Search

The Compton double-polarization observable \ud Σ\ud 2\ud z\ud has been measured for the first time in the \ud Δ\ud (\ud 1232\ud )\ud resonance region using a circularly polarized photon beam incident on a longitudinally polarized proton target at the Mainz Microtron. This paper reports these results, together with the model-dependent extraction of four proton spin polarizabilities from fits to additional asymmetry data using either a dispersion relation calculation or a baryon chiral perturbation theory calculations with the weighted average of these two fits resulting in \ud γ\ud E\ud 1\ud E\ud 1\ud =\ud −\ud 2.87\ud ±\ud 0.52\ud ,\ud \ud γ\ud M\ud 1\ud M\ud 1\ud =\ud 2.70\ud ±\ud 0.43\ud ,\ud \ud γ\ud E\ud 1\ud M\ud 2\ud =\ud −\ud 0.85\ud ±\ud 0.72\ud , and \ud γ\ud M\ud 1\ud E\ud 2\ud =\ud 2.04\ud ±\ud 0.43\ud , in units of \ud 10\ud −\ud 4\ud fm\ud 4\ud .

Excitation-energy spectra of $^{11}\mathrm{C}$ nuclei near the ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$-meson production threshold have been measured by missing-mass spectroscopy using the $^{12}\mathrm{C}(p,d)$ reaction. A carbon target has been irradiated with a 2.5 GeV proton beam supplied by the synchrotron SIS-18 at GSI to produce ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$-meson bound states in $^{11}\mathrm{C}$ nuclei. Deuterons emitted at ${0}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ in the reaction have been momentum analyzed by the fragment separator (FRS), used as a high-resolution spectrometer. No distinct structure due to the formation of ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$-mesic states is observed although a high statistical sensitivity is achieved in the experimental spectra. Upper limits on the formation cross sections of ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$-mesic states are determined, and thereby a constraint imposed on the ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$-nucleus interaction is discussed.

Precise helicity-dependent cross sections and the double-polarization observable E were measured for η photoproduction from quasifree protons and neutrons bound in the deuteron. The η→2γ and η→3π0→6γ decay modes were used to optimize the statistical quality of the data and to estimate systematic uncertainties. The measurement used the A2 detector setup at the tagged photon beam of the electron accelerator MAMI in Mainz. A longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target was used in combination with a circularly polarized photon beam from bremsstrahlung of a longitudinally polarized electron beam. The reaction products were detected with the electromagnetic calorimeters Crystal Ball and TAPS, which covered 98% of the full solid angle. The results show that the narrow structure observed earlier in the unpolarized excitation function of η photoproduction off the neutron appears only in reactions with antiparallel photon and nucleon spin (σ1/2). It is absent for reactions with parallel spin orientation (σ3/2) and thus very probably related to partial waves with total spin 1/2. The behavior of the angular distributions of the helicity-dependent cross sections was analyzed by fitting them withLegendre polynomials. The results are in good agreement with a model from the Bonn-Gatchina group, which uses an interference of P11 and S11 partial waves to explain the narrow structure.

In a search for $\omega$ mesic states, the production of $\omega$-mesons in coincidence with forward going protons has been studied in photon induced reactions on $^{12}$C for incident photon energies of 1250 - 3100 MeV. The $\pi^0 \gamma$ pairs from decays of bound or quasi-free $\omega$-mesons have been measured with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system in coincidence with protons registered in the MiniTAPS forward array. Structures in the total energy distribution of the $\pi^0 \gamma$ pairs, which would indicate the population and decay of bound $\omega~^{11}$B states, are not observed. The $\pi^0 \gamma$ cross section of 0.3 nb/MeV/sr observed in the bound state energy regime between -100 and 0 MeV may be accounted for by yield leaking into the bound state regime because of the large in-medium width of the $\omega$-meson. A comparison of the measured total energy distribution with calculations suggests the real part $V_0$ of the $\omega~^{11}$B potential to be small and only weakly attractive with $V_0(\rho=\rho_0) = -15\pm$ 35(stat) $\pm$20(syst) MeV in contrast to some theoretical predictions of attractive potentials with a depth of 100 - 150 MeV., Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures

The excitation function and momentum distribution of $\eta^\prime$ mesons have been measured in photon induced reactions on $^{12}{}$C in the energy range of 1250-2600 MeV. The experiment was performed with tagged photon beams from the ELSA electron accelerator using the Crystal Barrel and TAPS detectors. The data are compared to model calculations to extract information on the sign and magnitude of the real part of the $\eta^\prime$-nucleus potential. Within the model, the comparison indicates an attractive potential of -($37 \pm 10(stat)\pm10(syst)$) MeV depth at normal nuclear matter density. Since the modulus of this depth is larger than the modulus of the imaginary part of the $\eta^\prime$-nucleus potential of -($10\pm2.5$) MeV, determined by transparency ratio measurements, a search for resolved $\eta^\prime$-bound states appears promising., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures

Excitation spectra of ^{11}C are measured in the ^{12}C(p,d) reaction near the η^{'} emission threshold. A proton beam extracted from the synchrotron SIS-18 at GSI with an incident energy of 2.5 GeV impinges on a carbon target. The momenta of deuterons emitted at 0° are precisely measured with the fragment separator (FRS) operated as a spectrometer. In contrast to theoretical predictions on the possible existence of deeply bound η^{'}-mesic states in carbon nuclei, no distinct structures are observed associated with the formation of bound states. The spectra are analyzed to set stringent constraints on the formation cross section and on the hitherto barely known η^{'}-nucleus interaction.

The excitation function and momentum distribution of {\eta}' mesons have been measured in photoproduction off 93^Nb in the energy range of 1.2-2.9 GeV. The experiment has been performed with the combined Crystal Barrel and MiniTAPS detector system, using tagged photon beams from the ELSA electron accelerator. Information on the sign and magnitude of the real part of the {\eta}'-Nb potential has been extracted from a comparison of the data with model calculations. An attractive potential of -(41 \pm 10(stat) \pm 15(syst)) MeV depth at normal nuclear matter density is deduced within model uncertainties. This value is consistent with the potential depth of -(37 \pm 10(stat) \pm 10(syst)) MeV obtained in an earlier measurement for a light nucleus (carbon). This relatively shallow {\eta}'-nucleus potential will make the search for {\eta}'-nucleus bound states more difficult., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

The photoproduction of η ′ -mesons off different nuclei has been measured with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system for incident photon energies between 1500–2200 MeV. The transparency ratio has been deduced and compared to theoretical calculations describing the propagation of η ′ -mesons in nuclei. The comparison indicates a width of the η ′ -meson of the order of Γ = 15 – 25 MeV at ρ = ρ 0 for an average momentum p η ′ = 1050 MeV / c , at which the η ′ -meson is produced in the nuclear rest frame. The inelastic η ′ N cross section is estimated to be 3–10 mb. Parameterizing the photoproduction cross section of η ′ -mesons by σ ( A ) = σ 0 A α , a value of α = 0.84 ± 0.03 has been deduced.

The photoproduction of 2π$^{0}$ mesons off protons was studied with the Crystal Barrel/TAPS experiment at the electron accelerator ELSA in Bonn. The energy of photons produced in a radiator was tagged in the energy range from 600 MeV to 2.5 GeV. Differential and total cross sections and pπ$^{0}$ π$^{0}$ Dalitz plots are presented. Part of the data was taken with a diamond radiator producing linearly polarized photons, and beam asymmetries were derived. Properties of nucleon and Δ resonances contributing to the pπ$^{0}$ π$^{0}$ final state were determined within the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa) partial-wave analysis. The data presented here allow us to determine branching ratios of nucleon and Δ resonances for their decays into pπ$^{0}$ π$^{0}$ via several intermediate states. Most prominent are decays proceeding via Δ(1232)π, N(1440)1/2$^{+}$ π, N(1520)3/2$^{−}$ π, N(1680)5/2$^{+}$ π, but also pf$_{0}$(500), pf$_{0}$(980), and pf$_{2}$(1270) contribute to the reaction.

We present results on the K∗(892)+ production in proton-proton collisions at a beam energy of E=3.5 GeV, which is hitherto the lowest energy at which this mesonic resonance has been observed in nucleon-nucleon reactions. The data are interpreted within a two-channel model that includes the three-body production of K∗(892)+ associated with the Λ or Σ hyperon. The relative contributions of both channels are estimated. Besides the total cross section σ(p+p→K∗(892)++X)=9.5±0.9-0.9+1.1±0.7μb, which adds a new data point to the excitation function of the K∗(892)+ production in the region of low excess energy, transverse momenta and angular spectra are extracted and compared with the predictions of the two-channel model. The spin characteristics of K∗(892)+ are discussed as well in terms of the spin-alignment.

