\frac{d\sigma^+_{-1}}{dt}$ and $\frac{d\sigma^-_{-1}}{dt}$, in bins of four-momentum transfer. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic.

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Version 2
Measurement of Spin-Density Matrix Elements in $\Delta^{++}(1232)$ photoproduction

The GlueX collaboration Afzal, F. ; Akondi, C.S. ; Albrecht, M. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 863 (2025) 139368, 2025.
Inspire Record 2799639 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.153414

We measure the spin-density matrix elements (SDMEs) of the $\Delta^{++}(1232)$ in the photoproduction reaction $\gamma p \to \pi^-\Delta^{++}(1232)$ with the GlueX experiment in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. The measurement uses a linearly--polarized photon beam with energies from $8.2$ to $8.8$~GeV and the statistical precision of the SDMEs exceeds the previous measurement by three orders of magnitude for the momentum transfer squared region below $1.4$ GeV$^2$. The data are sensitive to the previously undetermined relative sign between couplings in existing Regge-exchange models. Linear combinations of the extracted SDMEs allow for a decomposition into natural and unnatural--exchange amplitudes. We find that the unnatural exchange plays an important role in the low momentum transfer region.

2 data tables

Spin-density matrix elements for the photoproduction of $\Delta(1232)^{++}$ in the Gottfried-Jackson system. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic. The systematic uncertainties for the polarized SDMEs $\rho^1_{ij}$ and $\rho^2_{ij}$ contain an overall relative normalization uncertainty of 2.1% which is fully correlated for all values of $-t$.

Spin-density matrix elements for the photoproduction of $\Delta(1232)^{++}$ in the Gottfried-Jackson system. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic.


Version 2
Measurement of Spin-Density Matrix Elements in $\rho(770)$ Production with a Linearly Polarized Photon Beam at $E_\gamma = 8.2\,-\,8.8\,\text{GeV}$

The GlueX collaboration Adhikari, S. ; Afzal, F. ; Akondi, C.S. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 108 (2023) 055204, 2023.
Inspire Record 2660186 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.140672

The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab studies photoproduction of mesons using linearly polarized $8.5\,\text{GeV}$ photons impinging on a hydrogen target which is contained within a detector with near-complete coverage for charged and neutral particles. We present measurements of spin-density matrix elements for the photoproduction of the vector meson $\rho$(770). The statistical precision achieved exceeds that of previous experiments for polarized photoproduction in this energy range by orders of magnitude. We confirm a high degree of $s$-channel helicity conservation at small squared four-momentum transfer $t$ and are able to extract the $t$-dependence of natural and unnatural-parity exchange contributions to the production process in detail. We confirm the dominance of natural-parity exchange over the full $t$ range. We also find that helicity amplitudes in which the helicity of the incident photon and the photoproduced $\rho(770)$ differ by two units are negligible for $-t<0.5\,\text{GeV}^{2}/c^{2}$.

2 data tables

Spin-density matrix elements for the photoproduction of $\rho(770)$ in the helicity system. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic. The systematic uncertainties for the polarized SDMEs $\rho^1_{ij}$ and $\rho^2_{ij}$ contain an overall relative normalization uncertainty of 2.1% which is fully correlated for all values of $-t$.

Spin-density matrix elements for the photoproduction of $\rho(770)$ in the helicity system. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic. The systematic uncertainties for the polarized SDMEs $\rho^1_{ij}$ and $\rho^2_{ij}$ contain an overall relative normalization uncertainty of 2.1% which is fully correlated for all values of $-t$.


Measurement of Spin Density Matrix Elements in $\Lambda(1520)$ Photoproduction at 8.2-8.8 GeV

The GlueX collaboration Adhikari, S. ; Akondi, C.S. ; Albrecht, M. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 105 (2022) 035201, 2022.
Inspire Record 1892395 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.132920

We report on the measurement of spin density matrix elements of the $\Lambda(1520)$ in the photoproduction reaction $\gamma p\rightarrow \Lambda(1520)K^+$, via its subsequent decay to $K^{-}p$. The measurement was performed as part of the GlueX experimental program in Hall D at Jefferson Lab using a linearly polarized photon beam with $E_\gamma =$ 8.2-8.8 GeV. These are the first such measurements in this photon energy range. Results are presented in bins of momentum transfer squared, $-(t-t_\text{0})$. We compare the results with a Reggeon exchange model and determine that natural exchange amplitudes are dominant in $\Lambda(1520)$ photoproduction.

