arXiv subjects

Y. Ohashi

Publications and source records attributed to Y. Ohashi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Direct measurement of the in-medium $\eta^{\prime}$ mass spectrum through the $\gamma\gamma$ decay channel

We measured the invariant mass of the $\eta^{\prime}(958)$ meson through the $\eta^{\prime}\to\gamma\gamma$ decay channel to search for possible character change of $\eta^{\prime}$ in a nuclear medium. The measured invariant-mass spectra were analyzed by fitting realistic spectral functions. An enhancement was observed in the lower tail of the $\eta^{\prime}$ mass peak for low-momentum ($P_{\gamma\gamma} < 1$~$\mathrm{GeV/c}$) events. Three statistical methods were applied to assess the significance of the enhancement. All methods yield a statistical significance above 3.7$\sigma$. The spectral fitting indicates a mass reduction of $57.5^{+~5.7}_{-27.8}$~$\mathrm{MeV/c}^{2}$. Our result provides the first evidence for an in-medium spectral modification of the $\eta^{\prime}$ meson obtained through a direct measurement of its invariant mass.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Evidence for a $\bar{K}NN$ quasi-bound state in the $\gamma d \to K^0\Lambda p$ reaction

The $\gamma d \to K^{0}\Lambda p$ reaction has been studied to search for a $\bar{K}NN$ quasi-bound state using the LEPS2 solenoid spectrometer at SPring-8. A localized enhancement concentrated at low $q$ is observed in the $(M_{\Lambda p},q)$ distribution below the $K^-pp$ mass threshold, where $M_{\Lambda p}$ is the $\Lambda p$ invariant mass and $q \equiv |\vec{p}_{\gamma}-\vec{p}_{K^{0}}| = |\vec{p}_{\Lambda p}|$ is the momentum transfer. A two-dimensional $(M_{\Lambda p},q)$ fit demonstrates that the enhancement near the threshold is statistically significant, yielding a local significance of $7.3,\sigma$. The enhancement is characterized by effective shape parameters including the Breit--Wigner mass $M$ and width $\Gamma$, and a Gaussian form-factor momentum scale $Q$: $M = 2.354 \pm 0.011(\mathrm{stat.})^{+0.009}_{-0.005}(\mathrm{syst.})~\mathrm{GeV}/c^{2}$, $\Gamma = 0.055 \pm 0.023(\mathrm{stat.})^{+0.031}_{-0.009}(\mathrm{syst.})~\mathrm{GeV}/c^{2}$, and $Q = 0.350 \pm 0.041(\mathrm{stat.})^{+0.035}_{-0.010}(\mathrm{syst.})~\mathrm{GeV}/c$. The obtained results support the existence of a $\bar{K}NN$ quasi-bound state in photoproduction.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Comprehensive measurement of $\eta^\prime$ photoproduction off the proton at $E_\gamma < 2.4$ $\mathrm{GeV}$

For the spectroscopy of nucleon resonances at the total energies from the $\eta^\prime$-meson production threshold to $2.32$ $\mathrm{GeV}$, photon beam asymmetries of the reaction $\gamma p \to \eta^\prime p$ were measured together with total and differential cross sections by analyzing the two decay modes $\eta^\prime \to \gamma \gamma$ and $\pi^0 \pi^0 \eta$. New constraints for amplitude decomposition were given by the first-time result of photon beam asymmetries at $E_\gamma > 1.84$ $\mathrm{GeV}$ and the most precise data of differential cross sections to date at extremely backward $\eta^\prime$ angles. The possibility of a larger coupling constant of the $\eta^\prime$-nucleon system to the $N(2250)$ resonance was implied in the partial wave analyses using the present data.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Prospects for Pentaquark Baryon Search with the Upgraded LEPS2 Facility

