Double-spin asymmetries in the cross section of electroproduction of $\rho^0$ and $\phi$ mesons on the proton and deuteron are measured at the HERMES experiment. The photoabsorption asymmetry in exclusive $\rho^0$ electroproduction on the proton exhibits a positive tendency. This is consistent with theoretical predictions that the exchange of an object with unnatural parity contributes to exclusive $\rho^0$ electroproduction by transverse photons. The photoabsorption asymmetry on the deuteron is found to be consistent with zero. Double-spin asymmetries in $\rho^0$ and $\phi $ meson electroproduction by quasi-real photons were also found to be consistent with zero: the asymmetry in the case of the $\phi$ meson is compatible with a theoretical prediction which involves $s\bar{s}$ knockout from the nucleon.
The photoabsorption asymmetry A1 for exclusive RHO0 production.
The photoabsorption asymmetry A1 for exclusive PHI electroproduction.
The photoabsorption asymmetry A1 for electroproduction of RHO0 mesons by quasi-real photons.
Elastic and proton-dissociative rho0 photoproduction (gamma p-->rho0 p,gamma p -->rho0 N,with rho0-->pi+pi-) has been studied in ep interactions at HERA for gamma-p centre-of-mass energies in the range 50<W<100 GeV and for |t|<0.5 GeV2; the results on the p-dissociative reaction are presented for masses of the dissociated proton system in the range MN^2<0.1W^2.For the elastic process,the pi+pi- invariant mass spectrum has been investigated as a function of t. As in fixed target experiments, the rho0 resonance shape is asymmetric;this asymmetry decreases with increasing |t|.The cross section has been studied as a function of W; a fit to the resonant part with the form W^a gives a=0.16\pm0.06(stat.) +0.11-0.15(syst.). The resonant part of the gamma p-->pi+pi- p cross section is 11.2\pm 0.1(stat.)+1.1-1.2 (syst.) mub at <W>=71.7 GeV. The t dependence of the cross section can be described by a function of the type Ae^(-b|t|+ct^2) with b=10.9\pm0.3(stat.)+1.0-0.5(syst.)GeV-2 and c=2.7\pm0.9(stat.)+1.9-1.7(syst.) GeV-4. The t dependence has also been studied as a function of W and a value of the slope of the pomeron trajectory 0.23\pm0.15(stat.)+0.10-0.07(syst.)GeV-2 has been deduced. The rho spin density matrix elements r^04_00,r^04_1-1 and Re[r^04_10] have been measured and found to be consistent with expectations based on SCHC. For p-dissociative pi+pi- photoproduction in the rho0 mass range, the distributions of the two-pion invariant mass, W and the polar and azimuthal angles of the pions in the helicity frame are the same within errors as those for the elastic process. The t distribution has been fitted to an exponential function with a slope parameter 5.8\pm0.3(stat.)\pm0.5(syst.)GeV-2. The ratio of the elastic to p-dissociative rho0 photoproduction cross section is 2.0\pm0.2(stat.)\pm0.7(syst.).
Integrated elastic rho0 photoproduction cross section.
Integrated elastic pi+ pi- photoproduction cross section.
Differential T distribution. Statistical errors only.