S-channel Helicity Conservation Research Articles

Spin density matrix elements in exclusive ρ0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\rho ^0$$\\end{document} meson muoproduction

We report on a measurement of Spin Density Matrix Elements (SDMEs) in hard exclusive ρ0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\rho ^0$$\\end{document} meson muoproduction at COMPASS using 160 GeV/c polarised μ+\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mu ^{+}$$\\end{document} and μ-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mu ^{-}$$\\end{document} beams impinging on a liquid hydrogen target. The measurement covers the kinematic range 5.0 GeV/c2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$c^2$$\\end{document}<W<\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$< W<$$\\end{document} 17.0 GeV/c2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$c^2$$\\end{document}, 1.0 (GeV/c)2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^2$$\\end{document}<Q2<\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$< Q^2<$$\\end{document} 10.0 (GeV/c)2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^2$$\\end{document} and 0.01 (GeV/c)2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^2$$\\end{document}<pT2<\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$< p_{\ extrm{T}}^2<$$\\end{document} 0.5 (GeV/c)2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^2$$\\end{document}. Here, W denotes the mass of the final hadronic system, Q2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Q^2$$\\end{document} the virtuality of the exchanged photon, and pT\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$p_{\ extrm{T}}$$\\end{document} the transverse momentum of the ρ0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\rho ^0$$\\end{document} meson with respect to the virtual-photon direction. The measured non-zero SDMEs for the transitions of transversely polarised virtual photons to longitudinally polarised vector mesons (γT∗→VL\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma ^*_T \\rightarrow V^{ }_L$$\\end{document}) indicate a violation of s-channel helicity conservation. Additionally, we observe a dominant contribution of natural-parity-exchange transitions and a very small contribution of unnatural-parity-exchange transitions, which is compatible with zero within experimental uncertainties. The results provide important input for modelling Generalised Parton Distributions (GPDs). In particular, they may allow one to evaluate in a model-dependent way the role of parton helicity-flip GPDs in exclusive ρ0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\rho ^0$$\\end{document} production.

Spin Density Matrix Elements for Exclusive $\rho^{0}$ Meson Muoproduction at COMPASS

Spin density matrix elements were extracted from COMPASS data for exclusive \rho^{0}ρ0 meson muoproduction on a liquid hydrogen target. The measurement cover the kinematic range of 1.0 (GeV/cc)^22&lt; Q^{2} &lt;&lt;Q2&lt; 10.0 (GeV/cc)^22, 5.0 GeV/c^2c2&lt; W &lt;&lt;W&lt; 17.0 GeV/c^2c2 and 0.01 (GeV/cc)^22&lt;p^{2}_{T}&lt;&lt;pT2&lt; 0.5 (GeV/cc)^22. Here, WW denotes the mass of the final hadronic system, Q^{2}Q2 the virtuality of the exchanged photon and p_{T}pT the transverse momentum of the \rho^{0}ρ0 meson with respect to the virtual-photon direction. We observe a violation of s-channel helicity conservation for the transition \gamma^{*}_{T} \to \rho^{0}_{L}γT*→ρL0. Additionally, we find a dominant contribution of the natural-parity-exchange transitions.

Hard exclusive meson production in muon scattering at COMPASS

We report on measurements of hard exclusive muoproduction of ρ0, ω and π0 mesons on the proton at COMPASS using 160 GeV/c polarized μ+ and μ− beams scattering off a liquid hydrogen target. The extracted Spin Density Matrix Elements for vector mesons indicate a violation of s-channel helicity conservation for transitions of transversely polarized virtual photons to longitudinally polarized vector mesons, γT → VL, where V denotes ρ0 or ω meson. Additionally, for ρ0 production we observe a dominant contribution of natural-parity-exchange transitions and a small contribution of unnaturalparity-exchange transitions. On the contrary, the contribution of unnaturalparity-exchange for ω production is significant and it decreases with increasing W, being still non-negligible at the largest W values accessible at COMPASS. Further, we present also the absolute value of the differential cross section for exclusive π0 production and its dependence on squared four-momentum transfer t and azimuthal angle ø between the scattering plane and π0 production plane. The results provide an important input for modeling Generalized Parton Distribution (GPDs), and in particular to constrain chiral-odd (transversity) GPDs.

