arXiv subjects

D. G. Ireland

Publications and source records attributed to D. G. Ireland.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Beam Asymmetry $\mathbfΣ$ for the Photoproduction of $\mathbfη$ and $\mathbf{η^{\prime}}$ Mesons at $\mathbf{E_γ=8.8}$GeV

We report on the measurement of the beam asymmetry $Σ$ for the reactions $\vecγp\rightarrow pη$ and $\vecγp \rightarrow pη^{\prime}$ from the GlueX experiment, using an 8.2--8.8 GeV linearly polarized tagged photon beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. These measurements are made as a function of momentum transfer $-t$, with significantly higher statistical precision than our earlier $η$ measurements, and are the first measurements of $η^{\prime}$ in this energy range. We compare the results to theoretical predictions based on $t$--channel quasi-particle exchange. We also compare the ratio of $Σ_η$ to $Σ_{η^{\prime}}$ to these models, as this ratio is predicted to be sensitive to the amount of $s\bar{s}$ exchange in the production. We find that photoproduction of both $η$ and $η^{\prime}$ is dominated by natural parity exchange with little dependence on $-t$.

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arXiv2019

Kaon Photoproduction and the $Λ$ Decay Parameter $α_-$

The weak decay parameter $α_-$ of the $Λ$ is an important quantity for the extraction of polarization observables in various experiments. Moreover, in combination with $α_+$ from $\barΛ$ decay it provides a measure for matter-antimatter asymmetry. The weak decay parameter also affects the decay parameters of the $Ξ$ and $Ω$ baryons and, in general, any quantity in which the polarization of the $Λ$ is relevant. The recently reported value by the BESIII collaboration of $0.750(9)(4)$ is significantly larger than the previous PDG value of $0.642(13)$ that had been accepted and used for over 40 years. In this work we make an independent estimate of $α_-$, using an extensive set of polarization data measured in kaon photoproduction in the baryon resonance region and constraints set by spin algebra. The obtained value is 0.721(6)(5). The result is corroborated by multiple statistical tests as well as a modern phenomenological model, showing that our new value yields the best description of the data in question. Our analysis supports the new BESIII finding that $α_-$ is significantly larger than the previous PDG value. Any experimental quantity relying on the value of $α_-$ should therefore be re-considered.

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arXiv2019

First measurement of near-threshold J/$ψ$ exclusive photoproduction off the proton

We report on the measurement of the $γp \rightarrow J/ψp$ cross section from $E_γ= 11.8$ GeV down to the threshold at $8.2$ GeV using a tagged photon beam with the GlueX experiment. We find the total cross section falls toward the threshold less steeply than expected from two-gluon exchange models. The differential cross section $dσ/dt$ has an exponential slope of $1.67 \pm 0.39$ GeV$^{-2}$ at $10.7$ GeV average energy. The LHCb pentaquark candidates $P_c^+$ can be produced in the $s$-channel of this reaction. We see no evidence for them and set model-dependent upper limits on their branching fractions $\mathcal{B}(P_c^+ \rightarrow J/ψp)$ and cross sections $σ(γp \to P_c^+)\times\mathcal{B}(P_c^+ \to J/ψp) $.

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arXiv2019

Exploring the Structure of the Bound Proton with Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering

In the past two decades, deeply virtual Compton scattering of electrons has been successfully used to advance our knowledge of the partonic structure of the free proton and investigate correlations between the transverse position and the longitudinal momentum of quarks inside the nucleon. Meanwhile, the structure of bound nucleons in nuclei has been studied in inclusive deep-inelastic lepton scattering experiments off nuclear targets, showing a significant difference in longitudinal momentum distribution of quarks inside the bound nucleon, known as the EMC effect. In this work, we report the first beam spin asymmetry (BSA) measurement of exclusive deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) off a proton bound in $^4$He. The data used here were accumulated using a $6$ GeV longitudinally polarized electron beam incident on a pressurized $^4$He gaseous target placed within the CLAS spectrometer in Hall-B at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The azimuthal angle ($ϕ$) dependence of the BSA was studied in a wide range of virtual photon and scattered proton kinematics. The $Q^2$, $x_B$, and t dependencies of the BSA on the bound proton are compared with those on the free proton. In the whole kinematical region of our measurements, the BSA on the bound proton is smaller by 20\% to 40\%, indicating possible medium modification of its partonic structure.