Omega photoproduction off hydrogen and deuterium has been studied with the tagged photon beam of the ELSA accelerator in Bonn for photon energies up to 2.0 GeV. The omega meson has been identified via the omega -> pi(0) gamma -> gamma gamma gamma decay mode, using the combined setup of the Crystal Barrel/TAPS detector systems. Both inclusive and exclusive analyses have been carried out. Differential and total cross-sections have been derived for omega mesons produced off free protons and off protons and neutrons bound in deuterium. The cross-section for the production off the bound neutron is found to be a factor of a parts per thousand 1.3 larger than the one off the bound proton in the incident beam energy region 1.2 GeV

Quasi-free photoproduction of eta-mesons from the deuteron has been measured at the tagged photon facility of the Mainz microtron MAMI with the photon spectrometer TAPS for incident photon energies from the production threshold at 630 MeV up to 820 MeV. In a fully exclusive measurement eta-mesons and recoil nucleons were detected in coincidence. At incident photon energies above the production threshold on the free nucleon, where final state interaction effects are negligible, an almost constant ratio of sigma(n)/sigma(p)=0.66+/-0.10 was found. At lower incident photon energies the ratio rises due to re-scattering effects. The average ratio agrees with the value extracted from a comparison of the inclusive d(gamma,eta)X cross section to the free proton cross section via a participant - spectator model for the deuteron cross section (sigma(n)/sigma(p)=0.67+/-0.07). The angular dependence of the ratio agrees with the expected small deviation of neutron and proton cross section from isotropy due to the influence of the D13(1520) resonance. The energy dependence of the ratio in the excitation energy range of the S11(1535) resonance disfavors model predictions which try to explain this resonance as K-Sigma bound state., Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, Eur. Phys. Journal A, accepted

The response of PbWO4 to high-energy protons has been investigated in two test experiments at the proton facilities Cosy and AGOR. The determined energy resolution below 360 MeV of sigma/E = 1.44%/E-gamma(1/2) + 1.97% is comparable to the known photon response. Measured spectra of inelastically scattered protons below 85 MeV are even compared to similar distributions obtained for BaF2- and CeF3-detectors. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The photoproduction of η-mesons from 2H and 4He has been studied for energies close to the production thresholds. The experiments were carried out with the tagged photon beam of the Mainz MAMI accelerator. The η-mesons were detected via their two photon decays with the electromagnetic calorimeter TAPS. Total cross-sections, angular and momentum distributions of the η-mesons have been determined for both reactions. The total cross-sections in the threshold region show a large enhancement over the predictions of a participant-spectator model, indicating significant final-state interaction effects. The results are compared to recent model calculations taking into account nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-η final-state interaction effects on different levels of sophistication.

We performed a missing-mass spectroscopy experiment of the 12C(p, d) reaction in order to search for η′-mesic nuclei. Excitation spectrum of 11C around the η′-meson production threshold was successfully obtained with a high-statistical sensitivity and sufficiently good energy resolution. Since no peak structure associated with the formation of η′-mesic nuclei was observed, we set constraints on the formation cross sections of η′-mesic states and on the η′-nucleus interaction.

A new measurement of the rare, doubly radiative decay eta->pi^0 gamma gamma was conducted with the Crystal Ball and TAPS multiphoton spectrometers together with the photon tagging facility at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. New data on the dependence of the partial decay width, Gamma(eta->pi^0 gamma gamma), on the two-photon invariant mass squared, m^2(gamma gamma), as well as a new, more precise value for the decay width, Gamma(eta->pi^0 gamma gamma) = (0.33+/-0.03_tot) eV, are based on analysis of 1.2 x 10^3 eta->pi^0 gamma gamma decays from a total of 6 x 10^7 eta mesons produced in the gamma p -> eta p reaction. The present results for dGamma(eta->pi^0 gamma gamma)/dm^2(gamma gamma) are in good agreement with previous measurements and recent theoretical calculations for this dependence.

An exclusive analysis of the four-body final states Λ+p+π++K0 and Σ0+p+π++K0 measured with HADES for p+p collisions at a beam kinetic energy of 3.5 GeV is presented. The analysis uses various phase space variables, such as missing mass and invariant mass distributions, in the four-particle event selection (p,π+,π+,π-) to find cross sections of the different production channels, contributions of the intermediate resonances Δ++ and Σ(1385)+, and corresponding angular distributions. A dominant resonant production is seen, where the reaction Λ+Δ+++K0 has a cross section about ten times higher (29.45±0.08-1.46+1.67±2.06μb) than the analogous nonresonant reaction (2.57±0.02-1.98+0.21±0.18μb). A similar result is obtained in the corresponding Σ0 channels with 9.26±0.05-0.31+1.41±0.65μb in the resonant and 1.35±0.02-1.35+0.10±0.09μb in the nonresonant reactions. © 2014 American Physical Society.