Spin density matrix elements in exclusive omega meson muoproduction

We report on a measurement of Spin Density Matrix Elements (SDMEs) in hard exclusive omega meson muoproduction on the proton at COMPASS using 160 GeV/c polarised mu ^{+} and mu ^{-} beams impinging on a liquid hydrogen target. The measurement covers the range 5.0 GeV/c^2< W< 17.0 GeV/c^2, with the average kinematics langle Q^{2} rangle = 2.1 (GeV/c)^2, langle W rangle = 7.6 GeV/c^2, and langle p^{2}_{mathrm{T}} rangle = 0.16 (GeV/c)^2. Here, Q^2 denotes the virtuality of the exchanged photon, W the mass of the final hadronic system and p_T the transverse momentum of the omega meson with respect to the virtual-photon direction. The measured non-zero SDMEs for the transitions of transversely polarised virtual photons to longitudinally polarised vector mesons (gamma ^*_T rightarrow V_L) indicate a violation of s-channel helicity conservation. Additionally, we observe a sizeable contribution of unnatural-parity-exchange (UPE) transitions that decreases with increasing W. The results provide important input for modelling Generalised Parton Distributions (GPDs). In particular, they may allow to evaluate in a model-dependent way the contribution of UPE transitions and assess the role of parton helicity-flip GPDs in exclusive omega production.

Spin structure of exclusive ω muoproduction at COMPASS

Spin Density Matrix Elements (SDMEs) are determined for exclusive ω meson production on unpolarized protons, in the COMPASS kinematic region of 1.0 (GeV/c)2 < Q2 < 10.0 (GeV/c)2, 5.0 GeV/c2 < W < 17.0 GeV/c2 and . Using extracted the preliminary SDMEs values the hypothesis of S-Channel Helicity Conservation (SCHC) is studied. Certain matrix elements that correspond to the transition indicate violation of SCHC in exclusive ω production. A sizable contribution of unnatural parity exchange amplitudes is found for exclusive ω meson muoproduction, and there is a clear indication of its decrease with increasing W. The extracted longitudinal-to-transverse cross section ratio is 0.553 ± 0.044 ± 0.020.

Study of spin-density matrix in exclusive electroproduction of ω meson at HERMES

Exclusive electroproduction of ω mesons on unpolarized hydrogen and deuterium targets is studied in the kinematic region of Q2 > 1.0 GeV2, 3.0 GeV < W < 6.3 GeV, and −t' < 0.2 GeV2. The data were accumulated with the HERMES forward spectrometer during the 1996-2007 running period using the 27.6 GeV longitudinally polarized electron or positron beam of HERA. Spin-density matrix elements are presented in projections of Q2 or −t'. Violation of s-channel helicity conservation is observed for some of these elements. A sizable contribution from unnatural-parity-exchange amplitudes is established for special combinations of spin-density matrix elements. The determination of the virtual-photon longitudinal-to- transverse cross-section ratio reveals that a dominant part of the cross section arises from transversely polarized photons. Good agreement is found between the HERMES proton data and results of a pQCD-inspired Goloskokov-Kroll model that includes pion-pole contributions.

Spin Density Matrix Elements in Exclusive Production of Omega Mesons at HERMES

Exclusive electroproduction of [Formula: see text] mesons on unpolarized hydrogen and deuterium targets is studied at HERMES in the kinematic region of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]. The data were accumulated during the 1996-2007 running period using the [Formula: see text] longitudinally polarized electron or positron beams at HERA. The determination of the virtual-photon longitudinal-to-transverse cross-section ratio shows that a considerable part of the cross section arises from transversely polarized photons. Spin density matrix elements are derived and presented in projections of [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. Violation of s-channel helicity conservation is observed for some of these elements. A sizable contribution from unnatural-parity-exchange amplitudes is found and the phase shift between those amplitudes that describe transverse [Formula: see text] production by longitudinal and transverse virtual photons is determined for the first time. Good agreement is found between the HERMES proton data and results of a pQCD-inspired phenomenological model that includes pion-pole contributions.

