We report the first measurement of the differential cross section on $\phi$-meson photoproduction from deuterium near the production threshold for a proton using the CLAS detector and a tagged-photon beam in Hall B at Jefferson Lab. The measurement was carried out by a triple coincidence detection of a proton, $K^+$ and $K^-$ near the theoretical production threshold of 1.57 GeV. The extracted differential cross sections $\frac{d\sigma}{dt}$ for the initial photon energy from 1.65-1.75 GeV are consistent with predictions based on a quasifree mechanism. This experiment establishes a baseline for a future experimental search for an exotic $\phi$-N bound state from heavier nuclear targets utilizing subthreshold/near-threshold production of $\phi$ mesons.
Differential cross section as a function of ABS(T-TMIN).
We report measurements of differential cross sections and decay asymmetries of incoherent $\phi$-meson photoproduction from the deuteron at forward angles using linearly polarized photons at \Eg=1.5-2.4 GeV. The nuclear transparency ratio for the deuteron shows a large suppression, and is consistent with the A-dependence of the ratio observed in a previous measurement with nuclear targets. The reduction for the deuteron cannot be adequately explained in term of isospin asymmetry. The present results suggest the need of refining our understanding of the $\phi$-N interaction within a nucleus.
Distribution of DSIG/DT from incoherent reaction GAMMA DEUT --> PHI P N for the incident photon energy ranges 1.57 to 1.67 and 1.67 to 1.77 GeV.
Distribution of DSIG/DT from incoherent reaction GAMMA DEUT --> PHI P N for the incident photon energy ranges 1.77 to 1.87 and 1.87 to 1.97 GeV.
Distribution of DSIG/DT from incoherent reaction GAMMA DEUT --> PHI P N for the incident photon energy ranges 1.97 to 2.07 and 2.07 to 2.17 GeV.