Differential cross-sections for the reactions d(gamma,pi (o))d and d(gamma,pi (o))pn have been measured at MAMI with the TAPS detector setup in the energy range 140 MeV > E- > 306 MeV. By use of the Glasgow tagging spectrometer an 0.8 MeV energy resolution for photons incident on the target was achieved. The (o) missing energy resolution was sufficient for a reliable separation of coherent and incoherent channels. The data for the break-up channel exhibit very strong final state interaction effects, whereas the observed angular dependence of the inclusive process d(gamma, pi (o))X is in quantitative agreement with predictions for a quasi-free process. The observed absolute d(gamma, pi (o))X cross-sections, on, the other hand, are significantly smaller than predicted by the quasi-free process for E-gamma greater than or similar to 250 MeV. Associating this failure with the pi (o) photoproduction on the neutron would suggest that its cross-section is up to 25% below the presently believed value.

Differential cross-sections for Compton scattering from the proton have been measured at the MAMI tagged photon facility using the TAPS setup. The data cover an angular range of θlab γ = 59°-155° and photon energies ranging from 55 MeV to 165 MeV. Our results are in good agreement with those from previous experiments, but yield higher precision. Using dispersion relations the proton polarizabilities have been determined to be = [11.9±0.5stat.±1.3syst.±0.3mod.] . 10-4 fm 3 and = [1.2±0.7stat.±0.3syst.±0.4mod.)] . 10-4 fm 3. These results confirm the Baldin sum rule which was re-evaluated to be + = [13.8±0.4] . 10-4 fm 3. We can also conclude that there is no significant additional asymptotic contribution to the backward spin polarizability γπ beyond the t-channel π0-exchange.

The photoproduction of two neutral pions from the deuteron has been studied for incident photon energies from 200 MeV to 820 MeV with the TAPS spectrometer at MAMI (Mainz Microtron). The total cross-section was determined and used to deduce the cross-section from the neutron. Due to the good statistical quality of the data Dalitz plots for the three particles in the exit channel (pi (0)pi N-0) could be constructed. The invariant mass distributions derived from them are presented in this paper. They indicate that the important reaction mechanism in the second resonance region is a sequential decay pattern involving the population of the Delta (1232)-resonance as an intermediate state.

Double neutral pion photoproduction from the proton has been measured at MAMI for photon energies between threshold and 820 MeV. The reaction was identified by an invariant mass and missing mass analysis. From threshold up to 370 MeV the total cross-section does not exceed 30 nb. For higher energies it shows a smooth rise until it reaches a maximum of about 10 μb at Eγ = 740 MeV. Dalitz plots of m2(π0π0) versusm2(p,π0) for seven bins of incident photon energy have been analysed. For Eγ > 610 MeV, a strong contribution of a sequential decay is observed with the Δ(1232)-resonance as intermediate state. A comparison to model calculations shows that these sequential decays presumably originate from the D13(1520) and also the P11(1440)-resonance.

Coherent and incoherent pi(0) photoproduction off the deuteron has been measured for incident quasi-monoenergetic photons in the energy range from pi(0) threshold up to 300 MeV using the TAPS setup together with the Glasgow tagger at MAMI. Integral and differential cross sections over the full angular range have been obtained. Coherent and incoherent production are found to exhibit very different angle and energy dependences. The sum of both processes, the total pi(0) production off the deuteron is quantitatively extremely well described by a pure quasifree model, whereas the data for coherent and incoherent channels necessitate strong FSI effects for their description. Finally upper limits for the production of dibaryon resonances in this reaction have bees obtained.

Photoproduction of neutral pions from the deuteron has been studied for incident photon energies from 200 MeV to 792 MeV with the TAPS detector at the Mainz MAMI accelerator. Total and differential cross sections covering the full angular range have been obtained for coherent and incoherent single πo-photoproduction. Good agreement between model predictions and the data was found for the coherent process. The incoherent cross section in the energy region of the Δ(1232)-resonance is overestimated by existing models. A comparison to model predictions indicates that final state interaction effects are much more important than for the coherent reaction. However, the angular dependence of the data in the Δ-peak region follows the pattern expected from the dominant excitation of the M1+-multipole on the free nucleon. The energy and angular dependence of single πo-photoproduction in the second resonance region is remarkably different from the reaction on the free proton, indicating a strong nuclear effect. Finally the total cross section for double πo-photoproduction from the deuteron has been measured for the first time and was used to estimate the cross section for double πo-photoproduction from the neutron.