Separated response functions in exclusive, forwardπ±electroproduction on deuterium

Background: Measurements of forward exclusive meson production at different squared four-momenta of the exchanged virtual photon, $Q^2$, and at different four-momentum transfer, t, can be used to probe QCD's transition from meson-nucleon degrees of freedom at long distances to quark-gluon degrees of freedom at short scales. Ratios of separated response functions in $\pi^-$ and $\pi^+$ electroproduction are particularly informative. The ratio for transverse photons may allow this transition to be more easily observed, while the ratio for longitudinal photons provides a crucial verification of the assumed pole dominance, needed for reliable extraction of the pion form factor from electroproduction data. Method: Data were acquired with 2.6-5.2 GeV electron beams and the HMS+SOS spectrometers in Jefferson Lab Hall C, at central $Q^2$ values of 0.6, 1.0, 1.6 GeV$^2$ at W=1.95 GeV, and $Q^2$=2.45 GeV$^2$ at W=2.22 GeV. There was significant coverage in $\phi$ and $\epsilon$, which allowed separation of $\sigma_{L,T,LT,TT}$. Results: $\sigma_L$ shows a clear signature of the pion pole, with a sharp rise at small -t. In contrast, $\sigma_T$ is much flatter versus t. The longitudinal/transverse ratios evolve with $Q^2$ and t, and at the highest $Q^2$=2.45 GeV$^2$ show a slight enhancement for $\pi^-$ production compared to $\pi^+$. The $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratio for transverse photons exhibits only a small $Q^2$-dependence, following a nearly universal curve with t, with a steep transition to a value of about 0.25, consistent with s-channel quark knockout. The $\sigma_{TT}/\sigma_T$ ratio also drops rapidly with $Q^2$, qualitatively consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. The $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratio for longitudinal photons indicates a small isoscalar contamination at W=1.95 GeV, consistent with what was observed in our earlier determination of the pion form factor at these kinematics.

Spin density matrix elements in exclusive $$\omega $$ ω electroproduction on $$^1$$ 1 H and $$^2$$ 2 H targets at 27.5 GeV beam energy

Spin Density Matrix Elements (SDMEs) describing the angular distribution of exclusive ρ 0 electroproduction and decay are determined in the HERMES experiment with 27.6 GeV beam energy and unpolarized hydrogen and deuterium targets. Eight (fifteen) SDMEs that are related (unrelated) to the longitudinal polarization of the beam are extracted in the kinematic region 1<Q 2<7 GeV2, 3.0<W<6.3 GeV, and −t<0.4 GeV2. Within the given experimental uncertainties, a hierarchy of relative sizes of helicity amplitudes is observed. Kinematic dependences of all SDMEs on Q 2 and t are presented, as well as the longitudinal-to-transverse ρ 0 electroproduction cross-section ratio as a function of Q 2. A small but statistically significant deviation from the hypothesis of s-channel helicity conservation is observed. An indication is seen of a contribution of unnatural-parity-exchange amplitudes; these amplitudes are naturally generated with a quark-exchange mechanism.

Spin density matrix elements in exclusive ρ 0 electroproduction on 1H and 2H targets at 27.5 GeV beam energy

Spin Density Matrix Elements (SDMEs) describing the angular distribution of exclusive ρ0 electroproduction and decay are determined in the HERMES experiment with 27.6 GeV beam energy and unpolarized hydrogen and deuterium targets. Eight (fifteen) SDMEs that are related (unrelated) to the longitudinal polarization of the beam are extracted in the kinematic region 1<Q2<7 GeV2, 3.0<W<6.3 GeV, and −t<0.4 GeV2. Within the given experimental uncertainties, a hierarchy of relative sizes of helicity amplitudes is observed. Kinematic dependences of all SDMEs on Q2 and t are presented, as well as the longitudinal-to-transverse ρ0 electroproduction cross-section ratio as a function of Q2. A small but statistically significant deviation from the hypothesis of s-channel helicity conservation is observed. An indication is seen of a contribution of unnatural-parity-exchange amplitudes; these amplitudes are naturally generated with a quark-exchange mechanism.

