At the electron accelerator ELSA a linearly polarised tagged photon beam is produced by coherent bremsstrahlung off a diamond crystal. Orientation and energy range of the linear polarisation can be deliberately chosen by accurate positioning of the crystal with a goniometer. The degree of polarisation is determined by the form of the scattered electron spectrum. Good agreement between experiment and expectations on basis of the experimental conditions is obtained. Polarisation degrees of P = 40% are typically achieved at half of the primary electron energy. The determination of P is confirmed by measuring the beam asymmetry, \Sigma, in pi^0 photoproduction and a comparison of the results to independent measurements using laser backscattering.
Beam asymmetry as a function of the PI0 centre of mass scattering angle.
Beam asymmetry as a function of the PI0 centre of mass scattering angle.
Beam asymmetry as a function of the PI0 centre of mass scattering angle.
Measurements are presented of the recoil-proton polarization for π0 photoproduction angles near 64° in the c.m. system. The steep angular dependence observed by others at lower energies persists to at least 1500 MeV, and the polarization crosses through zero near 63° over the entire 900-1600-MeV energy interval. Summary fits are made to available recoil-proton polarization data, 950-1250 MeV, and are found to require terms of order cos3θ, but no higher.
Axis error includes +- 0.0/0.0 contribution (?////).