In nucleus-nucleus collisions at bombarding energies on the order of 1 AGeV nuclear matter can be compressed to similar densities as encountered in stellar processes, i.e. to 2–3 times normal density, Experimental data providing information on the space-time evolution of these collisions are presented: the properties of hadrons in the hot and compressed nuclear medium in the high-density phase, collective flow phenomena during the expansion phase, and the hadrochemical composition of the collision system in the final stage of the reaction at freeze-out are discussed. Future directions in the heavy-ion reaction program are indicated.

In photoproduction experiments, a large number of final states yielding various resonance contributions are accessible. To extract resonance parameters via partial-wave analysis not only the measurement of differential cross-sections is necessary, but also the determination of polarization observables. At the electron accelerator ELSA (Bonn) the coherent bremsstrahlung method was used to generate a linearly polarized photon beam. Using the CBELSA/TAPS detector setup, the beam asymmetry Σ in the reaction γp → pπ 0 η was determined as a function of various masses and angles for photon energies between 970MeV and 1650MeV.

The photoproduction of two neutral pions off the proton has been studied for incident photon energies between E γ = 309 MeV (threshold) and 792 MeV with the TAPS photon spectrometer at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. Both 3γ- and 4γ-events have been analysed in order to deduce the total p ( γ , 2 π 0 ) p cross section. The total cross section is less than 300 nb between threshold and ⋍ 460 MeV, beyond which it starts to rise to a maximum value of about 11 μb at around 750 MeV. For the highest energies it starts to decrease again. The 4γ-sample has been used to reconstruct 2 neutral pions from the above reaction channel by an invariant mass and a missing mass analysis. After reconstruction of the unobserved proton, a Dalitz-plot of m π 0 π 0 2 vs. m pπ 0 2 has been obtained, which indicates that the decay chain includes the Δ(1232)-resonance as an intermediate state.

Differential and total cross sections for the photoproduction of neutral pions from the proton have been measured for incident photon energies from 140–270 MeV, using the photon spectrometer TAPS at the tagged photon beam of the 855 MeV Mainz Microtron. The energy dependence of the s- and p-wave multipoles close to threshold was deduced from a multipole fit and a multipole analysis. The extracted s-wave amplitude E 0+ at threshold is found to be significantly smaller than the prediction of the classical low energy theorems, but is in reasonable agreement with the chiral perturbation theory.

Absolute differential and integrated-over-angle cross sections for the reactions 12 C( γ , π 0 ) 12 C and 13 C( γ , π 0 ) 13 C leaving the residual nuclei in the ground state have been measured with tagged bremsstrahlung photons in the near threshold region (170.1 MeV ≤ E γ ≤ 176.8 MeV). This reaction mechanism is sensitive to the whole nuclear volume and the coherent processes which occur are revealed by comparing the extracted cross sections for both isotopes with each other and with theoretical calculations.

The gamma p -> pi(0)pi(0) p reaction has been measured from threshold to 1.4 GeV using the Crystal Ball and TAPS photon spectrometers together with the photon tagging facility at the Mainz Microtron. The experimental results include total and differential cross sections as well as specific angular distributions, which were used to extract partial-wave amplitudes. In particular, the energy region below the D-13(1520) resonance was studied.

We present results of an exclusive measurement of the first-excited state of the $\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ hyperon, $\ensuremath{\Sigma}{(1385)}^{+}$, produced in $p+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}+{K}^{+}+n$ at $3.5\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GeV}$ beam energy. The extracted data allow the detailed study of the invariant mass distribution of the $\ensuremath{\Sigma}{(1385)}^{+}$. The mass distribution is well described by a relativistic Breit-Wigner function with a maximum at ${m}_{0}=1383.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.9\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}/{c}^{2}$ and a width of $40.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.1\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}/{c}^{2}$. The exclusive production cross section comes out to be $22.27\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.89\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.{56}_{\ensuremath{-}2.10}^{+3.07}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}b$. Angular distributions of the $\ensuremath{\Sigma}{(1385)}^{+}$ in different reference frames are found to be compatible with the hypothesis that $33%$ of $\ensuremath{\Sigma}{(1385)}^{+}$ result from the decay of an intermediate broad ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{++}$ excitation at about $2000\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}/{c}^{2}$.

