T. Eden

Measurements of Deuteron Photodisintegration up to 4.0 GeV

The first measurements of the differential cross section for the d(γ,p)n reaction up to 4.0 GeV were performed at the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Thomas Jefferson Laboratory. We report the cross sections at the proton center-of-mass angles of 36°, 52°, 69°, and 89°. These results are in reasonable agreement with previous measurements at lower energy. The 89° and 69° data show constituent-counting-rule behavior up to 4.0 GeV photon energy. The 52° and 36° data disagree with the counting-rule behavior. The quantum chromodynamics (QCD) model of nuclear reactions involving reduced amplitudes disagrees with the present data.

Electroproduction of kaons on light nuclei

The A(e,e{prime}K{sup +})YX reaction on H, D, {sup 3}He, and {sup 4}He was investigated in Hall C at CEBAF. Data were obtained for Q{sup 2} {approx} 0.35 and 0.5 GeV{sup 2} at 3.245 GeV. The missing mass spectra for both H and D are fitted with Monte-Carlo simulations incorporating peaks corresponding to {Lambda} production on the proton and {Sigma} production on both the proton and neutron. For D, the cross section ratio {Sigma}{sup 0}/{Sigma}{sup {minus}} {approx} 2, and excess yield close to the thresholds for {Lambda} and {Sigma} production can be attributed to final-state interactions that are compared to the data. The analysis of the data for the He targets is in a more preliminary state with broader quasi-free peaks resulting from the higher Fermi momenta. Evidence for bound {Lambda}-hypernuclear states is seen and other structure may be present.

Separated response function ratios in exclusive, forward π(±) electroproduction.

The study of exclusive π(±) electroproduction on the nucleon, including separation of the various structure functions, is of interest for a number of reasons. The ratio RL=σL(π-)/σL(π+) is sensitive to isoscalar contamination to the dominant isovector pion exchange amplitude, which is the basis for the determination of the charged pion form factor from electroproduction data. A change in the value of RT=σT(π-)/σT(π+) from unity at small -t, to 1/4 at large -t, would suggest a transition from coupling to a (virtual) pion to coupling to individual quarks. Furthermore, the mentioned ratios may show an earlier approach to perturbative QCD than the individual cross sections. We have performed the first complete separation of the four unpolarized electromagnetic structure functions above the dominant resonances in forward, exclusive π(±) electroproduction on the deuteron 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. Here, we present the L and T cross sections, with emphasis on RL and RT, and compare them with theoretical calculations. Results for the separated ratio RL indicate dominance of the pion-pole diagram at low -t, while results for RT are consistent with a transition between pion knockout and quark knockout mechanisms.

Separated response functions in exclusive, forward π± electroproduction on deuterium

Background: Measurements of forward exclusive meson production at different squared four-momenta of the exchanged virtual photon, Q2, and at different four-momentum transfer, t, can be used to probe QCDs 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 π- and π+ 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. Purpose: We perform the first complete separation of the four unpolarized electromagnetic structure functions L/T/LT/TT in forward, exclusive π± electroproduction on deuterium above the dominant resonances. Method: Data were acquired with 2.6-5.2-GeV electron beams and the HMS+SOS spectrometers in Jefferson Lab Hall C at central Q2 values of 0.6, 1.0, and 1.6 GeV2 at W=1.95 GeV, and Q2=2.45 GeV2 at W=2.22 GeV. There was significant coverage in φ and e, which allowed separation of σL,T,LT,TT. Results: σL shows a clear signature of the pion pole, with a sharp rise at small -t. In contrast, σT is much flatter versus t. The longitudinal/transverse ratios evolve with Q2 and t and at the highest Q2=2.45 GeV2 show a slight enhancement for π- production compared to π+. The π-/π+ ratio for transverse photons exhibits only a small Q2 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 σTT/σT ratio also drops rapidly with Q2, qualitatively consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. The π-/π+ 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. Conclusions: The separated cross sections are compared to a variety of theoretical models, which generally describe σL but have varying success with σT. Further theoretical input is required to provide a more profound insight into the relevant reaction mechanisms for longitudinal and transverse photons, such as whether the observed transverse ratio is indeed attributable to a transition from pion to quark knockout mechanisms and provide useful information regarding the twist-3 transversity generalized parton distribution, HT.

Electroproduction of strangeness on (Lambda)H-3,4 bound states on helium

The A(e,e′K+)X reaction has been investigated at Jefferson Laboratory. Data were taken for Q2 ≈ 0.35 GeV2 at a beam energy of 3.245 GeV for 1H,3He and 4He targets. Evidence for Λ‐hypernuclear bound states is seen for 3,4He targets. This is the first time that the electroproduction of these hypernuclei has been observed.

Electroproduction of strangeness on Λ3,4H bound states on Helium

The A(e,e′K+)X reaction has been investigated at Jefferson Laboratory. Data were taken for Q2 ≈ 0.35 GeV2 at a beam energy of 3.245 GeV for 1H,3He and 4He targets. Evidence for Λ‐hypernuclear bound states is seen for 3,4He targets. This is the first time that the electroproduction of these hypernuclei has been observed.

ELECTROPRODUCTION OF STRANGENESS ON LIGHT NUCLEI

The A(e,e{prime} K{sup +})YX reaction has been investigated in Hall C at Jefferson Laboratory for 6 different targets. Data were taken for Q{sup 2} {approx} 0.35 and 0.5 GeV{sup 2} at a beam energy of 3.245 GeV for {sup 1}H, {sup 2}H, {sup 3}He, {sup 4}He, C and Al targets. The missing mass spectra are fitted with Monte Carlo simulations taking into account the production of {Lambda} and {Sigma}{sup 0} hyperon production off the proton, and {Sigma}{sup -} off the neutron. Models for quasifree production are compared to the data, excess yields close to threshold are attributed to FSI. Evidence for {Lambda}-hypernuclear bound states is seen for {sup 3,4}He targets.

Longitudinal and Transverse Cross Sections in the 1H(e,e′K+)Λ Reaction

U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (Netherlands), Korean Science and Engineering Foundation

Associated Λ production at Jefferson lab

Abstract The 1 H(e, e′K + )Λ and 1 H(e,e′K + )Σ 0 reactions were studied as a function of the squared four-momentum-transfer, Q 2 , and the virtual photon polarization, e, thus enabling the separation of the longitudinal and transverse parts of the cross section. The existence of a sizable longitudinal component for the 1 H(e,e′K + )Λ reaction seems to be indicated by these data.

Proton propagation through nuclei and the quasi-free reaction mechanism studied with (e,e′p)reactions

Jefferson Lab experiment E91-013 measured the energy dependence of proton propagation in nuclei, using the quasi-free (e, e{prime}p) reaction. The ratios of the experimental (e, e{prime}p) cross-sections integrated over the quasi-free region to PWIA calculations are presented as a function of momentum transfer, (0.6 < Q{sup 2} < 3.3 GeV{sup 2}) and target nucleus (C, Fe and Au). As a first step towards a longitudinal and transverse separation of the quasi-free cross-section, a super ratio of the measured to the calculated cross-sections at forward and backward angles is presented.