Precision study of the eta3He system using the dp--> 3Heeta reaction

Luminosity determination for the proton-deutron reactions using quasi-free reactions with WASA-at-COSY facility

The scientific aim of our research is experimental confirmation of the existence of mesic-nucleus: a new exotic kind of nuclear matter consisting of nucleons and mesons. In this report we present the method of luminosity determination for experiment performed atWASA-at-COSY detector dedicated to search for 3He-η bound state. This method is based on analysis of quasi-free $pd \to ppn_{{\rm{spec}}} $ reaction.

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.

Search for the η-mesic bound states with the WASA-at-COSY detector

The experiments dedicated to the search for η-mesic Helium were performed with high statistics using WASA detection setups installed at the COSY accelerator in the Research Center Juelich. The search for the η-mesic bound states is conducted via the measurement of the excitation function for selected decay channels of the He-η systems using unique ramped beam technique. This report presents recent status of the data analysis.

Luminosity determination for the proton-deuteron reaction using pd → 3Heη channel with WASA-at-COSY detector

In this report one of the methods used for the luminosity determination for the experiment performed by WASA Collaboration to search for 3He-η mesic nuclei is presented. The method is based on the analysis of pd → 3Heη process.

Interaction of eta mesons with nuclei

Back in the mid-1980s, a new branch of investigation related to the interaction of eta mesons with nuclei came into existence. It started with the theoretical prediction of possible exotic states of eta mesons and nuclei bound by the strong interaction and later developed into an extensive experimental program to search for such unstable states as well as understand the underlying interaction via eta-meson producing reactions. The vast literature of experimental as well as theoretical works that studied various aspects of eta-producing reactions such as the π(+)n → ηp, pd → (3)Heη, p (6)Li → (7)Be η and γ (3)He → η X, to name a few, had but one objective in mind: to understand the eta-nucleon (ηN) and hence the η-nucleus interaction which could explain the production data and confirm the existence of some η-mesic nuclei. In spite of these efforts, there remain uncertainties in the knowledge of the ηN and hence the η-nucleus interaction. Therefore, this review is an attempt to bind together the findings in these works and draw some global and specific conclusions which can be useful for future explorations.The ηN scattering length (which represents the strength of the η-nucleon interaction) using different theoretical models and analyzing the data on η production in pion, photon and proton induced reactions was found to be spread out in a wide range, namely, 0.18 ≤ Re aηN ≤ 1.03 fm and 0.16 ≤ Rm aηN ≤ 0.49 fm. Theoretical searches of heavy η-mesic nuclei based on η-nucleus optical potentials and lighter ones based on Faddeev type few-body approaches predict the existence of several quasibound and resonant states. Although some hints of η-mesic states such as (3)(η)He and (25)(η)Mg do exist from previous experiments, the promise of clearer signals for the existence of η-mesic nuclei lies in the experiments to be performed at the J-PARC, MAMI and COSY facilities in the near future. This review is aimed at giving an overall status of these efforts.