The first measurement is reported of the double-polarization observable G in photoproduction of neutral pions off protons, covering the photon energy range from 620 to 1120 MeV and the full solid angle. G describes the correlation between the photon polarization plane and the scattering plane for protons polarized along the direction of the incoming photon. The observable is highly sensitive to contributions from baryon resonances. The new results are compared to the predictions from SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial wave analyses. In spite of the long-lasting efforts to understand {\gamma}p -> p{\pi} 0 as the simplest photoproduction reaction, surprisingly large differences between the new data and the latest predictions are observed which are traced to different contributions of the N (1535) with spin-parity J^P = 1/2^- and N (1520) with J^P = 3/2^- . In the third resonance region, where N (1680) with J^P = 5/2^+ production dominates, the new data are reasonably close to the predictions., Comment: Submitted for publication in PRL

Transverse momentum spectra of \ensuremath{\eta} mesons have been measured near the free nucleon-nucleon production threshold in the heavy ion reactions $^{40}\mathrm{Ar}$+ $^{\mathrm{nat}}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}$ + $^{\mathrm{nat}}\mathrm{Zr}$, and $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$+ $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ at 1.0A GeV and also in $^{40}\mathrm{Ar}$+ $^{\mathrm{nat}}\mathrm{Ca}$ at 1.5A GeV. The measured transverse momentum distributions are compared to model calculations. The relative abundance of \ensuremath{\Delta}(1232) and N(1535) resonances excited in the collision is deduced. A comparison to pion data reveals scaling with the transverse mass of the emitted meson.

The production of neutral pions has been studied in the reactions 40 Ar + nat Ca , 86 Kr + nat Zr and 197 Au + 197 Au at 1 A GeV. For high energy pions emitted from the heavier systems a steeper than linear rise of the pion multiplicity with the centrality of the reaction is observed, indicating a pion production process other than binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. At low transverse momenta an enhancement of the π 0 -multiplicity increasing with the mass of the collision system is found. Systematic discrepancies between the experimental results and recent BUU, QMD and Cascade calculations are discussed.

The multiplicities of p and \ensuremath{\alpha} particles detected in coincidence with fragments emitted in fully relaxed collisions in the reactions of 18.5A MeV $^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$${+}^{48}$Ti have been measured for different exit channel mass asymmetries. A kinematic source analysis of the spectra and angular distributions of the light particles has been used to separate the total multiplicities into prescission and postscission contributions. From these results, the excitation energies at scission are determined using an empirical technique based upon previous measurements of light charged particle multiplicities observed in coincidence with evaporation residues. These excitation energies are found to decrease from \ensuremath{\sim}400 MeV to 110 MeV as the fragment mass asymmetry, ${\mathit{A}}_{\mathit{H}}$/${\mathit{A}}_{\mathit{L}}$, varies from 4.8 to 1.0. A corresponding increase of the mean lifetime of the scissioning nucleus from \ensuremath{\sim}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}22}$ s to \ensuremath{\sim}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}20}$ s is derived using calculated statistical model decay widths. The extent to which this variation of lifetime with mass asymmetry may be attributed to completely damped deep inelastic collisions or to dynamic delays in the decay of a compound nucleus is discussed as is the need for inclusion of dynamics in the deexcitation calculations for hot nuclei. Observed three fragment events are also discussed.

Recent results on π 0 , π ± , ν, K ± and p - production obtained at SIS are summarized. Systematics for particle spectra and production probabilities have been established. The subthreshold production of ν, K+ and p has been observed and the importance of multi-step production processes is emphasized. At bombarding energies of 1–2 GeV/u there is evidence for a gradual transition to resonance matter with about 30% of the baryons excited to Δ,N∗ resonances corresponding to a density ϱN · Δ ≈ ϱ0. The future perspectives of the field, in particular the potential of dilepton emission in heavy ion collisions is outlined.

We present results from an experimental study of reabsorption effects in subthreshold pi0 production in the reaction Xe-129 + Au-197 at 44 MeV/nucleon. Within the picture of pion generation in nucleon-nucleon scattering we deduce, from our data and from a comparison with the systematics of production cross sections available for lighter reaction systems, information on the pi0 absorption length in nuclear matter. For the pi0 kinetic-energy range congruent-to 5-100 MeV the energy-averaged lambda(abs) and its momentum dependence are obtained, and compared with optical-model calculations.

