Diffractive photoproduction of rho mesons with large momentum transfer at HERA.

The H1 collaboration Aktas, A. ; Andreev, V. ; Anthonis, T. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 638 (2006) 422-431, 2006.
Inspire Record 712738 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.45698

The diffractive photoproduction of rho mesons, e p \to e rho Y, with large momentum transfer squared at the proton vertex, |t|, is studied with the H1 detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 20.1 pb^{-1}. The photon-proton centre of mass energy spans the range 75 < W < 95 GeV, the photon virtuality is restricted to Q^2 < 0.01 GeV^2 and the mass M_Y of the proton remnant is below 5 GeV. The t dependence of the cross section is measured for the range 1.5 < |t| < 10.0 GeV^2 and is well described by a power law, dsigma/ d|t| \propto |t|^{-n}. The spin density matrix elements, which provide information on the helicity structure of the interaction, are extracted using measurements of angular distributions of the rho decay products. The data indicate a violation of s-channel helicity conservation, with contributions from both single and double helicity-flip being observed. The results are compared to the predictions of perturbative QCD models.

5 data tables

The normalized differential cross section as a function of T.

Normalised decay angular distribution w.r.t. the polar angle THETA.

Normalised decay angular distribution w.r.t. the polar angle THETA.

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Double-spin asymmetries in the cross section of rho0 and Phi production at intermediate energies.

The HERMES collaboration Airapetian, A. ; Akopov, N. ; Akopov, Z. ; et al.
Eur.Phys.J.C 29 (2003) 171-179, 2003.
Inspire Record 613068 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.46493

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.

7 data tables

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.

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A measurement of the t dependence of the helicity structure of diffractive rho meson electroproduction at HERA.

The H1 collaboration Adloff, C. ; Andreev, V. ; Andrieu, B. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 539 (2002) 25-39, 2002.
Inspire Record 584099 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.46666

The helicity structure of the diffractive electroproduction of rho mesons, e + p -> e + rho + Y, is studied in a previously unexplored region of large four-momentum transfer squared at the proton vertex, t: 0 < t' < 3 GeV^2, where t' = |t| - |t|_min. The data used are collected with the H1 detector at HERA in the kinematic domain 2.5 < Q^2 < 60 GeV^2, 40 < W < 120 GeV. No t dependence of the r^04_00 spin density matrix element is found. A significant t dependent helicity non-conservation from the virtual photon to the rho meson is observed for the spin density matrix element combinations r^5_00+2r^5_11 and r^1_00+2r^1_11. These t dependences are consistently described by a perturbative QCD model based on the exchange of two gluons.

1 data table

Measurements of the combinations of spin density matrices as a function of TP = |T| - |Tmin|, where |Tmin| is the minimal values of |T| kinematically required for the vector meson and the system X to aquire their effective mass through longitudinal momentum transfer.