Exclusive [formula omitted] electroproduction on transversely polarized protons

The exclusive electroproduction of ρ0 mesons was studied with the hermes spectrometer at the Desy laboratory by scattering 27.6 GeV positron and electron beams off a transversely polarized hydrogen target. Spin density matrix elements for this process were determined from the measured production- and decay-angle distributions of the produced ρ0 mesons. These matrix elements embody information on helicity transfer and the validity of s-channel helicity conservation in the case of a transversely polarized target. From the spin density matrix elements, the leading-twist term in the single-spin asymmetry was calculated separately for longitudinally and transversely polarized ρ0 mesons. Neglecting s-channel helicity changing matrix elements, results for the former can be compared to calculations based on generalized parton distributions, which are sensitive to the contribution of the total angular momentum of the quarks to the proton spin.

Photoproduction in Ultra-Peripheral Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions with STAR

We present a summary of recent photoproduction results in ultra peripheral relativistic heavy ions collisions with STAR. These collisions have impact parameters larger then twice the nuclear radius; the nuclei do not physically collide, but interact via long-range electromagnetic fields. We observe exclusive $\rho^0$ production as well as $AuAu\to Au^*Au^* \rho^0$ with accompanying mutual nuclear excitation at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. We report the $\rho^0$ production cross section for both coherent and incoherent coupling accompanied by mutual nuclear excitation. We have studied the cross section as a function of $p_T$, $y_{\rho^0}$ and $M_{\pi\pi}$ and compared it to theoretical models. In addition, we measured the $\rho^0$ helicity matrix elements. They are found to be consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. The ratio of coherent $\rho^0$ and direct $\pi^+\pi^-$ pair photoproduction has been measured and found to be consistent with earlier measurements. The 4-pion final state $AuAu \to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$ state has also been observed.

Electroproduction ofϕ(1020)mesons at1.4⩽Q2⩽3.8GeV2measured with the CLAS spectrometer

Electroproduction of exclusive $\phi$ vector mesons has been studied with the CLAS detector in the kinematical range $1.4\leq Q^2\leq 3.8$ GeV$^{2}$, $0.0\leq t^{\prime}\leq 3.6$ GeV$^{2}$, and $2.0\leq W\leq 3.0$ GeV. The scaling exponent for the total cross section as $1/(Q^2+M_{\phi}^2)^n$ was determined to be $n=2.49\pm 0.33$. The slope of the four-momentum transfer $t'$ distribution is $b_{\phi}=0.98 \pm 0.17$ GeV$^{-2}$. Under the assumption of s-channel helicity conservation (SCHC), we determine the ratio of longitudinal to transverse cross sections to be $R=0.86 \pm 0.24$. A 2-gluon exchange model is able to reproduce the main features of the data.

ρ0photoproduction in ultraperipheral relativistic heavy ion collisions atsNN=200GeV

Photoproduction reactions occur when the electromagnetic field of a relativistic heavy ion interacts with another heavy ion. The STAR Collaboration presents a measurement of rho(0) and direct pi(+)pi(-) photoproduction in ultraperipheral relativistic heavy ion collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. We observe both exclusive photoproduction and photoproduction accompanied by mutual Coulomb excitation. We find a coherent cross section of sigma(AuAu -> Au*Au*rho(0)) = 530 +/- 19(stat.) +/- 57(syst.) mb, in accord with theoretical calculations based on a Glauber approach, but considerably below the predictions of a color dipole model. The rho 0 transverse momentum spectrum (p(T)(2)) is fit by a double exponential curve including both coherent and incoherent coupling to the target nucleus; we find sigma(inc)/sigma(coh) = 0.29 +/- 0.03 (stat.) +/- 0.08 (syst.). The ratio of direct pi(+)pi(-) to rho(0) production is comparable to that observed in gamma(p) collisions at HERA and appears to be independent of photon energy. Finally, the measured rho(0) spin helicity matrix elements agree within errors with the expected s-channel helicity conservation.