An overview is given over recent π 0 , π ± , η, K ± and p -production experiments performed at SIS where subthreshold production of η, K + and p has been observed. Systematics for particle spectra and production probabilities have been established and the importance of multi-step meson production processes involving baryon resonances as energy storage is discussed. At bombarding energies of 1–2 GeV/u a gradual transition to resonance matter seems to occur with about 30% of the baryons excited to Δ,N ∗ resonances corresponding to a density ρ N ∗ , Δ ≈ ρ 0 . The future perspectives of the field, in particular the potential of dilepton emission in heavy ion collisions is outlined.

Based on the systematics for hard photon production a scheme is suggested which relates the hard-photon multiplicity observed in intermediate energy heavy ion reactions to the impact parameter. The method is applied to data obtained in an exclusive experiment of the reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ar}$${+}^{158}$Gd at 44 MeV/nucleon, demonstrating the usefulness of this new approach.

We report first results on a deep subthreshold production of the doubly strange hyperon XI{sup -} in a heavy-ion reaction. At a beam energy of 1.76A GeV the reaction Ar+KCl was studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer at SIS18/GSI. A high-statistics and high-purity LAMBDA sample was collected, allowing for the investigation of the decay channel XI{sup -}->LAMBDApi{sup -}. The deduced XI{sup -}/(LAMBDA+SIGMA{sup 0}) production ratio of (5.6+-1.2{sub -1.7}{sup +1.8})x10{sup -3} is significantly larger than available model predictions.

The dynamics of the {eta}{yields}3{pi}{sup 0} decay have been studied with the Crystal Ball multiphoton spectrometer and the TAPS calorimeter. Bremsstrahlung photons produced by the 1.5-GeV electron beam of the Mainz microtron MAMI-C and tagged by the Glasgow photon spectrometer were used for {eta}-meson production. The analysis of 3x10{sup 6} {gamma}p{yields}{eta}p{yields}3{pi}{sup 0}p{yields}6{gamma}p events yields the value {alpha}=-0.032{+-}0.003 for the {eta}{yields}3{pi}{sup 0} slope parameter, which agrees with the majority of recent experimental results and has the smallest uncertainty. The {pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0} invariant-mass spectrum was investigated for the occurrence of a cusplike structure in the vicinity of the {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} threshold. The observed effect is small and does not affect our measured value for the slope parameter.

The production of pi-0 and eta-mesons has been studied in the reactions Ne-20 + Al at 350 MeV/u and Ar-40 + Ca at 1.0 GeV/u. Rapidity distributions and transverse momentum spectra have been measured and are compared to thermal distributions.

The role of photons as a probe of heavy ion reaction dynamics is discussed. Experimental data on the systems 16O + W and 92Mo + 92Mo illustrate that hard photons render a time differential information on the evolution of heavy ion collisions ranging from proton — neutron bremsstrahlung in the initial phase to thermal emission from highly excited reaction products in the last stage of the reaction. Measured hard photon multiplicities provide in addition a new approach to determine the impact parameter of heavy ion collisions. A systematics of hard photon emission probabilities reveals the role of the nucleonic Fermi motion in the collision zone. Prospects for future experiments focussing on photon and neutral meson production at relativistic bombarding energies are outlined. Untersuchungen der Reaktionsdynamik von Schwerionenreaktionen uber die Emission hochenergetischer Photonen Die Bedeutung von Photonen als Sonden fur die Reaktionsdynamik von Schwerionenstosen wird diskutiert. Experimentelle Daten zu den Systemen 16O + W und 92Mo + 92Mo zeigen, das Photonen uber Proton-Neutron Bremsstrahlung aus der Anfangsphase bis zur thermischen Emission aus hochangeregten Reaktionsprodukten in der Endphase der Reaktion Aussagen zum zeitlichen Ablauf von Schwerionenstosen ermoglichen. Gemessene Photonenmultiplizitaten bieten zusatzlich ein neues Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Stosparameters in Schwerionenreaktionen. Eine Systematik der Photonenemissionswahrscheinlichkeiten verdeutlicht, das aus den Photonendaten auf die Impulsverteilung der Nukleonen in der Reaktionszone geschlossen werden kann. Abschliesend werden die Perspektiven fur zukunftige Experimente und neue physikalische Fragestellungen bei relativistischen Schwerionenstosen dargelegt.

The photoproduction of {omega} mesons off protons has been studied at the Bonn ELSA accelerator from threshold to E{sub {gamma}}=1700 MeV. Linearly polarized beams were produced via coherent bremsstrahlung. Large photon asymmetries in excess of 50% were obtained. For the first time the pion asymmetries associated with the {omega}{yields}{pi}{sup 0}{gamma} decay were measured and found close to zero. The asymmetries indicate s-channel resonance formation on top of t-channel exchange processes.

