Search

Measurements of target asymmetries and double-polarization observables for the reaction $\gamma p\to p\pi^0\pi^0$ are reported. The data were taken with the CBELSA/TAPS experiment at the ELSA facility (Bonn University) using the Bonn frozen-spin butanol (C$_4$H$_9$OH) target, which provided transversely polarized protons. Linearly polarized photons were produced via bremsstrahlung off a diamond crystal. The data cover the photon energy range from $E_{\gamma}$=650 MeV to $E_{\gamma}$=2600 MeV and nearly the complete angular range. The results have been included in the BnGa partial wave analysis. Experimental results and the fit agree very well. Observed systematic differences in the branching ratios for decays of $N^*$ and $\Delta^*$ resonances are attributed to the internal structure of these excited nucleon states. Resonances which can be assigned to SU(6)$\times$O(3) two-oscillator configurations show larger branching ratios to intermediate states with non-zero intrinsic orbital angular momenta than resonances assigned to one-oscillator configurations., Comment: 21 pages, 27 figures

The reaction $\gamma p \rightarrow p \pi^0 \eta$ has been studied with the CBELSA/TAPS detector at the electron stretcher accelerator ELSA in Bonn for incident photon energies from threshold up to 3.1 GeV. This paper has been motivated by the recently claimed observation of a narrow structure in the M$_{N\eta}$ invariant mass distribution at a mass of 1678 MeV/$c^2$. The existence of this structure cannot be confirmed in the present work. Instead, for E$_{\gamma}$ = 1400 - 1500 MeV and the cut M$_{p\pi^0} \le 1190 $ MeV/$c^2$ a statistically significant structure in the M$_{p\eta}$ invariant mass distribution near 1700 MeV/$c^2$ is observed with a width of $\Gamma\approx 35$ MeV/$c^2$ while the mass resolution is $\sigma_{res}$ = 5 MeV/$c^2$. Increasing the incident photon energy from 1420 to 1540 MeV this structure shifts in mass from $\approx$ 1700MeV/c$^2$ to $\approx$ 1725 MeV/$c^2$; the width increases to about 50 MeV/$c^2$ and decreases thereafter. The cross section associated with this structure reaches a maximum of $\approx$ 100 nb around E$_{\gamma} \approx$ 1490 MeV (W $\approx $ 1920 MeV), which coincides with the $p a_0$ threshold. Three scenarios are discussed which might be the origin of this structure in the M$_{p\eta}$ invariant mass distribution. The most likely interpretation is that it is due to a triangular singularity in the $\gamma p \rightarrow p a_0 \rightarrow p \pi^0 \eta$ reaction, Comment: 16 pages, 18 figure

The differential cross section for the quasi-free photoproduction reaction $\gamma n\rightarrow K^0\Sigma^0$ was measured at BGOOD at ELSA from threshold to a centre-of-mass energy of 2400 MeV. Close to threshold the results are consistent with existing data and are in agreement with partial wave analysis solutions over the full measured energy range, with a large coupling to the $\Delta$(1900)1/2- evident. This is the first dataset covering the K* threshold region, where there are model predictions of dynamically generated vector meson-baryon resonance contributions., Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures

$K^+\Lambda(1405)$ photoproduction has been studied at the BGOOD experiment via the all neutral decay, $\Lambda(1405)\rightarrow\Sigma^0\pi^0$. The unique BGOOD experimental setup allows both the cross section and $\Lambda(1405)$ invariant mass distribution (line shape) to be measured over a broad $K^+$ polar angle range, extending to extreme forward $K^+$ angles unattainable at previous experiments. Evidence is provided for the role of a triangle singularity driven by the $N^*(2030)$ resonance, which appears to contribute significantly to $K^+\Lambda(1405)$ photoproduction. This is observed in both the angular distributions and the integrated cross section which was determined with unprecedented energy resolution. The measured line shape is also in agreement with the previous results of CLAS and ANKE, and is consistent with two poles derived in $\chi$PT based models.