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arXiv2019

First Measurements of the Double-Polarization Observables $F$, $P$, and $H$ in $ω$ Photoproduction off Transversely Polarized Protons in the $N^\ast$ Resonance Region

First measurements of double-polarization observables in $ω$ photoproduction off the proton are presented using transverse target polarization and data from the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) FROST experiment at Jefferson Lab. The beam-target asymmetry $F$ has been measured using circularly polarized, tagged photons in the energy range 1200 - 2700 MeV, and the beam-target asymmetries $H$ and $P$ have been measured using linearly polarized tagged photons in the energy range 1200 - 2000 MeV. These measurements significantly increase the database on polarization observables. The results are included in two partial-wave analyses and reveal significant contributions from several nucleon ($N^\ast$) resonances. In particular, contributions from new $N^\ast$ resonances listed in the Review of Particle Properties are observed, which aid in reaching the goal of mapping out the nucleon resonance spectrum.

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arXiv2018

First results on nucleon resonance photocouplings from the $γp \to π^+π^-p$ reaction

We report the first experimental measurements of the nine 1-fold differential cross sections for the $γp \to π^+π^-p$ reaction, obtained with the CLAS detector at Jefferson Laboratory. The measurements cover the invariant mass range of the final state hadrons from 1.6~GeV~$<W<$~2.0~GeV. For the first time the photocouplings of all prominent nucleon resonances in this mass range have been extracted from this exclusive channel. Photoproduction of two charged pions is of particular importance for the evaluation of the photocouplings for the $Δ(1620)1/2^-$, $Δ(1700)3/2^-$, $N(1720)3/2^+$, and $Δ(1905)5/2^+$ resonances, which have dominant decays into the $ππN$ final states rather than the more extensively studied single meson decay channels.

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arXiv2018

Beam-Target Helicity Asymmetry $E$ in $K^{0}Λ$ and $K^{0}Σ^0$ Photoproduction on the Neutron

We report the first measurements of the $E$ beam-target helicity asymmetry for the $\vecγ \vec{n} \to K^{0}Λ$, and $K^{0}Σ^{0}$ channels in the energy range 1.70$\leq W\leq$2.34 GeV. The CLAS system at Jefferson Lab uses a circularly polarized photon beam and a target consisting of longitudinally polarized solid molecular hydrogen deuteride with low background contamination for the measurements. The multivariate analysis method boosted decision trees was used to isolate the reactions of interest. Comparisons with predictions from the KaonMAID, SAID, and Bonn-Gatchina models are presented. These results will help separate the isospin $I=0$ and $I=1$ photo-coupling transition amplitudes in pseudoscalar meson photoproduction.

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arXiv2018

Measurement of the beam asymmetry $Σ$ and the target asymmetry $T$ in the photoproduction of $ω$ mesons off the proton using CLAS at Jefferson Laboratory

The photoproduction of $ω$ mesons off the proton has been studied in the reaction $γp\to p\,ω$ using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) and the frozen-spin target (FROST) in Hall B at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. For the first time, the target asymmetry, $T$, has been measured in photoproduction from the decay $ω\toπ^+π^-π^0$, using a transversely-polarized target with energies ranging from just above the reaction threshold up to 2.8 GeV. Significant non-zero values are observed for these asymmetries, reaching about 30-40% in the third-resonance region. New measurements for the photon-beam asymmetry, $Σ$, are also presented, which agree well with previous CLAS results and extend the world database up to 2.1 GeV. These data and additional $ω$-photoproduction observables from CLAS were included in a partial-wave analysis within the Bonn-Gatchina framework. Significant contributions from $s$-channel resonance production were found in addition to $t$-channel exchange processes.

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arXiv2018

Semi-Inclusive $π_0$ target and beam-target asymmetries from 6 GeV electron scattering with CLAS

We present precision measurements of the target and beam-target spin asymmetries from neutral pion electroproduction in deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at Jefferson Lab. We scattered 6-GeV, longitudinally polarized electrons off longitudinally polarized protons in a cryogenic $^{14}$NH$_3$ target, and extracted double and single target spin asymmetries for $ep\rightarrow e^\primeπ^0X$ in multidimensional bins in four-momentum transfer ($1.0<Q^2<3.2$ GeV$^2$), Bjorken-$x$ ($0.12<x<0.48$), hadron energy fraction ($0.4<z<0.7$), transverse pion momentum ($0<P_T<1.0$ GeV), and azimuthal angle $ϕ_h$ between the lepton scattering and hadron production planes. We extracted asymmetries as a function of both $x$ and $P_T$, which provide access to transverse-momentum distributions of longitudinally polarized quarks. The double spin asymmetries depend weakly on $P_T$. The $\sin 2ϕ_h$ moments are zero within uncertainties, which is consistent with the expected suppression of the Collins fragmentation function. The observed $\sinϕ_h$ moments suggest that quark gluon correlations are significant at large $x$.

