This paper reports studies of the reactions γp→ρ π π πp and γp→ρ ρ πp. In particular a peak is reported in the ρ ρ π mass spectrum with closely similar mass and width to those of the ω ρ π peak previously reported in the reaction γp→ω ρ πp. The ratio of production cross sections is found to be ρ ρ π/ω ρ π=0.96±0.19, in serious disagreement with the expectation from Vector Meson Dominance. A possible explanation is indicated.

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Inclusive photoproduction of ϕ,K*0(890),\(\bar K*^0 \) andK*0(1420),\(\bar K*^0 \) has been studied in γp collisions with photons of energy 20 to 70 GeV and in the range 0.1≦xF≦0.95 [0.4≦xF≦0.8 for the\(\mathop K\limits^{( - )} *\)(1420)],xF being the Feynman variable of the vector/tensor meson. The cross-sections for these processes, averaged over the photon energy range and integrated overxF are given. The inclusive ϕ production in the forward direction can be described quantitatively by a triple-Regge model calculation. The remaining ϕ production and the totalK*0(890) and\(\bar K*^0 \) production are consistent with a quark fusion picture.

In diffractive photoproduction ofηπ+π−, the two-body substatesηρ0 andA2π are found to contribute significantly to the cross-section forηπ+π− masses below 2.4 GeV. From a spin-parity analysis the branching ratio, ρ′(1600)→ηρ/ρ′(1600)→, is determined to be <0.02 at the 68.3% confidence level. TheA2π component shows an enhancement around 1.7 GeV. The spin-parity analysis indicates a probable contribution to this signal from exclusive photoproduction of theg(1690).

The photoproduction of the final state ω π+π−π0 has been studied as part of a survey of photoproduction in the energy range 20–70 GeV in the Omega spectrometer at CERN. The π+π−π0 system produced with the ω meson has a strongρ±π± component which is predominantlyI=1 andJπ=1+. For theωρ±π∓ state a spin-parity analysis favoursJπ=1−, and the mass spectrum peaks at 2.28±0.05 GeV. The fitted width is Γ=0.44±0.11 GeV. The photoproduction cross-section of theωρ±π∓ state, averaged over the energy range 25–60 GeV, is 150±50 nb.

A study of ϕ-meson photoproduction by partially polarized photons of energy 20–40 GeV is reported. The production mechanism is found to conserves-channel helicity and to proceed via natural-parity exchange in thet channel. In the photoproduction of high-massK+K− states with photons of energy 20–70 GeV, there is evidence for an enhancement at a mass of 1.76 GeV with width 0.08 GeV.

A study is made of the ωπ 0 system produced near threshold in the reaction γ p→ π + π − π 0 π 0 p. A spin-parity analysis shows that the ωπ 0 enhancement is consistent with predominant 1 + B(1235) production, with ∼20% J P = 1 − background.

A peak is reported in the ηπ + π − system, produced in the reaction γ p→ ηπ + π − p, at a mass of 1.28 ± 0.01 GeV with a width of 0.08 ± 0.02 GeV. Possible spin-parity assignments for the peak are shown to be J π = 1 − , J π = 1 + or J π = 2 + and interpretations of these assignments are discussed.

The reactions γ p→K + K − π 0 (p) and γ p→ K s 0 K ± π ± (p) have been measured using tagged photons in the energy range 20 to 70 GeV. No resonance structure is observed in either of the K K π invariant mass distributions, which range from threshold up to ∼ 3 GeV. The photoproduction cross sections for φπ 0 and K ∗ (892)K are presented and are compared with theoretical predictions. No evidence has been found for the photoproduction of φ′ (1680).

Results on photoproduction of π + π − π 0 in the photon energy range 20–70 GeV are presented. For the ω meson, the production cross-section is found to be 1010±15 (statistical)±290 (systematic) nb and is constant over the incident photon energy range. Spin-density matrix elements are evaluated for ω meson production. The φ meson is observed with a total photoproduction cross section (corrected for branching ratio to π + π − π 0 ) of 610±35±170 nb. A third resonance, at 1.67 GeV, is seen in the mass spectrum and its interpretation is discussed. The production of a broad π + π − π 0 continuum, mainly via ϱπ, and peaking at 1.2 GeV, contributes with a cross section of about 2.5 ωb. The spin-parity content is analysed by the moments of the π + π − π 0 decay angular distribution in the helicity frame and by maximum likelihood fits to the π + π − π 0 Dalitz plot. It is found that production of J P = 1 − states accounts for less than half of the total mass spectrum above 900 MeV. There is a broad enhancement in the 1 + wave around 1.15 GeV indicating photoproduction of the H(1190) meson.