The BGO-OD experiment at the ELSA accelerator facility uses an energy tagged bremsstrahlung photon beam to investigate the excitation structure of the nucleon. The setup consists of a highly segmented BGO calorimeter surrounding the target, with a particle tracking magnetic spectrometer at forward angles. BGO-OD is ideal for investigating low momentum transfer processes due to the acceptance and high momentum resolution at forward angles. In particular, this enables the investigation of strangeness photoproduction where t-channel exchange mechanisms play an important role. This also allows access to low momentum exchange kinematics where extended, molecular structure may manifest in reaction mechanisms. First key results at low $t$ indicate a cusp-like structure in $K^+\Sigma^0$ photoproduction at $W = 1900$\,MeV, line shapes and differential cross sections for $K^+\Lambda$(1405)$\rightarrow K^+\Sigma^0\pi^0$, and a peak structure in $K^0_S\Sigma^0$ photoproduction. The peak in the $K^0_S\Sigma^0$ channel appears consistent with meson-baryon generated states, where equivalent models have been used to describe the $P_C$ pentaquark candidates in the heavy charmed quark sector., Comment: Proceedings of The 12th International Workshop on the Physics of Excited Nucleons (NSTAR 2019)

The $\gamma p \rightarrow K^+\Sigma^0$ differential cross section at extremely forward angles was measured at the BGOOD experiment. A three-quarter drop in strength over a narrow range in energy and a strong dependence on the polar angle of the $K^+$ in the centre-of-mass of the reaction is observed at a centre-of-mass energy of 1900\,MeV. Residing close to multiple open and hidden strangeness thresholds, the structure appears consistent with meson-baryon threshold effects which may contribute to the reaction mechanism., Comment: 9 pages (including a 2 page appendix of tabulated data), 10 figures

$\gamma p \rightarrow K^+ \Lambda$ differential cross sections and recoil polarisation data from threshold for extremely forward angles are presented. The measurements were performed at the BGOOD experiment at ELSA, utilising the high angular and momentum resolution forward spectrometer for charged particle identification. The data discriminates between conflicting results in the world data set and enable extraction of the cross section as the minimum momentum transfer to the recoiling hyperon is approached., Comment: 12 pages (including a 2 page appendix), 14 figures

The BGOOD experiment at the ELSA facility in Bonn has been commissioned within the framework of an international collaboration. The experiment pursues a systematic investigation of non-strange and strange meson photoproduction, in particular $t$-channel processes at low momentum transfer. The setup uniquely combines a central almost $4\pi$ acceptance BGO crystal calorimeter with a large aperture forward magnetic spectrometer providing excellent detection of both neutral and charged particles, complementary to other setups such as Crystal Barrel, Crystal Ball, LEPS and CLAS., Comment: 26 pages, 37 figures

The polarization observables $T, E, P, H$, and $G$ in photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons off protons are measured for photon energies from threshold to $W=2400\,$MeV ($T$), 2280 MeV ($E$), 1620 MeV ($P, H$), or 1820 MeV ($G$), covering nearly the full solid angle. The data are compared to predictions from the SAID, MAID, J\"uBo, and BnGa partial-wave analyses. A refit within the BnGa approach including further data yields precise branching ratios for the $N\eta$ decay of nucleon resonances. A $N\eta$-branching ratio of $0.33\pm 0.04$ for $N(1650)1/2^-$ is found, which reduces the large and controversially discussed $N\eta$-branching ratio difference of the two lowest mass $J^P=1/2^-$-resonances significantly., Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures

A measurement of the double-polarization observable $E$ for the reaction $\gamma p\to \pi^0 p$ is reported. The data were taken with the CBELSA/TAPS experiment at the ELSA facility in Bonn using the Bonn frozen-spin butanol (C$_4$H$_9$OH) target, which provided longitudinally-polarized protons. Circularly-polarized photons were produced via bremsstrahlung of longitudinally-polarized electrons. The data cover the photon energy range from $E_\gamma =600$~MeV to $E_\gamma =2310$~MeV and nearly the complete angular range. The results are compared to and have been included in recent partial wave analyses., Comment: 21 pages

The production of $\eta^\prime$ mesons in coincidence with forward-going protons has been studied in photon-induced reactions on $^{12}$C and on a liquid hydrogen (LH$_2$) target for incoming photon energies of 1.3-2.6 GeV at the electron accelerator ELSA. The $\eta^\prime$ mesons have been identified via the $\eta^\prime\rightarrow \pi^0 \pi^0\eta \rightarrow 6 \gamma$ decay registered with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system. Coincident protons have been identified in the MiniTAPS BaF$_2$ array at polar angles of $2^{\circ} \le \theta _{p} \le 11^{\circ}$. Under these kinematic constraints the $\eta^\prime$ mesons are produced with relatively low kinetic energy ($\approx$ 150 MeV) since the coincident protons take over most of the momentum of the incident-photon beam. For the C-target this allows the determination of the real part of the $\eta^\prime$-carbon potential at low meson momenta by comparing with collision model calculations of the $\eta^\prime$ kinetic energy distribution and excitation function. Fitting the latter data for $\eta^\prime$ mesons going backwards in the center-of-mass system yields a potential depth of V = $-$(44 $\pm$ 16(stat)$\pm$15(syst)) MeV, consistent with earlier determinations of the potential depth in inclusive measurements for average $\eta^\prime$ momenta of $\approx$ 1.1 GeV/$c$. Within the experimental uncertainties, there is no indication of a momentum dependence of the $\eta^\prime$-carbon potential. The LH$_2$ data, taken as a reference to check the data analysis and the model calculations, provide differential and integral cross sections in good agreement with previous results for $\eta^\prime$ photoproduction off the free proton., Comment: 9 pages, 13 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1608.06074

Photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons from neutrons} \abstract{Results from measurements of the photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons from quasifree protons and neutrons are summarized. The experiments were performed with the CBELSA/TAPS detector at the electron accelerator ELSA in Bonn using the $\eta\to3\pi^{0}\to6\gamma$ decay. A liquid deuterium target was used for the measurement of total cross sections and angular distributions. The results confirm earlier measurements from Bonn and the MAMI facility in Mainz about the existence of a narrow structure in the excitation function of $\gamma n\rightarrow n\eta$. The current angular distributions show a forward-backward asymmetry, which was previously not seen, but was predicted by model calculations including an additional narrow $P_{11}$ state. Furthermore, data obtained with a longitudinally polarized, deuterated butanol target and a circularly polarized photon beam were analyzed to determine the double polarization observable $E$. Both data sets together were also used to extract the helicity dependent cross sections $\sigma_{1/2}$ and $\sigma_{3/2}$. The narrow structure in the excitation function of $\gamma n\rightarrow n\eta$ appears associated with the helicity-1/2 component of the reaction.

The photoproduction of $\omega$ and $\eta^\prime$ mesons off carbon and niobium nuclei has been measured as a function of the meson momentum for incident photon energies of 1.2-2.9 GeV at the electron accelerator ELSA. The mesons have been identified via the $\omega \rightarrow \pi^0 \gamma \rightarrow 3 \gamma$ and $\eta^\prime\rightarrow \pi^0 \pi^0\eta \rightarrow 6 \gamma$ decays, respectively, registered with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system. From the measured meson momentum distributions the momentum dependence of the transparency ratio has been determined for both mesons. Within a Glauber analysis the in-medium $\omega$ and $\eta^\prime$ widths and the corresponding absorption cross sections have been deduced as a function of the meson momentum. The results are compared to recent theoretical predictions for the in-medium $\omega$ width and $\eta^\prime$-N absorption cross sections. The energy dependence of the imaginary part of the $\omega$- and $\eta^\prime$-nucleus optical potential has been extracted. The finer binning of the present data compared to the existing data allows a more reliable extrapolation towards the production threshold. The modulus of the imaginary part of the $\eta^\prime$ nucleus potential is found to be about three times smaller than recently determined values of the real part of the $\eta^\prime$-nucleus potential, which makes the $\eta^\prime$ meson a suitable candidate for the search for meson-nucleus bound states. For the $\omega$ meson, the modulus of the imaginary part near threshold is comparable to the modulus of the real part of the potential. As a consequence, only broad structures can be expected which makes the observation of $\omega$ mesic states very difficult experimentally., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures

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

This paper reports on a measurement of the double-polarization observable G in $\pi^0$ photoproduction off the proton using the CBELSA/TAPS experiment at the ELSA accelerator in Bonn. The observable G is determined from reactions of linearly-polarized photons with longitudinally-polarized protons. The polarized photons are produced by bremsstrahlung off a properly oriented diamond radiator. A frozen spin butanol target provides the polarized protons. The data cover the photon energy range from 617 to 1325 MeV and a wide angular range. The experimental results for G are compared to predictions by the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa), J\"ulich-Bonn (J\"uBo), MAID and SAID partial wave analyses. Implications of the new data for the pion photoproduction multipoles are discussed.