We present prospects for the $\Theta^+$ pentaquark baryon search using the newly constructed LEPS2 facility at SPring-8. The LEPS2 detector system features significant improvements in acceptance for multi-particle final states compared to previous experiments. Our search employs two complementary strategies: direct production in the $\gamma n \to K^-\Theta^+$ reaction using a liquid deuterium target with a photon beam up to 2.4 GeV, and $\bar{K}^{*0}$-associated $\Theta^+$ production using a liquid hydrogen target with a photon beam up to 2.9 GeV. The extended acceptance covers both forward and large angle regions, effectively spanning the kinematic regions explored by previous LEPS and CLAS experiments. The large acceptance and improved resolution of LEPS2, combined with these complementary approaches, provide unprecedented sensitivity for establishing the existence of the $\Theta^+$ or placing definitive upper limits on its production.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries of $η$ photoproduction on the proton at $E_γ$ = 1.3-2.4 GeV

We have carried out exclusive measurements for the photoproduction of an $η$ meson from a proton target with an egg-shaped calorimeter made of BGO crystals (BGOegg) and forward charged-particle detectors at the SPring-8 LEPS2 beamline. The differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries of the $γp \to ηp$ reaction are measured in a center-of-mass energy ($W$) range of $1.82$-$2.32$ GeV and a polar angle range of $-1.0 < \cos{θ^η_{\mathrm{c.m.}}} < 0.6$. The reaction is identified by selecting a proton and two $γ$'s produced by an $η$-meson decay. The kinematic fit method was employed to select the reaction candidate with the confidence level larger than $1$\%. A bump structure at $W$ = $2.0$-$2.3$ GeV in the differential cross section is confirmed at extremely backward $η$ polar angles, where the existing data are inconsistent with each other. This bump structure is likely associated with high-spin resonances that couple with $s\bar{s}$ quarks. The results of the photon beam asymmetries in a wide $η$ polar angle range are new for the photon beam energies exceeding $2.1$ GeV. These results are not reproduced by the existing partial wave analyses. They provide an additional constraint to nucleon resonance studies at high energies.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

SPring-8 LEPS2 beamline: A facility to produce a multi-GeV photon beam via laser Compton scattering

We have constructed a new laser-Compton-scattering facility, called the LEPS2 beamline, at the 8-GeV electron storage ring, SPring-8. This facility provides a linearly polarized photon beam in a tagged energy range of 1.3--2.4 GeV. Thanks to a small divergence of the low-emittance storage-ring electrons, the tagged photon beam has a size (sigma) suppressed to about 4 mm even after it travels about 130 m to the experimental building that is independent of the storage ring building and contains large detector systems. This beamline is designed to achieve a photon beam intensity higher than that of the first laser-Compton-scattering beamline at SPring-8 by adopting the simultaneous injection of up to four high-power laser beams and increasing a transmittance for the long photon-beam path up to about 77%. The new beamline is under operation for hadron photoproduction experiments.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2020

Search for $η'$ bound nuclei in the $^{12}{\rm C}(γ,p)$ reaction with simultaneous detection of decay products

We measured missing mass spectrum of the $^{12}{\rm C}(γ,p)$ reaction for the first time in coincidence with potential decay products from $η'$ bound nuclei. We tagged an ($η+p$) pair associated with the $η'N\toηN$ process in a nucleus. After applying kinematical selections to reduce backgrounds, no signal events were observed in the bound-state region. An upper limit of the signal cross section in the opening angle $\cosθ^{ηp}_{lab}<-0.9$ was obtained to be 2.2 nb/sr at the 90$\%$ confidence level. It is compared with theoretical cross sections, whose normalization ambiguity is suppressed by measuring a quasifree $η'$ production rate. Our results indicate a small branching fraction of the $η'N\toηN$ process and/or a shallow $η'$-nucleus potential.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