10 data tables

Numerical results for all presented SDMEs. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic

Numerical results for all presented natural and unnatural combinations, and covariances between $\rho^1_{11}$ and $\rho^1_{33}$. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic

This table contains thinned out samples of the Markov chains used in the parameter estimation of the SDME measurements for $-(t-t_\text{0}) = 0.197\pm0.069~\text{GeV}^2/c^2$, reported in the main article. One in about 250 steps in the chain, which results in 200 different sets of SDMEs, is provided. These values should be used instead of bootstrapping of the results, in order to estimate uncertainties of physics models fitted to this data. To assess how the uncertainties propagate to the model uncertainties, one should evaluate the model under scrutiny for each of the 200 different sets of SDMEs. Plotting all resulting lines in a single plot will create bands which reflect the influence of the uncertainties in the data on the model. This method has the great advantage that all correlations are accurately taken into account.

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Single $\pi^0$ Production Off Neutrons Bound in Deuteron with Linearly Polarized Photons

The A2 at MAMI collaboration Mullen, C. ; Gardner, S. ; Glazier, D.I. ; et al.
Eur.Phys.J.A 57 (2021) 205, 2021.
Inspire Record 1851649 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.127968

The quasifree $\overrightarrow{\gamma} d\to\pi^0n(p)$ photon beam asymmetry, $\Sigma$, has been measured at photon energies, $E_\gamma$, from 390 to 610 MeV, corresponding to center of mass energy from 1.271 to 1.424 GeV, for the first time. The data were collected in the A2 hall of the MAMI electron beam facility with the Crystal Ball and TAPS calorimeters covering pion center-of-mass angles from 49 to 148$^\circ$. In this kinematic region, polarization observables are sensitive to contributions from the $\Delta (1232)$ and $N(1440)$ resonances. The extracted values of $\Sigma$ have been compared to predictions based on partial-wave analyses (PWAs) of the existing pion photoproduction database. Our comparison includes the SAID, MAID, and Bonn-Gatchina analyses; while a revised SAID fit, including the new $\Sigma$ measurements, has also been performed. In addition, isospin symmetry is examined as a way to predict $\pi^0n$ photoproduction observables, based on fits to published data in the channels $\pi^0p$, $\pi^+n$, and $\pi^-p$.

12 data tables

Photon beam asymmetry Sigma at W= 1.2711 GeV

Photon beam asymmetry Sigma at W= 1.2858 GeV

Photon beam asymmetry Sigma at W= 1.3003 GeV

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Measurement of beam asymmetry for $\pi^-\Delta^{++}$ photoproduction on the proton at $E_\gamma$=8.5 GeV

The GlueX collaboration Adhikari, S. ; Akondi, C.S. ; Ali, A. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 103 (2021) L022201, 2021.
Inspire Record 1817577 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.110112

We report a measurement of the $\pi^-$ photoproduction beam asymmetry for the reaction $\vec{\gamma} p \rightarrow \pi^- \Delta^{++}$ using data from the GlueX experiment in the photon beam energy range 8.2--8.8 GeV. The asymmetry $\Sigma$ is measured as a function of four-momentum transfer $t$ to the $\Delta^{++}$ and compared to phenomenological models. We find that $\Sigma$ varies as a function of $t$: negative at smaller values and positive at higher values of $|t|$. The reaction can be described theoretically by $t$-channel particle exchange requiring pseudoscalar, vector, and tensor intermediaries. In particular, this reaction requires charge exchange, allowing us to probe pion exchange and the significance of higher-order corrections to one-pion exchange at low momentum transfer. Constraining production mechanisms of conventional mesons may aid in the search for and study of unconventional mesons. This is the first measurement of the process at this energy.

