Tatsuma D. Matsuda

Evidence for the Θ+ in the γd→K+K-pn reaction by detecting K+K- pairs

The gamma d to K^+K^-pn reaction has been studied to search for the evidence of the Theta^+ by detecting K^+K^- pairs at forward angles. The Fermi-motion corrected nK^+ invariant mass distribution shows a narrow peak at 1.524 +- 0.002 + 0.003 GeV/c^2. The statistical significance of the peak calculated from a shape analysis is 5.1 sigma, and the differential cross-section for the gamma n to K^- Theta^+ reaction is estimated to be 12 +- 2 nb/sr in the photon energy range from 2.0 GeV to 2.4 GeV in the LEPS angular range by assuming the isotropic production of the Theta^+ in the gamma n center-of-mass system. The obtained results support the existence of the Theta^+.

Measurement of spin-density matrix elements for φ-meson photoproduction from protons and deuterons near threshold

The LEPS/SPring-8 experiment made a comprehensive measurement of the spin-density matrix elements for gammap->phip, gammad->phipn, and gammad->phid at forward production angles. A linearly polarized photon beam at E{sub g}amma=1.6-2.4 GeV was used for the production of phi mesons. The natural-parity Pomeron exchange processes remain dominant near threshold. The unnatural-parity processes of pseudoscalar exchange is visible in the production from the nucleons but is greatly reduced in the coherent production from deuterons. There is no strong E{sub g}amma dependence, but there is some dependence on momentum transfer. A small but finite value of the spin-density matrix elements reflecting helicity-nonconserving amplitudes in the t-channel is observed.

Near-threshold photoproduction of Lambda(1520) from protons and deuterons

Photoproduction of Lambda(1520) with liquid hydrogen and deuterium targets was examined at photon energies below 2.4 GeV in the SPring-8 LEPS experiment. For the first time, the differential cross sections were measured at low energies and with a deuterium target. A large asymmetry of the production cross sections from protons and neutrons was observed at backward K+/0 angles. This suggests the importance of the contact term, which coexists with t-channel K exchange under gauge invariance. This interpretation was compatible with the differential cross sections, decay asymmetry, and photon beam asymmetry measured in the production from protons at forward K+ angles.

Backward-angle η photoproduction from protons at Eγ=1.6-2.4

Differential cross sections for {eta} photoproduction from protons have been measured at E{sub {gamma}}=1.6-2.4 GeV in the backward direction. A bump structure has been observed above 2.0 GeV in the total energy. No such bump is observed in {eta}{sup },{omega}, and {pi}{sup 0} photoproductions. It is inferred that this unique structure in {eta} photoproduction is due to a baryon resonance with a large ss component that is strongly coupled to the {eta}N channel.