BGO-OD is a newly commissioned experiment to investigate the internal structure of the nucleon, using an energy tagged bremsstrahlung photon beam at the ELSA electron facility. The setup consists of a highly segmented BGO calorimeter surrounding the target, with a particle tracking magnetic spectrometer at forward angles. BGO-OD is ideal for investigating meson photoproduction. The extensive physics programme for open strangeness photoproduction is introduced, and preliminary analysis presented., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings for the 10th International Workshop on the Physics of Excited Nucleons (NSTAR2015)

The differential cross sections and unpolarized spin-density matrix elements for the reaction $\gamma p\to p\omega$ were measured using the CBELSA/TAPS experiment for initial photon energies ranging from the reaction threshold to 2.5 GeV. These observables were measured from the radiative decay of the $\omega$ meson, $\omega\to\pi^0\gamma$. The cross sections cover the full angular range and show the full extent of the $t$-channel forward rise. The overall shape of the angular distributions in the differential cross sections and unpolarized spin-density matrix elements are in fair agreement with previous data. In addition, for the first time, a beam of linearly-polarized tagged photons in the energy range from 1150 MeV to 1650 MeV was used to extract polarized spin-density matrix elements. These data were included in the Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis (PWA). The dominant contribution to $\omega$ photoproduction near threshold was found to be the $3/2^+$ partial wave, which is primarily due to the sub-threshold $N(1720)\,3/2^+$ resonance. At higher energies, pomeron-exchange was found to dominate whereas $\pi$-exchange remained small. These $t$-channel contributions as well as further contributions from nucleon resonances were necessary to describe the entire dataset: the $1/2^-$, $3/2^-$, and $5/2^+$ partial waves were also found to contribute significantly., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Physics Letters B

Data on the polarization observables T, P, and H for the reaction $\gamma p\to p\pi^0$ are reported. Compared to earlier data from other experiments, our data are more precise and extend the covered range in energy and angle substantially. The results were extracted from azimuthal asymmetries measured using a transversely polarized target and linearly polarized photons. The data were taken at the Bonn electron stretcher accelerator ELSA with the CBELSA/TAPS detector. Within the Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis, the new polarization data lead to a significant narrowing of the error band for the multipoles for neutral-pion photoproduction.

The first measurements of the beam-target-helicity-asymmetries $E$ and $G$ in the photoproduction of $\omega$-mesons off protons at the CBELSA/TAPS experiment are reported. $E$ ($G$) was measured using circularly (linearly) polarised photons and a longitudinally polarised target. $E$ was measured over the photon energy range from close to threshold ($E_\gamma = 1108$~MeV) to $E_\gamma = 2300$~MeV and $G$ at a single energy interval of $1108 < E_\gamma <1300$~MeV. Both measurements cover the full solid angle. The observables $E$ and $G$ are highly sensitive to the contribution of baryon resonances, with $E$ acting as a helicity filter in the $s$-channel. The new results indicate significant $s$-channel resonance contributions together with contributions from $t$-channel exchange processes. A partial wave analysis reveals strong contributions from the partial waves with spin-parity $J^P=3/2^+, 5/2^+$, and $3/2^-$., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures

New data on the polarization observables T, P, and H for the reaction $\gamma p \to p\pi^0$ are reported. The results are extracted from azimuthal asymmetries when a transversely polarized butanol target and a linearly polarized photon beam are used. The data were taken at the Bonn electron stretcher accelerator ELSA using the CBELSA/TAPS detector. These and earlier data are used to perform a truncated energy-independent partial wave analysis in sliced-energy bins. This energy-independent analysis is compared to the results from energy-dependent partial wave analyses.

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 reaction $\gamma \, p \rightarrow K^0_S\,\Sigma^+$ is studied in the photon energy range from threshold. Linearly polarised photon beams from coherent bremsstrahlung enabled the first measurement of photon beam asymmetries in this reaction up to $E_\gamma = 2250$ MeV. In addition, the recoil hyperon polarisation was determined through the asymmetry in the weak decay $\Sigma^+ \rightarrow p \pi^0$ up to $E_\gamma = 1650$ MeV. The data are compared to partial wave analyses, and the possible impact on the interpretation of a recently observed cusp-like structure near the $K^*$ thresholds is discussed., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. References [8,9,10,11] which were not on the original submission are now included

The first measurement of the helicity dependence of the photoproduction cross section of single neutral pions off protons is reported for photon energies from 600 to 2300\,MeV, covering nearly the full solid angle. The data are compared to predictions from the SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial wave analyses. Strikingly large differences between data and predictions are observed which are traced to differences in the helicity amplitudes of well known and established resonances. Precise values for the helicity amplitudes of several resonances are reported.

