New Measurement ofΣBeam Asymmetry forηMeson Photoproduction on the Proton

We present new Sigma beam asymmetry data for eta meson photoproduction on the proton, using a novel tagged, laser backscattered, linearly polarized photon beam up to 1.1 GeV. The data show large, positive asymmetries, at all incident photon energies. In addition to the S-11(1535) and D-13(1520) resonances necessary to reproduce the cross sections, P-13(1720) and D-15(1675) "four stars" resonances contribute to the Sigma observable, but cannot reproduce the strong forward asymmetries measured at energies higher than 900 MeV.