A ϱπ enhancement with mass 1.67 ± 0.02GeV and width 0.16 ± 0.02GeV is observed in the channel γp→pπ + π − π 0 . Assuming an incoherent background, the cross section × branching ratio is 100 ± 20 nb. A spin-parity analysis favours J P = 1 − . The enhancement is most simply interpreted as a radial recurrence of the ω meson.

Measurements of the reaction γ p → p ωπ + π − are reported for photon energies 25–50 GeV. Particular attention is paid to ωπ + π − masses < 2 GeV. A search is made for ω′ or φ′ partners of the ϱ′(1600). Evidence is presented against the existence of narrow states and against the production of a broad state by an s -channel helicity conserving mechanism.

We present results on photoproduction of ϱ 0 and ω in the reactions γ p→ π + π − p and γ p→ π + π − π 0 p by tagged photons in the energy ranges 20 to 70 GeV and 20 to 45 GeV, respectively. The production of the ϱ 0 shows dominantly the characteristics of a diffractive process with respect to the E γ and t dependence of the cross section and the spin density matrix. The ϱ 0 photoproduction yields on average over the photon energy range a total cross section of σ ( γ p→ ϱ 0 p) = 9.4±0.1 μ b with an additional systematic error of ±1 μ b, and average slope parameters of the t distribution d σ /d t ≈exp(− b | t | + ct 2 ), of b =9.1±0.1 GeV −2 and c = 3.1 ±±0.2 GeV −4 . The shape of the ϱ 0 peak in the π + π − invariant spectra shows a skewing similar to that observed at lower energies. The photoproduction of ω is also consistent with a diffractive process and has a cross section of σ ( γ p→ ω p) = 1.2± 0.1 μ b with an additional systematic error of ±0.2 μ b. The average slope parameters of the t distribution are b =8.3 ± 1.3 GeV −2 and c = 3.4±2.6 GeV −4 .

Results are presented on the inclusive photoproduction of λ and λ for incident photon energies between 25 and 70 GeV. The slope parameter of the p T 2 distribution is found to be 2.83±0.1 GeV −2 for λ and 3.28±0.25 GeV −2 for λ . The x F distributions, measured in the range −0.2 to 0.7, show that while λ are produced centrally, λ production extends to more negative values of x F ; the shapes show no energy dependence and are similar to those in pion-induced reactions. The polarization of the produced λ is less than 10%. The results are discussed in terms of vector dominance and quark fusion models.

The reaction γ p → K + K − p has been investigated with tagged photons in the energy range of 20 < E γ < 70 GeV. A structure in the 1.7 GeV mass region is observed and interpreted in terms of a recurrence of the ø.

Measurements of the reaction γ p → p π + π − π + π − are presented, in which π + π − π + π − systems with masses up to 3 GeV are produced from fragmentation of the incident photon. The reaction is dominated by production of the large peak of the ϱ′(1600) meson and, at higher masses ≳2 GeV, y production of jet-like 4 π systems. The ϱ′(1600) meson is produced by a predominantly s -channel helicity conserving mechanism. At higher masses there are also indications of ϱπ peaks, of masses 1.3 GeV (the A 2 meson) and 1.75 GeV, produced with a recoiling π meson by a mechanism consistent with the Deck effect.

Evidence is presented for inclusive photoproduction of F ± mesons in three decay modes, ηπ ± , ηπ ± π + π − and ηπ ± π + π + π − π − . The average mass of the F ± is found to be 2.020±0.010 GeV.

The reaction γ p→K + K − p has been investigated with photons in the energy range of 20< E γ <36 GeV and with K + K − pairs in the mass range of M K + K − <2.0 GeV. The production of the φ(1019) contributes with a cross section σ ( γ p → φ p) × BR( φ →K + K − ) = 240±6 nb with an additional systematic error of ±20 nb. In the higher mass range of 1.05< M K + K − <2.0 GeV the production of K + K − pairs yields a cross section σ ( γ p→K + K − p) = 160±8 nb with an additional systematic error of +40 −30 nb.

A dipion enhancement of mass 1.59 GeV and width 0.23 GeV is observed in the channel γp→π + π − p. The spin-parity of the enhancement is consistent with being 1 − .