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

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

The $\gamma + p \rightarrow K^0 + \Sigma^+$ photoproduction reaction is investigated in the energy region from threshold to $E_\gamma = 2250$\,MeV. The differential cross section exhibits increasing forward-peaking with energy, but only up to the $K^*$ threshold. Beyond, it suddenly returns to a flat distribution with the forward cross section dropping by a factor of four. In the total cross section a pronounced structure is observed between the $K^*\Lambda$ and $K^*\Sigma$ thresholds. It is speculated whether this signals the turnover of the reaction mechanism from t-channel exchange below the $K^*$ production threshold to an s-channel mechanism associated with the formation of a dynamically generated $K^*$-hyperon intermediate state., Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures

The reactions $\gamma p \rightarrow K^{+}\Sigma^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}$ were studied with the SAPHIR detector using a tagged photon beam at the electron stretcher facility ELSA in Bonn. The decays $\Sigma^{-} \rightarrow n\pi^{-}$ and $\Sigma^{+} \rightarrow n\pi^{+}, p\pi^0$ were fully reconstructed. Reaction cross sections were measured as a function of the photon energy from threshold up to $2.6\,$GeV with considerably improved statistics compared to a previous bubble chamber measurement. The cross sections rise monotonously with increasing photon energy. The two-particle mass distributions of $\Sigma^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}$ and $K^+\pi^-$ show substantial production of resonant states., Comment: 6 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables

The reaction $\gamma p \TO K^+\Lambda(1520)$ was measured in the energy range from threshold to 2.65 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility ELSA in Bonn. The $\Lambda(1520)$ production cross section was analyzed in the decay modes $pK^-$, $n \bar{K}^0$, $\Sigma^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}$, and $\Lambda\pi^+\pi^-$ as a function of the photon energy and the squared four-momentum transfer $t$. While the cross sections for the inclusive reactions rise steadily with energy, the cross section of the process $\gamma p \TO K^+\Lambda(1520)$ peaks at a photon energy of about 2.0 GeV, falls off exponentially with $t$, and shows a slope flattening with increasing photon energy. The angular distributions in the $t$-channel helicity system indicate neither a $K$ nor a $K^\star$ exchange dominance. The interpretation of the $\Lambda(1520)$ as a $\Sigma(1385)\pi$ molecule is not supported., Comment: 11 pages, 16 figures, 4 tables

The measurements of the Collins and Sivers asymmetries of identified hadrons produced in deep-inelastic scattering of 160 GeV/c muons on a transversely polarised 6LiD target at COMPASS are presented. The results for charged pions and charged and neutral kaons correspond to all data available, which were collected from 2002 to 2004. For all final state particles both the Collins and Sivers asymmetries turn out to be small, compatible with zero within the statistical errors, in line with the previously published results for not identified charged hadrons, and with the expected cancellation between the u- and d-quark contributions., Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, added author Efremov, calculated pure kaon asymmetries instead of those for experimental kaon/pion mixture (mainly error affected)

The reaction gamma p --> K0 Sigma+ was measured in the photon energy range from threshold up to 2.6 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility, ELSA, in Bonn. Results are presented on the reaction cross section and the polarization of the Sigma+ as a function of the kaon production angle in the centre-of-mass system, cos(Theta_K^{c.m.}), and the photon energy. The cross section is lower and varies less with photon energy and kaon production angle than that of gamma p --> K+ Sigma0. The Sigma+ is polarized predominantly at cos(Theta_K^{c.m.}) \approx 0. The data presented here are more precise than previous ones obtained with SAPHIR and extend the photon energy range to higher values. They are compared to isobar model calculations., Comment: 15 pages, 18 figures, to appear in Eur. Phys. J. A

The reactions gamma p --> K+ Lambda and gamma p --> K+ Sigma0 were measured in the energy range from threshold up to a photon energy of 2.6 GeV. The data were taken with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility, ELSA. Results on cross sections and hyperon polarizations are presented as a function of kaon production angle and photon energy. The total cross section for Lambda production rises steeply with energy close to threshold, whereas the Sigma0 cross section rises slowly to a maximum at about E_gamma = 1.45 GeV. Cross sections together with their angular decompositions into Legendre polynomials suggest contributions from resonance production for both reactions. In general, the induced polarization of Lambda has negative values in the kaon forward direction and positive values in the backward direction. The magnitude varies with energy. The polarization of Sigma0 follows a similar angular and energy dependence as that of Lambda, but with opposite sign., Comment: 21 pages, 25 figures, submitted to Eur. Phys. J. A

The energy and nuclear mass dependences of the total hadronic cross section in the energy range 0.5-2.6 GeV have been measured at Bonn using the SAPHIR tagged photon beam. The measurement, performed on C, Al, Cu, Sn and Pb, provides the first photoabsorption data in the region 1.2-1.7 GeV. The results show a significant reduction of the photoabsorption strength on the bound nucleon compared to the free nucleon case in the whole energy region. Above 1.2 GeV this reduction decreases with the nuclear density and can be interpreted as a signature of a low energy onset of the shadowing effect., Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures