Exclusive production of the isoscalar vector mesons $\omega$ and $\phi$ is measured with a 190 GeV$/c$ proton beam impinging on a liquid hydrogen target. Cross section ratios are determined in three intervals of the Feynman variable $x_{F}$ of the fast proton. A significant violation of the OZI rule is found, confirming earlier findings. Its kinematic dependence on $x_{F}$ and on the invariant mass $M_{p\mathrm{V}}$ of the system formed by fast proton $p_\mathrm{fast}$ and vector meson $V$ is discussed in terms of diffractive production of $p_\mathrm{fast}V$ resonances in competition with central production. The measurement of the spin density matrix element $\rho_{00}$ of the vector mesons in different selected reference frames provides another handle to distinguish the contributions of these two major reaction types. Again, dependences of the alignment on $x_{F}$ and on $M_{p\mathrm{V}}$ are found. Most of the observations can be traced back to the existence of several excited baryon states contributing to $\omega$ production which are absent in the case of the $\phi$ meson. Removing the low-mass $M_{p\mathrm{V}}$ resonant region, the OZI rule is found to be violated by a factor of eight, independently of $x_\mathrm{F}$.
Differential cross section ratio R(PHI/OMEGA) and corresponding OZI violation factors F(OZI). R(PHI/OMEGA) is multiplied by 100 to improve readability.
Differential cross section ratio R(PHI/OMEGA) and corresponding OZI violation factors F(OZI) for different cuts on the vector meson momentum P(V). R(PHI/OMEGA) is multiplied by 100 to improve readability.
Spin alignment RHO(00) extracted from the helicity angle distributions for PHI and OMEGA production, in the latter case with various cuts on P(V). The uncertainty is the propagated uncertainty from the linear fits, which in turn includes the quadratic sum of statistical uncertainties and uncertainties from the background subtraction.
The LEPS/SPring-8 experiment made a comprehensive measurement of the spin-density matrix elements for $\gamma p \to \phi p$, $\gamma d \to \phi p n$ and $\gamma d \to \phi d$ at forward production angles. A linearly polarized photon beam at $E_{\gamma}$=1.6-2.4 GeV was used for the production of $\phi$ mesons. The natural-parity Pomeron exchange processes remains dominant nearthreshold. The unnatural-parity processes of pseudoscalar exchange is visible in the production from nucleons but is greatly reduced in the coherent production from deuterons. There is no strong $E_{\gamma}$-dependence, but some dependence on momentum-transfer. A small but finite value of the spin-density matrix elements reflecting helicity-nonconserving amplitudes in the $t$-channel is observed.
Measurements of the spin density matrix element RHO(JJ=0,MM=00) for the GAMMA P --> PHI P reaction in the helicity system as a function of T-Tmin for 3 incident photon energy regions.
Measurements of the spin density matrix element RE(RHO(JJ=0,MM=10)) for the GAMMA P --> PHI P reaction in the helicity system as a function of T-Tmin for 3 incident photon energy regions.
Measurements of the spin density matrix element RHO(JJ=0,MM=1-1) for the GAMMA P --> PHI P reaction in the helicity system as a function of T-Tmin for 3 incident photon energy regions.
Differential cross sections and decay asymmetries for coherent $\phi$-meson photoproduction from deuterons were measured for the first time at forward angles by linearly polarized photons at $E_{\gamma}$= 1.5-2.4 GeV. With the elimination of isovector unnatural-parity $\pi$-meson exchange in the interaction with isoscalar deuteron target, this reaction is expected to explore natural-parity Pomeron dynamics at low energies. Our measurements show that the cross sections at zero degrees increase steadily with photon energy and the decay asymmetries demonstrate a complete dominance of natural-parity exchange processes. Nevertheless the deduced cross sections of $\phi$-mesons from nucleons contributed by isoscalar t-channel exchange processes are mostly underpredicted by conventional Pomeron model.
Differential cross section DSIG/DT for photon energy 1.57 to 1.67 GeV.
Differential cross section DSIG/DT for photon energy 1.67 to 1.77 GeV.
Differential cross section DSIG/DT for photon energy 1.77 to 1.87 GeV.
Photoproduction of $\phi$-meson on protons was studied by means of linearly polarized photons at forward angles in the low-energy region from threshold to $E_{\gamma}$= 2.37 GeV. The differential cross sections at $t = -|t|_{min}$ do not increase smoothly as $E_{\gamma}$ increases, but show a local maximum at around 2.0 GeV. The angular distributions demonstrate that $\phi$-mesons are photo-produced predominantly by helicity-conserving processes, and the local maximum is not likely due to unnatural-parity processes.
Differential cross section as a function of T+ABS(TMIN) in the photon energy range 1.57 to 1.67 GeV.
Differential cross section as a function of T+ABS(TMIN) in the photon energy range 1.67 to 1.77 GeV.
Differential cross section as a function of T+ABS(TMIN) in the photon energy range 1.77 to 1.87 GeV.
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