Elastic J/ψ production at HERA

Cross sections for elastic production of J/Psi mesons in photoproduction and electroproduction are measured in electron proton collisions at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 55 pb^{-1}. Results are presented for photon virtualities Q^2 up to 80 GeV^2. The dependence on the photon-proton centre of mass energy W_{gamma p} is analysed in the range 40 < \Wgp < 305 GeV in photoproduction and 40 < \Wgp < 160 GeV in electroproduction. The \Wgp dependences of the cross sections do not change significantly with Q^2 and can be described by models based on perturbative QCD. Within such models, the data show a high sensitivity to the gluon density of the proton in the domain of low Bjorken x and low Q^2. Differential cross sections d\sigma/dt, where t is the squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex, are measured in the range |t|<1.2 GeV^2 as functions of \Wgp and Q^2. Effective Pomeron trajectories are determined for photoproduction and electroproduction. The J/Psi production and decay angular distributions are consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. The ratio of the cross sections for longitudinally and transversely polarised photons is measured as a function of Q^2 and is found to be described by perturbative QCD based models.

Photoproduction of ρmesons and Δ-baryons in the reaction γp → pπ+π- at energies up to $ \sqrt{{s}}$ = 2.6 GeV

The photoproduction of ρ0-mesons and Δ-baryons at photon energies up to 2.6 GeV has been studied with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher ELSA. Total and differential cross-sections were obtained. The decay angular distributions of ρ0-mesons show that s-channel helicity conservation, which is valid at high photon energies, is broken near threshold. The energy dependencies of the decay angular distributions in the helicity system as well as in the Gottfried-Jackson system hint at small s- or u-channel resonance contributions. For the reactions γp → Δ{++}π- and γp → Δ0π+ new data on cross-sections are presented.

Exclusive electroproduction of J/ ψ mesons at HERA

The exclusive electroproduction of J/ ψ mesons, ep→ epJ/ ψ, has been studied with the ZEUS detector at HERA for virtualities of the exchanged photon in the ranges 0.15<Q 2<0.8 GeV 2 and 2<Q 2<100 GeV 2 using integrated luminosities of 69 and 83 pb −1 , respectively. The photon–proton centre-of-mass energy was in the range 30<W<220 GeV and the squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex |t|<1 GeV 2 . The cross sections and decay angular distributions are presented as functions of Q 2, W and t. The effective parameters of the pomeron trajectory are in agreement with those found in J/ ψ photoproduction. The spin-density matrix elements, calculated from the decay angular distributions, are consistent with the hypothesis of s-channel helicity conservation. The ratio of the longitudinal to transverse cross sections, σ L / σ T , grows with Q 2, whilst no dependence on W or t is observed. The results are in agreement with perturbative QCD calculations and exhibit a strong sensitivity to the gluon distribution in the proton.

Tensor polarization of theϕmeson photoproduced at hight

As part of a measurement of the cross section of $\phi$ meson photoproduction to high momentum transfer, we measured the polar angular decay distribution of the outgoing $K^+$ in the channel $\phi \to K^+K^-$ in the $\phi$ center-of-mass frame (the helicity frame). We find that s-channel helicity conservation (SCHC) holds in the kinematical range where $t$-channel exchange dominates (up to $-t \sim 2.5$ GeV$^2$ for $E_{\gamma}$=3.6 GeV). Above this momentum, $u$-channel production of a $\phi$ meson dominates and induces a violation of SCHC. The deduced value of the $\phi NN$ coupling constant lies in the upper range of previously reported values.

Diffractive photoproduction of J/ψ mesons with large momentum transfer at HERA

The diffractive photoproduction of J/ψ mesons is measured with the H1 detector at the ep collider HERA using an integrated luminosity of 78 pb−1. The differential cross section dσ(γp→J/ψY)/dt is studied in the range 2<|t|<30 GeV2, where t is the square of the four-momentum transferred at the proton vertex. The cross section is also presented as a function of the photon–proton centre-of-mass energy Wγp in three t intervals, spanning the range 50<Wγp<200 GeV. A fast rise of the cross section with Wγp is observed for each t range and the slope for the effective linear Pomeron trajectory is measured to be α′=−0.0135±0.0074(stat.)±0.0051(syst.) GeV−2. The measurements are compared with perturbative QCD models based on BFKL and DGLAP evolution. The data are found to be compatible with s-channel helicity conservation.

Diffractive photoproduction of ρ mesons with large momentum transfer at HERA

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.