A compensated multi-gap RPC with 2 m-long strips for the LEPS2 experiment

We have developed multi-gap resistive plate chambers (MRPCs) with 2.5 x 200 cm2 readout strips for the time-of-flight (TOF) detector system of the LEPS2 experiment at SPring-8. These chambers consist of 2 stacks and 5 gas gaps per stack, in a mirrored configuration. A time resolution of sigma ~ 80 ps was achieved for any position within a strip (at above 99% detection efficiency); after performing the time-charge slewing correction, this value could be reduced to 60 ps. A link between the small contribution of the slewing correction to timing and the suppression of modal dispersion in the detector could be established.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Differential cross section and photon-beam asymmetry for the gamma p -> pi- Delta++(1232) reaction at forward pi- angles for Egamma=1.5-2.95 GeV

Differential cross sections and photon-beam asymmetries for the gamma p -> pi- Delta++(1232) reaction have been measured for 0.7<cos(theta)<1 and Egamma=1.5-2.95 GeV at SPring-8/LEPS. The first-ever high statistics cross section data are obtained in this kinematical region, and the asymmetry data for 1.5<Egamma(GeV)<2.8 are obtained for the first time. This reaction has a unique feature for studying the production mechanisms of a pure $u\bar{u}$ quark pair in the final state from the proton. Although there is no distinct peak structure in the cross sections, a non-negligible excess over the theoretical predictions is observed at Egamma=1.5-1.8 GeV. The asymmetries are found to be negative in most of the present kinematical regions, suggesting the dominance of pi-exchange in the t-channel. The negative asymmetries at forward meson production angles are different from the asymmetries previously measured for the photoproduction reactions which produce a $d\bar{d}$ or an $s\bar{s}$ quark pair in the final state. Advanced theoretical models introducing nucleon resonances and additional unnatural parity exchanges are needed to reproduce the present data.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Photoproduction of $Λ$ and $Σ^{0}$ hyperons off protons with linearly polarized photons at $E_γ = 1.5-3.0$ GeV

We report the measurement of the $γp \rightarrow K^{+}Λ$ and $γp \rightarrow K^{+}Σ^{0}$ reactions at SPring-8. The differential cross sections and photon-beam asymmetries are measured at forward $K^{+}$ production angles using linearly polarized tagged-photon beams in the range of $E_γ=1.5$--3.0 GeV. With increasing photon energy, the cross sections for both $γp \rightarrow K^{+}Λ$ and $γp \rightarrow K^{+}Σ^{0}$ reactions decrease slowly. Distinct narrow structures in the production cross section have not been found at $E_γ=1.5$--3.0 GeV. The forward peaking in the angular distributions of cross sections, a characteristic feature of $t$-channel exchange, is observed for the production of $Λ$ in the whole observed energy range. A lack of similar feature for $Σ^{0}$ production reflects a less dominant role of $t$-channel contribution in this channel. The photon-beam asymmetries remain positive for both reactions, suggesting the dominance of $K^{*}$ exchange in the $t$ channel. These asymmetries increase gradually with the photon energy, and have a maximum value of +0.6 for both reactions. Comparison with theoretical predictions based on the Regge trajectory in the $t$ channel and the contributions of nucleon resonances indicates the major role of $t$-channel contributions as well as non-negligible effects of nucleon resonances in accounting for the reaction mechanism of hyperon photoproduction in this photon energy regime.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

First measurement of coherent $ϕ$-meson photoproduction from helium-4 near threshold

The differential cross sections and decay angular distributions for coherent $ϕ$-meson photoproduction from helium-4 have been measured for the first time at forward angles with linearly polarized photons in the energy range $E_γ = \text{1.685-2.385 GeV}$. Thanks to the target with spin-parity $J^{P} = 0^{+}$, unnatural-parity exchanges are prohibited, and thus natural-parity exchanges can be investigated clearly. The decay asymmetry with respect to photon polarization is shown to be very close to the maximal value. This ensures the dominance ($> 94\%$) of natural-parity exchanges in this reaction. To evaluate the contribution from natural-parity exchanges to the forward cross section ($θ= 0^\circ$) for the $γp \rightarrow ϕp$ reaction near the threshold, the energy dependence of the forward cross section ($θ= 0^\circ$) for the $γ{^{4}\text{He}} \rightarrow ϕ{^{4}\text{He}}$ reaction was analyzed. The comparison to $γp \rightarrow ϕp$ data suggests that enhancement of the forward cross section arising from natural-parity exchanges, and/or destructive interference between natural-parity and unnatural-parity exchanges is needed in the $γp \rightarrow ϕp$ reaction near the threshold.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Differential cross section and photon beam asymmetry for the gamma p -> pi+ n reaction at forward pi+ angles at Egamma=1.5-2.95 GeV

Differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries for the gamma p -> pi+ n reaction have been measured for 0.6<cos(theta)<1 and Egamma=1.5-2.95 GeV at SPring-8/LEPS. The cross sections monotonically decrease as the photon beam energy increases for 0.6<cos(theta)<0.9. However, the energy dependence of the cross sections for 0.9<cos(theta)<1 and Egamma=1.5-2.2 GeV (W=1.9-2.2 GeV) is different, which may be due to a nucleon or Delta resonance. The present cross sections agree well with the previous cross sections measured by other groups and show forward peaking, suggesting significant t-channel contributions in this kinematical region. The asymmetries are found to be positive, which can be explained by rho-exchange in the t-channel. Large positive asymmetries in the small |t| region, where the rho-exchange contribution becomes small, could be explained by introducing pi-exchange interference with the s-channel.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

$ϕ$ photoproduction on the proton at $E_γ$ = 1.5 - 2.9 GeV

Differential cross sections at $t=t_{\text{min}}$ and decay asymmetries for the $γp\rightarrowϕp$ reaction have been measured using linearly polarized photons in the range 1.5 to 2.9 GeV. These cross sections were used to determine the Pomeron strength factor. The cross sections and decay asymmetries are consistently described by the $t$-channel Pomeron and pseudoscalar exchange model in the $E_γ$ region above 2.37 GeV. In the lower energy region, an excess over the model prediction is observed in the energy dependence of the differential cross sections at $t=t_{\text{min}}$. This observation suggests that additional processes or interference effects between Pomeron exchange and other processes appear near the threshold region.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Appropriate conditions to realize a $p$-wave superfluid state starting from a spin-orbit coupled $s$-wave superfluid Fermi gas

We theoretically investigate a spin-orbit coupled $s$-wave superfluid Fermi gas, to examine the time evolution of the system, after an $s$-wave pairing interaction is replaced by a $p$-wave one at $t=0$. In our recent paper, we proposed that this manipulation may realize a $p$-wave superfluid Fermi gas, because the $p$-wave pair amplitude that is induced in the $s$-wave superfluid state by a parity-broken antisymmetric spin-orbit interaction gives a non-vanishing $p$-wave superfluid order parameter, immediately after the $p$-wave interaction is turned on. In this paper, using a time-dependent Bogoliubov-de Gennes theory, we assess this idea under various conditions with respect to the $s$-wave and $p$-wave interaction strengths, as well as the spin-orbit coupling strength. From these, we clarify that the momentum distribution of Fermi atoms in the initial $s$-wave state ($t<0$) is a key to produce a large $p$-wave superfluid order parameter. Since the realization of a $p$-wave superfluid state is one of the most exciting and difficult challenges in cold Fermi gas physics, our results may provide a possible way to accomplish this.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2016

A Novel Route to Reach a $p$-wave Superfluid Fermi Gas

We theoretically propose an idea to realize a $p$-wave superfluid Fermi gas. To overcome the experimental difficulty that a $p$-wave pairing interaction to form $p$-wave Cooper pairs damages the system before the condensation growth, we first prepare a $p$-wave pair amplitude ($Φ_{p}$) in a spin-orbit coupled $s$-wave superfluid Fermi gas, without any $p$-wave interaction. Then, by suddenly changing the $s$-wave interaction with a $p$-wave one ($U_{p}$) by using a Feshbach resonance, we reach the $p$-wave superfluid phase with the $p$-wave order parameter being symbolically written as $Δ_{p}\sim U_{p}Φ_{p}$. In this letter, we assess this scenario within the framework of a time-dependent Bogoliubov-de Gennes theory. Our results would contribute to the study toward the realization of unconventional pairing states in an ultracold Fermi gas.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2016