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arXiv2018

Measurement of the helicity asymmetry $E$ in $ω\toπ^+π^-π^0$ photoproduction

The double-polarization observable $E$ was studied for the reaction $γp\to pω$ using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) in Hall B at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility and the longitudinally-polarized frozen-spin target (FROST). The observable was measured from the charged decay mode of the meson, $ω\toπ^+π^-π^0$, using a circularly-polarized tagged-photon beam with energies ranging from the $ω$ threshold at 1.1 to 2.3 GeV. A partial-wave analysis within the Bonn-Gatchina framework found dominant contributions from the $3/2^+$ partial wave near threshold, which is identified with the sub-threshold $N(1720)\,3/2^+$ nucleon resonance. To describe the entire data set, which consisted of $ω$ differential cross sections and a large variety of polarization observables, further contributions from other nucleon resonances were found to be necessary. With respect to non-resonant mechanisms, $π$ exchange in the $t$-channel was found to remain small across the analyzed energy range, while pomeron $t$-channel exchange gradually grew from the reaction threshold to dominate all other contributions above $W \approx 2$ GeV.

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arXiv2017

Strong evidence for nucleon resonances near 1900\,MeV

Data on the reaction $γp\to K^+Λ$ from the CLAS experiments are used to derive the leading multipoles, $E_{0+}$, $M_{1-}$, $E_{1+}$, and $M_{1+}$, from the production threshold to 2180\,MeV in 24 slices of the invariant mass. The four multipoles are determined without any constraints. The multipoles are fitted using a multichannel $L+P$ model which allows us to search for singularities and to extract the positions of poles on the complex energy plane in an almost model-independent method. The multipoles are also used as additional constraints in an energy-dependent analysis of a large body of pion and photo-induced reactions within the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa) partial wave analysis. The study confirms the existence of poles due to nucleon resonances with spin-parity $J^P = 1/2^-; 1/2^+$, and $3/2^+$ in the region at about 1.9\,GeV.

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arXiv2017

$N^*$ resonances from $KΛ$ amplitudes in sliced bins in energy

The two reactions $γp\to K^+Λ$ and $π^-p\to K^0Λ$ are analyzed to determine the leading photoproduction multipoles and the pion-induced partial wave amplitudes in slices of the invariant mass. The multipoles and the partial-wave amplitudes are simultaneously fitted in a multichannel Laurent+Pietarinen model (L+P model), which determines the poles in the complex energy plane on the second Riemann sheet close to the physical axes. The results from the L+P fit are compared with the results of an energy-dependent fit based on the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa) approach. The study confirms the existence of several poles due to nucleon resonances in the region at about 1.9\,GeV with quantum numbers $J^P = 1/2^+$, $3/2^+, 1/2^-, 3/2^-, 5/2^-$.

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arXiv2017

Double $K_S^0$ Photoproduction off the Proton at CLAS

The $f_0$(1500) meson resonance is one of several contenders to have significant mixing with the lightest glueball. This resonance is well established from several previous experiments. Here we present the first photoproduction data for the $f_0$(1500) via decay into the $K_S^0 K_S^0$ channel using the CLAS detector. The reaction $γp$ -> $f_0 p$ -> $K_S^0 K_S^0 p$, where J = 0, 2, was measured with photon energies from 2.7 to 5.1 GeV. A clear peak is seen at 1500 MeV in the background subtracted invariant mass spectra of the two kaons. This is enhanced if the measured 4-momentum transfer to the proton target is restricted to be less than 1.0 GeV2. By comparing data with simulations, it can be concluded that the peak at 1500 MeV is produced primarily at low t, which is consistent with a t-channel production mechanism.

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arXiv2017

Differential Cross Section Measurements for $γn\toπ^-p$ Above the First Nucleon Resonance Region

The quasi-free $γd\toπ^{-}p(p)$ differential cross section has been measured with CLAS at photon beam energies $E_γ$ from 0.445 GeV to 2.510 GeV (corresponding to $W$ from 1.311 GeV to 2.366 GeV) for pion center-of-mass angles $\cosθ_π^{c.m.}$ from -0.72 to 0.92. A correction for final state interactions has been applied to this data to extract the $γn\toπ^-p$ differential cross sections. These cross sections are quoted in 8428 $(E_γ,\cosθ_π^{c.m.})$ bins, a factor of nearly three increase in the world statistics for this channel in this kinematic range. These new data help to constrain coupled-channel analysis fits used to disentangle the spectrum of $N^*$ resonances and extract their properties. Selected photon decay amplitudes $N^* \to γn$ at the resonance poles are determined for the first time and are reported here.

