Asymmetry inπ+Photoproduction from a Polarized Target at 5 and 16 GeV

Abstract

The authors have measured the asymmetry in the cross section for the reaction {gamma}p {yields} {pi}{sup +}n between the two stages of polarization of the initial proton normal to the plane of scattering. The initial laboratory photon energies, k, were 5 GeV and 16 GeV, and the regions of momentum transfer, t, covered were 0.14 {le} {radical}-t {le} 1.01 GeV/c and 0.14 {le} {radical}-t {le} 0.78 GeV/c respectively. A butanol polarized target was used with the SLAC 20 GeV/c magnetic spectrometer. The data show a sizeable asymmetry at both 5 GeV and 16 GeV. The 16 GeV data peak at {radical}-t {approx} 0.30 GeV/c with an asymmetry of about -0.70, and the 5 GeV data pak at {radical}-t {approx} 0.80 GeV/c with an asymmetry of about -0.70. The direction of our normal to the scattering plane is along (photon in) x (pion out).