Differential and absolute cross sections for the reaction {ital p}({gamma},{pi}{sup 0}) have been measured with energy-defined photons in the threshold region ({ital E}{sub {gamma}}=131.4--157.2 MeV). The {ital E}{sub 0+} amplitude has been extracted out of the data. The values found are in disagreement with predictions of low-energy theorems.

We present the first detailed measurement of incoherent photoproduction of neutral pions to a discrete state of a residual nucleus. The C-12(gamma,pi(0))C-12(4.4 MeV)* reaction has been studied with the Glasgow photon tagger at MAMI employing a new technique which uses the large solid angle Crystal Ball detector both as a pi(0) spectrometer and to detect decay photons from the excited residual nucleus. The technique has potential applications to a broad range of future nuclear measurements with the Crystal Ball and similar detector systems elsewhere. Such data are sensitive to the propagation of the Delta in the nuclear medium and will give the first information on matter transition form factors from measurements with an electromagnetic probe. The incoherent cross sections are compared to two theoretical predictions including a Delta-hole model.

The response of PbWO/sub 4/ to high-energy protons has been investigated in two test experiments at the proton beam facilities COSY and AGOR. The determined energy resolution below 360 MeV of /spl sigma//E = 0.97%/E/sub /spl gamma///sup 1/2/ + 3.33% is comparable to the previously deduced photon response. Energy spectra of inelastically scattered protons below 85 MeV are compared to similar distributions obtained for BaF/sub 2-/ and CeF/sub 3-/ detectors, respectively. The comparison to the response of charged pions indicates a strong quenching effect of the scintillation light for hydrogen isotopes.

The photoproduction of eta-mesic 3He has been investigated using the TAPS calorimeter at the Mainz Microtron accelerator facility MAMI. The total inclusive cross section for the reaction gamma3He-->etaX has been measured for photon energies from threshold to 820 MeV. The total and angular differential coherent eta cross sections have been extracted up to energies of 745 MeV. A resonancelike structure just above the eta production threshold with an isotropic angular distribution suggests the existence of a resonant quasibound state. This is supported by studies of a competing decay channel of such a quasibound eta-mesic nucleus into pi(0)pX. A binding energy of (-4.4+/-4.2) MeV and a width of (25.6+/-6.1) MeV is deduced for the quasibound eta-mesic state in 3He.

Chemical and thermal freeze-out of the hadronic fireball formed in symmetric collisions of light, intermediate-mass, and heavy nuclei at beam energies between 0.8A GeV and 2.0A GeV are discussed in terms of an equilibrated, isospin-symmetric ideal hadron gas with grand-canonical baryon-number conservation. For each collision system the baryochemical potential mu_B and the chemical freeze-out temperature T_c are deduced from the inclusive neutral pion and eta yields which are augmented by interpolated data on deuteron production. With increasing beam energy mu_B drops from 800 MeV to 650 MeV, while T_c rises from 55 MeV to 90 MeV. For given beam energy mu_B grows with system size, whereas T_c remains constant. The centrality dependence of the freeze-out parameters is weak as exemplified by the system Au+Au at 0.8A GeV. For the highest beam energies the fraction of nucleons excited to resonance states reaches freeze-out values of nearly 15 %, suggesting resonance densities close to normal nuclear density at maximum compression. In contrast to the particle yields, which convey the status at chemical freeze-out, the shapes of the related transverse-mass spectra do reflect thermal freeze-out. The observed thermal freeze-out temperatures T_th are equal to or slightly lower than T_c, indicative of nearly simultaneous chemical and thermal freeze-out., Comment: 42 pages, 12 figures

Differential cross sections of the reactions $(\gamma,\pi^\circ\pi^\circ)$ and $(\gamma,\pi^\circ\pi^++\pi^\circ\pi^-)$ have been measured for several nuclei ($^1$H,$^{12}$C, and $^{\rm nat}$Pb) at an incident-photon energy of $E_{\gamma}$=400-460 MeV at the tagged-photon facility at MAMI-B using the TAPS spectrometer. A significant nuclear-mass dependence of the $\pi\pi$ invariant-mass distribution is found in the $\pi^\circ\pi^\circ$ channel. This dependence is not observed in the $\pi^\circ\pi^{+/-}$ channel and is consistent with an in-medium modification of the $\pi\pi$ interaction in the $I$=$J$=0 channel. The data are compared to $\pi$-induced measurements and to calculations within a chiral-unitary approach.