1 data table

Beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ vs. $|t|$ compared to theoretical predictions. The uncertainty on $|t|$ is the rms of values in the $\Delta^{++}$ signal region. The uncertainties on $\Sigma$ are statistical and systematic (uncorrelated across t bins), respectively. There is an additional fully correlated systematic uncertainty of 1.5% on the magnitude of $\Sigma$.


Helicity-dependent cross sections and double-polarization observable E in eta photoproduction from quasi-free protons and neutrons

The A2 collaboration Witthauer, L. ; Dieterle, M. ; Abt, S. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 95 (2017) 055201, 2017.
Inspire Record 1589331 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.132013

Precise helicity-dependent cross sections and the double-polarization observable $E$ were measured for $\eta$ photoproduction from quasi-free protons and neutrons bound in the deuteron. The $\eta\rightarrow 2\gamma$ and $\eta\rightarrow 3\pi^0\rightarrow 6\gamma$ decay modes were used to optimize the statistical quality of the data and to estimate systematic uncertainties. The measurement used the A2 detector setup at the tagged photon beam of the electron accelerator MAMI in Mainz. A longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target was used in combination with a circularly polarized photon beam from bremsstrahlung of a longitudinally polarized electron beam. The reaction products were detected with the electromagnetic calorimeters Crystal Ball and TAPS, which covered 98\% of the full solid angle. The results show that the narrow structure observed earlier in the unpolarized excitation function of $\eta$ photoproduction off the neutron appears only in reactions with antiparallel photon and nucleon spin ($\sigma_{1/2}$). It is absent for reactions with parallel spin orientation ($\sigma_{3/2}$) and thus very probably related to partial waves with total spin 1/2. The behavior of the angular distributions of the helicity-dependent cross sections was analyzed by fitting them with Legendre polynomials. The results are in good agreement with a model from the Bonn-Gatchina group, which uses an interference of $P_{11}$ and $S_{11}$ partial waves to explain the narrow structure.

81 data tables

Diff. cross section for helicity-1/2 at W= 1.505 GeV

Diff. cross section for helicity-1/2 at W= 1.515 GeV

Diff. cross section for helicity-1/2 at W= 1.525 GeV

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Threshold π0 photoproduction on transverse polarised protons at MAMI

The MAINZ-A2 collaboration Schumann, S. ; Otte, P.B. ; Akondi, C.S. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 750 (2015) 252-258, 2015.
Inspire Record 1394326 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.126972

Polarisation-dependent differential cross sections σT associated with the target asymmetry T have been measured for the reaction γp→→pπ0 with transverse target polarisation from π0 threshold to photon energies of 190 MeV. The data were obtained using a frozen-spin butanol target with the Crystal Ball / TAPS detector set-up and the Glasgow photon tagging system at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. Results for σT have been used in combination with our previous measurements of the unpolarised cross section σ0 and the beam asymmetry Σ for a model-independent determination of S - and P -wave multipoles in the π0 threshold region, which includes for the first time a direct determination of the imaginary part of the E0+ multipole.

18 data tables

Target asymmetry T for c.m. cos(Theta_pi0)= 0.996

Target asymmetry T for c.m. cos(Theta_pi0)= 0.966

Target asymmetry T for c.m. cos(Theta_pi0)= 0.906

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Measurement of the transverse target and beam-target asymmetries in $\eta$ meson photoproduction at MAMI

The A2 at MAMI collaboration Akondi, C.S. ; Annand, J.R.M. ; Arends, H.J. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 113 (2014) 102001, 2014.
Inspire Record 1310837 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.116552

We present new data for the transverse target asymmetry T and the very first data for the beam-target asymmetry F in the $\vec \gamma \vec p\to\eta p$ reaction up to a center-of-mass energy of W=1.9 GeV. The data were obtained with the Crystal-Ball/TAPS detector setup at the Glasgow tagged photon facility of the Mainz Microtron MAMI. All existing model predictions fail to reproduce the new data indicating a significant impact on our understanding of the underlying dynamics of $\eta$ meson photoproduction. The peculiar nodal structure observed in existing T data close to threshold is not confirmed.

24 data tables

Target asymmetry T for c.m. energy W= 1.4969 GeV

Target asymmetry T for c.m. energy W= 1.5156 GeV

Target asymmetry T for c.m. energy W= 1.5341 GeV

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