Excitation functions of the analyzing power in pp--> scattering from 0.45 to 2.5 GeV

η meson physics with WASA-at-COSY

In recent years, the η meson has been a focal point of research for the WASA experiment at the Cooler Synchrotron COSY of the Research Center Jülich. Production experiments using nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-nucleus collisions have been performed, studying the η − N interaction in various configurations. A better understanding of this interaction is a key aspect in the ongoing search for η-nuclear bound states. In addition, the η meson itself represents an ideal laboratory for precision studies of the strong and electromagnetic interactions as well as for searches for beyond Standard Model physics. Large datasets were assembled using the WASA experiment to enable studies on rare and forbidden decay modes. An overview over recent highlights of the WASA η meson physics programme was given.

Spin Dependence of η Meson Production in Proton-Proton Collisions Close to Threshold

Taking advantage of the high acceptance and axial symmetry of the WASA-at-COSY detector, and the high polarization degree of the proton beam of COSY, the reaction p[over →]p→ppη has been measured close to threshold to explore the analyzing power A_{y}. The angular distribution of A_{y} is determined with the precision improved by more than 1 order of magnitude with respect to previous results, allowing a first accurate comparison with theoretical predictions. The determined analyzing power is consistent with zero for an excess energy of Q=15  MeV, signaling s-wave production with no evidence for higher partial waves. At Q=72  MeV the data reveal strong interference of Ps and Pp partial waves and cancellation of (Pp)^{2} and Ss^{*}Sd contributions. These results rule out the presently available theoretical predictions for the production mechanism of the η meson.

Higher order spin resonances in a 2.1-GeV/c polarized proton beam

Spin resonances can depolarize or spin flip a polarized beam. We studied 1st and higher order spin resonances with stored 2.1  GeV/c vertically polarized protons. The 1st order vertical (ν(y)) resonance caused almost full spin flip, while some higher order ν(y) resonances caused partial depolarization. The 1st order horizontal (ν(x)) resonance caused almost full depolarization, while some higher order ν(x) resonances again caused partial depolarization. Moreover, a 2nd order ν(x) resonance is about as strong as some 3rd order ν(x) resonances, while some 3rd order ν(y) resonances are much stronger than a 2nd order ν(y) resonance. One thought that ν(y) spin resonances are far stronger than ν(x), and that lower order resonances are stronger than higher order; the data do not support this.

Narrow spin resonance width and spin flip with an rf-bunched deuteron beam

We used an rf solenoid to study the widths of rf spin resonances with both bunched and unbunched beams of 1.85 GeV/c polarized deuterons stored in the COSY synchrotron. With the unbunched beam at different fixed rf-solenoid frequencies, we observed only partial depolarization near the resonance. However, the bunched beam's polarization was almost fully flipped; moreover, its resonance was much narrower. We then used Chao's recent equations to explain this behavior and to calculate the polarization's dependence on various rf-solenoid and beam parameters. Our data and calculations indicate that a bunched deuteron beam's polarization can behave as if the beam has zero momentum spread.

Experimental test of a new technique to overcome spin-depolarizing resonances

We recently tested a new spin resonance crossing technique, Kondratenko Crossing (KC), by sweeping an rf-solenoid's frequency through an rf-induced spin resonance with both the KC and traditional fast crossing (FC) patterns. Using both rf bunched and unbunched 1.85 GeV/c polarized deuterons stored in COSY, we varied the parameters of both crossing patterns. Compared to FC with the same crossing speed, KC reduced the depolarization by measured factors of 4.7 +/- 0.3 and 19_{-5};{+12} for unbunched and bunched beams, respectively. This clearly showed the large potential benefit of Kondratenko Crossing over fast crossing.

Experimental verification of predicted beam-polarization oscillations near a spin resonance

The Chao matrix formalism allows analytic calculations of a beam's polarization behavior inside a spin resonance. We recently tested its prediction of polarization oscillations occurring in a stored beam of polarized particles near a spin resonance. Using a 1.85 GeV/c polarized deuteron beam stored in the COoler SYnchrotron, we swept a new rf solenoid's frequency rather rapidly through 400 Hz during 100 ms, while varying the distance between the sweep's end frequency and the central frequency of an rf-induced spin resonance. Our measurements of the deuteron's polarization near and inside the resonance agree with the Chao formalism's predicted oscillations.

Mechanism of near-threshold production of the eta meson

Measurements of the analyzing power for the pp-->pp eta reaction have been performed at excess energies of Q=10 and 36 MeV. The determined analyzing power is essentially consistent with zero, implying dominance of the s wave at both excess energies. The angular dependence of the analyzing power, combined with the isospin dependence of the total cross section for the eta meson production in nucleon-nucleon collisions, reveal that the excitation of the nucleon to the S11(1535) resonance is predominantly due to the exchange of the pi meson between the colliding nucleons.

Measurement of spin-correlation parameters ANN, ASS, and ASL at 2.1 GeV in proton-proton elastic scattering

At the Cooler Synchrotron COSY/Jülich spin-correlation parameters in elastic proton-proton (pp) scattering have been measured with a 2.11 GeV polarized proton beam and a polarized hydrogen atomic beam target. We report results for A(NN), A(SS), and A(SL) for c.m. scattering angles between 30 degrees and 90 degrees. Our data on A(SS)--the first measurement of this observable above 800 MeV--clearly disagrees with predictions of available pp scattering phase-shift solutions while A(NN) and A(SL) are reproduced reasonably well. We show that in the direct reconstruction of the scattering amplitudes from the body of available pp elastic scattering data at 2.1 GeV the number of possible solutions is considerably reduced.