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.
New results on quasi-free $\eta$ photoproduction on the neutron and proton bound in a deuteron target are presented. The $\gamma n \to \eta n$ quasi-free cross section reveals a bump-like structure which is not seen in the cross section on the proton. This structure may signal the existence of a relatively narrow ($M\sim 1.68$ GeV, $\Gamma \leq 30$ MeV) baryon state.
Quasi free differential cross section for the reaction GAMMA N --> ETA N at COS(THETA(CM)) from -0.9 to -0.5.
Quasi free differential cross section for the reaction GAMMA N --> ETA N at COS(THETA(CM)) from -0.3 to 0.1.
Quasi free differential cross section for the reaction GAMMA N --> ETA N at COS(THETA(CM)) from 0.1 to 0.5.
Total and differential cross sections for the reaction p(gamma, eta)p have been measured for photon energies in the range from 750 MeV to 3 GeV. The low-energy data are dominated by the S11 wave which has two poles in the energy region below 2 GeV. Eleven nucleon resonances are observed in their decay into p eta. At medium energies we find evidence for a new resonance N(2070)D15 with (mass, width) = (2068+-22, 295+-40) MeV. At photon energies above 1.5 GeV, a strong peak in forward direction develops, signalling the exchange of vector mesons in the t channel.
Total cross section determined by summing the angular bins and extrapolating outside the angular range of the experiment.
Differential cross section as a function of c.m. angle for the photon energy range 750 to 950 GeV.
Differential cross section as a function of c.m. angle for the photon energy range 950 to 1150 GeV.