The exclusive reaction $\gamma p \to p \pi^+ \pi^-$ was studied in the photon energy range 3.0 - 3.8 GeV and momentum transfer range $0.4<-t<1.0$ GeV$^2$. Data were collected with the CLAS detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. In this kinematic range the integrated luminosity was about 20 pb$^{-1}$. The reaction was isolated by detecting the $\pi^+$ and proton in CLAS, and reconstructing the $\pi^-$ via the missing-mass technique. Moments of the di-pion decay angular distributions were derived from the experimental data. Differential cross sections for the $S$, $P$, and $D$-waves in the $M_{\pi^+\pi^-}$ mass range $0.4-1.4$ GeV were derived performing a partial wave expansion of the extracted moments. Besides the dominant contribution of the $\rho(770)$ meson in the $P$-wave, evidence for the $f_0(980)$ and the $f_2(1270)$ mesons was found in the $S$ and $D$-waves, respectively. The differential production cross sections $d\sigma/dt$ for individual waves in the mass range of the above-mentioned mesons were extracted. This is the first time the $f_0(980)$ has been measured in a photoproduction experiment.
Moments YLM(LM=00) of the di-pion angular distribution for -T.
Moments YLM(LM=00) of the di-pion angular distribution for -T.
Moments YLM(LM=00) of the di-pion angular distribution for -T.
The differential cross section, $d\sigma/dt$ for $\omega$ meson exclusive photoproduction on the proton above the resonance region ($2.6
Differential cross section in the energy region 3.20 to 3.38 GeV.
Differential cross section in the energy region 3.38 to 3.56 GeV.
Differential cross section in the energy region 3.56 to 3.74 GeV.