Results are presented from data recorded in 2009 by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider for the double-longitudinal spin asymmetry, $A_{LL}$, for $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ production in $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV polarized $p$$+$$p$ collisions. Comparison of the $\pi^0$ results with different theory expectations based on fits of other published data showed a preference for small positive values of gluon polarization, $\Delta G$, in the proton in the probed Bjorken $x$ range. The effect of adding the new 2009 \pz data to a recent global analysis of polarized scattering data is also shown, resulting in a best fit value $\Delta G^{[0.05,0.2]}_{\mbox{DSSV}} = 0.06^{+0.11}_{-0.15}$ in the range $0.05<x<0.2$, with the uncertainty at $\Delta \chi^2 = 9$ when considering only statistical experimental uncertainties. Shifting the PHENIX data points by their systematic uncertainty leads to a variation of the best-fit value of $\Delta G^{[0.05,0.2]}_{\mbox{DSSV}}$ between $0.02$ and $0.12$, demonstrating the need for full treatment of the experimental systematic uncertainties in future global analyses.
PI0 ASYM(LL) measurements from 2005.
PI0 ASYM(LL) measurements from 2006.
PI0 ASYM(LL) measurements from 2009.
The polarization observable I^s, a feature exclusive to the acoplanar kinematics of multi-meson final states produced via linearly polarized photons, has been measured for the first time. Results for the reaction g p -> p pi0 eta are presented for incoming photon energies between 970 MeV and 1650 MeV along with the beam asymmetry I^c. The comparably large asymmetries demonstrate a high sensitivity of I^s to the dynamics of the reaction. Fits using Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis demonstrate that the new polarization observables carry significant information on the contributing partial waves.
Measured beam asymmetry I_S as a function of the angle between the reaction plane and the plane of the two final state particles with the the proton as the recoiling particle for the cm energy range 1642 to 1770 MeV.
Measured beam asymmetry I_S as a function of the angle between the reaction plane and the plane of the two final state particles with the the proton as the recoiling particle for the cm energy range 1770 to 1898 MeV.
Measured beam asymmetry I_S as a function of the angle between the reaction plane and the plane of the two final state particles with the the proton as the recoiling particle for the cm energy range 1898 to 1994 MeV.
The angular distributions of the unpolarised differential cross section and tensor analysing power $A_{xx}$ of the $\vec{d}d\to\alpha \eta$ reaction have been measured at an excess energy of 16.6 MeV. The ambiguities in the partial-wave description of these data are made explicit by using the invariant amplitude decomposition. This allows the magnitude of the s-wave amplitude to be extracted and compared with results published at lower energies. In this way, firmer bounds could be obtained on the scattering length of the $\eta \alpha$ system. The results do not, however, unambiguously prove the existence of a quasi-bound $\eta \alpha$ state.
Total cross section from fit to the differential angular distribution.
Differential angular distribution.
Analysing power measurements.
Beam asymmetry and differential cross section for the reaction gamma+p->eta+p were measured from production threshold to 1500 MeV photon laboratory energy. The two dominant neutral decay modes of the eta meson, eta->2g and eta->3pi0, were analyzed. The full set of measurements is in good agreement with previously published results. Our data were compared with three models. They all fit satisfactorily the results but their respective resonance contributions are quite different. The possible photoexcitation of a narrow state N(1670) was investigated and no evidence was found.
Measured beam asymmetry at photon energy 724 MeV as a function of the ETA centre of mass angle.
Measured beam asymmetry at photon energy 761 MeV as a function of the ETA centre of mass angle.
Measured beam asymmetry at photon energy 810 MeV as a function of the ETA centre of mass angle.
The beam asymmetry, $\Sigma$, was measured at ELSA in the reaction $\vec \gamma p \to \eta p$ using linearly polarised tagged photon beams, produced by coherent bremsstrahlung off a diamond. The crystal was oriented to provide polarised photons in the energy range $E_\gamma = 800$ to 1400 MeV with the maximum polarisation of $P_\gamma = 49$ % obtained at 1305 MeV. Both dominant decay modes of the $\eta$ into two photons and $3\pi^0$ were used to extract the beam asymmetry from the azimuthal modulation of the cross section. The measurements cover the angular range $\Theta_\text{cm}\simeq 50$ -- 150 degrees. Large asymmetries up to 80 % are observed, in agreement with a previous measurement. The eta-MAID model and the Bonn--Gatchina partial wave analysis describe the measurements, but the required partial waves differ significantly.
Photon asymmetry for eta photoproduction at incident photon energy of 850 MeV.
Photon asymmetry for eta photoproduction at incident photon energy of 950 MeV.
Photon asymmetry for eta photoproduction at incident photon energy of 1050 MeV.
We present measurements of the differential and total cross sections and the Λ polarization for the reaction K−p→ηΛ from threshold to pK−=770MeV/c, with much better precision than previous measurements. Our cross-section data show a remarkable similarity to the SU(3) flavor-related π−p→ηn cross-section results. The reaction K−p→ηΛ at threshold is dominated by formation of the intermediate Λ(1670)12− state.
Total cross section measurement for K- P --> ETA LAMBDA. Errors shown are statistical only.
Differential cross sections DSIG/DOMEGA for K- P --> ETA LAMBDA. Errors shown are statistical only.
Differential cross sections DSIG/DOMEGA for K- P --> ETA LAMBDA. Errors shown are statistical only.
We report the first measurement of the vector analyzing power in inclusive transversely polarized elastic electron-proton scattering at Q^2 = 0.1 (GeV/c)^2 and large scattering angles. This quantity should vanish in the single virtual photon exchange, plane wave impulse approximation for this reaction, and can therefore provide information on double photon exchange amplitudes for electromagnetic interactions with hadronic systems. We find a non-zero value of A=-15.4+/-5.4 ppm. No calculations of this observable for nuclei other than spin 0 have been carried out in these kinematics, and the calculation using the spin orbit interaction from a charged point nucleus of spin 0 cannot describe these data.
Polarized beam.
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