Interference effect between $ϕ$ and $Λ(1520)$ production channels in the $γp \rightarrow K^+K^-p$ reaction near threshold

The $ϕ$-$Λ(1520)$ interference effect in the $γp\to K^+K^-p$ reaction has been measured for the first time in the energy range from 1.673 to 2.173 GeV. The relative phases between $ϕ$ and $Λ(1520)$ production amplitudes were obtained in the kinematic region where the two resonances overlap. The measurement results support strong constructive interference when $K^+K^-$ pairs are observed at forward angles, but destructive interference for proton emission at forward angles. Furthermore, the observed interference effect does not account for the $\sqrt{s}=2.1$ GeV bump structure in forward differential cross sections for $ϕ$ photoproduction. This fact suggests possible exotic structures such as a hidden-strangeness pentaquark state, a new Pomeron exchange and rescattering processes via other hyperon states.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2015

Strong-coupling corrections to spin susceptibility in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a superfluid Fermi gas

We theoretically investigate the uniform spin susceptibility $χ$ in the superfluid phase of an ultracold Fermi gas in the BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC (Bose-Einstein condensation) crossover region. In our previous paper [H. Tajima, {\it et. al.}, Phys. Rev. A {\bf 89}, 033617 (2014)], including pairing fluctuations within an extended $T$-matrix approximation (ETMA), we showed that strong pairing fluctuations cause the so-called spin-gap phenomenon, where $χ$ is anomalously suppressed even in the normal state near the superfluid phase transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$. In this paper, we extend this work to the superfluid phase below $T_{\rm c}$, to clarify how this many-body phenomenon is affected by the superfluid order. From the comparison of the ETMA $χ$ with the Yosida function describing the spin susceptibility in a weak-coupling BCS superfluid, we identify the region where pairing fluctuations crucially affect this magnetic quantity below $T_{\rm c}$ in the phase diagram with respect to the strength of a pairing interaction and the temperature. This spin-gap regime is found to be consistent with the previous pseudogap regime determined from the pseudogapped density of states. We also compare our results with a recent experiment on a $^6$Li Fermi gas. Since the spin susceptibility is sensitive to the formation of spin-singlet preformed pairs, our results would be useful for the study of pseudogap physics in an ultracold Fermi gas on the viewpoint of the spin degrees of freedom.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2015

Rashbon bound states associated with a spherical spin-orbit coupling in an ultracold Fermi gas with an $s$-wave interaction

We investigate the formation of rashbon bound states and strong-coupling effects in an ultracold Fermi gas with a spherical spin-orbit interaction, $H_{\rm so}=λ{\bf p}\cdot{\bf σ}$ (where ${\bf σ}=(σ_x,σ_y,σ_z)$ are Pauli matrices). Extending the strong-coupling theory developed by Nozières and Schmitt-Rink (NSR) to include this spin-orbit coupling, we determine the superfluid phase transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$, as functions of the strength of a pairing interaction $U_s$, as well as the spin-orbit coupling strength $λ$. Evaluating poles of the NSR particle-particle scattering matrix describing fluctuations in the Cooper channel, we clarify the region where rashbon bound states dominate the superfluid phase transition in the $U_{s}$-$λ$ phase diagram. Since the antisymmetric spin-orbit interaction $H_{\rm so}$ breaks the inversion symmetry of the system, rashbon bound states naturally have, not only a spin-singlet and even-parity symmetry, but also a spin-triplet and odd-parity symmetry. Thus, our results would be also useful for the study of this parity mixing effect in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a spin-orbit coupled Fermi gas.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