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arXiv2017

First Exclusive Measurement of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering off $^4$He: Toward the 3D Tomography of Nuclei

We report on the first measurement of the beam-spin asymmetry in the exclusive process of coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering off a nucleus. The experiment used the 6 GeV electron beam from the CEBAF accelerator at Jefferson Lab incident on a pressurized $^4$He gaseous target placed in front of the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). The scattered electron was detected by CLAS and the photon by a dedicated electromagnetic calorimeter at forward angles. To ensure the exclusivity of the process, a specially designed radial time projection chamber was used to detect the recoiling $^4$He nuclei. We measured beam-spin asymmetries larger than those observed on the free proton in the same kinematic domain. From these, we were able to extract, in a model-independent way, the real and imaginary parts of the only $^4$He Compton form factor, $\cal H_A$. This first measurement of coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering on the $^4$He nucleus, with a fully exclusive final state via nuclear recoil tagging, leads the way toward 3D imaging of the partonic structure of nuclei.

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arXiv2017

Measurement of two-photon exchange effect by comparing elastic $e^\pm p$ cross sections

[Background] The electromagnetic form factors of the proton measured by unpolarized and polarized electron scattering experiments show a significant disagreement that grows with the squared four momentum transfer ($Q^{2}$). Calculations have shown that the two measurements can be largely reconciled by accounting for the contributions of two-photon exchange (TPE). TPE effects are not typically included in the standard set of radiative corrections since theoretical calculations of the TPE effects are highly model dependent, and, until recently, no direct evidence of significant TPE effects has been observed. [Purpose] We measured the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic-scattering cross sections in order to determine the TPE contribution to elastic electron-proton scattering and thereby resolve the proton electric form factor discrepancy. [Methods] We produced a mixed simultaneous electron-positron beam in Jefferson Lab's Hall B by passing the 5.6 GeV primary electron beam through a radiator to produce a bremsstrahlung photon beam and then passing the photon beam through a convertor to produce electron/positron pairs. The mixed electron-positron (lepton) beam with useful energies from approximately 0.85 to 3.5 GeV then struck a 30-cm long liquid hydrogen (LH$_2$) target located within the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). By detecting both the scattered leptons and the recoiling protons we identified and reconstructed elastic scattering events and determined the incident lepton energy. A detailed description of the experiment is presented.

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arXiv2017

Photon beam asymmetry $Σ$ in the reaction $\vecγ p \to p ω$ for $E_γ$ = 1.152 to 1.876 GeV

Photon beam asymmetry $Σ$ measurements for $ω$ photoproduction in the reaction $\vecγ p \to ωp$ are reported for photon energies from 1.152 to 1.876 GeV. Data were taken using a linearly-polarized tagged photon beam, a cryogenic hydrogen target, and the CLAS spectrometer in Hall B at Jefferson Lab. The measurements obtained markedly increase the size of the database for this observable, extend coverage to higher energies, and resolve discrepancies in previously published data. Comparisons of these new results with predictions from a chiral-quark-based model and from a dynamical coupled-channels model indicate the importance of interferences between $t$-channel meson exchange and $s$- and $u$-channel contributions, underscoring sensitivity to the nucleon resonances included in those descriptions. Comparisons with the Bonn-Gatchina partial-wave analysis indicate the $Σ$ data reported here help to fix the magnitudes of the interference terms between the leading amplitudes in that calculation (Pomeron exchange and the resonant portion of the $J^P=3/2^+$ partial wave), as well as the resonant portions of the smaller partial waves with $J^P$= $1/2^-$, $3/2^-$, and $5/2^+$.

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arXiv2017

Measurement of the beam asymmetry $Σ$ for $π^0$ and $η$ photoproduction on the proton at $E_γ= 9$ GeV

We report measurements of the photon beam asymmetry $Σ$ for the reactions $\vecγp\to pπ^0$ and $\vecγp\to pη$ from the GlueX experiment using a 9 GeV linearly-polarized, tagged photon beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target in Jefferson Lab's Hall D. The asymmetries, measured as a function of the proton momentum transfer, possess greater precision than previous $π^0$ measurements and are the first $η$ measurements in this energy regime. The results are compared with theoretical predictions based on $t$-channel, quasi-particle exchange and constrain the axial-vector component of the neutral meson production mechanism in these models.

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