Forward coherent $\ddot{I}•$-meson photoproduction from deuterons near threshold

Abstract

Differential cross sections and decay asymmetries for coherent $\ddot{I}•$-meson photoproduction from deuterons were measured for the first time at forward angles using linearly polarized photons at $E_{\hat{I}}^3$= 1.5-2.4 GeV. This reaction offers a unique way to directly access natural-parity Pomeron dynamics and gluon exchange at low energies. The cross sections at zero degrees increase with increasing photon energy. The decay asymmetries demonstrate a complete dominance of natural-parity exchange processes, showing that isovector unnatural-parity $\ddot{I}€$-meson exchange is small. Nevertheless the deduced cross sections of $\ddot{I}•$-mesons from nucleons contributed by isoscalar t-channel exchange processes are not well described by the conventional Pomeron model.

14 pages, 6 figures. Final published version