Vector meson photoproduction studied in its radiative decay channel

We provide an analysis of vector meson photoproduction in the channel of the vector meson decaying into a pseudoscalar meson plus a photon, i.e. $V\to P\gamma$. It is shown that non-trivial kinematic correlations arise from the measurement of the $P\gamma$ angular distributions in the overall c.m. system in comparison with those in the vector-meson-rest frame. In terms of the vector meson density matrix elements, the implication of such kinematic correlations in the measurement of polarization observables is discussed. For the $\omega$ meson production, due to its relatively large branching ratios for $\omega\to\pi^0\gamma$, additional events from this channel may enrich the information about the reaction mechanism and improve the statistics of the recent measurement of polarized beam asymmetries by the GRAAL Collaboration. For $\phi\to \eta\gamma$, $\rho\to \pi\gamma$, and $K^*\to K\gamma$, we expect that additional information about the spin structure of the vector meson production vertex can be derived.Comment: Revtex, 14 pages, 2 eps figures; Version accepted by PR

Double pion photoproduction on nucleon and deuteron

Photoproduction of two pions on nucleon and deuteron is studied for photon energies from threshold up to $E_\gamma = 1.5$ GeV. For the elementary operator an effective Lagrangean approach is used with resonance and Born contributions. The model parameters are fixed by resonance decay widths and multipole analyses of single pion photoproduction. A satisfactory description of total cross sections of two-pion production on the proton for various charge channels is achieved, except for $\pi^0\pi^0$ production for which a significant underestimation is found near threshold. The operator then serves for the evaluation of this reaction on the deuteron in the impulse approximation. In addition, $NN$ rescattering in the final state is taken into account, but $\pi N$ and $\pi\pi$ rescatterings are neglected. Results are presented for total cross sections and target asymmetries.Comment: 28 pages revtex including 12 ps-figure

Phenomenological model of multiphoto-production of charged pion pairs on the proton

The production of charged pion pairs via multiphoton absorption from an intense X-ray laser wave colliding with an ultrarelativistic proton beam is studied. Our calculations include the contributions from both the electromagnetic and hadronic interactions where the latter are described approximately by a phenomenological Yukawa potential. Order-of-magnitude estimates for $\pi^+\pi^-$ production on the proton by two- and three-photon absorption from the high-frequency laser field are obtained and compared with the corresponding rates for $\mu^+\mu^-$ pair creation.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Helicity asymmetries in double pion photoproduction on the proton

Based on a prior model on double pion photoproduction on the proton, successfully tested in total cross sections and invariant mass distributions, we make a theoretical study of the angular dependence of helicity asymmetries from the interaction of circularly polarized photons with unpolarized protons. We show that this observable is sensitive to details of the internal mechanisms and, thus, represents a complementary test of the theoretical model.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, version accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics

Hadrons in Nuclei: Experiments and Perspectives

The question of the origin of hadron masses is one major issue in the understanding of the strong interaction. The challenge is addressed by searching for indications of in-medium modifications of hadron properties and studying hadrons in nuclei. The quest driving in-medium studies is to understand the origin of hadron masses in the context of spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking. The experimental status of the modification of hadron properties in the nuclear medium is discussed including experiments using hadron, heavy-ion, and photon beams. Particular emphasis is put on the production of light mesons from nuclei. A number of experimental programs is underway to provide a detailed comparison of properties of free hadrons and hadrons embedded in nuclei. The existing experimental efforts are discussed and possibilities are introduced for the new WASA-at-COSY facility, initially focussed on investigations of symmetries and symmetry breaking, to contribute to the field.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of 23rd International Nuclear Physics Conference (INPC 2007), Tokyo, Japan, 3-8 Jun 200

ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SHOOT SYSTEM OF RUBUS CANESCENS DC. GROWING IN LEBANON

The misuse of antibiotics followed by improved fitness of resistant strains of infectious microorganisms hindered the efficacy of many known antimicrobial agents, and fueled research for the discovery of novel remedies. The current study aims at assessing the antimicrobial activity and understanding the mechanism of action of Rubus canescens DC. growing wild in Lebanon, as well as qualitatively determining its phytochemical profile. The antibacterial activity, MIC, and MBC of the extracts were evaluated by two-fold dilution. Time-kill curves were plotted to assess the bactericidal activity of the R. canescens DC. extracts against the growth of microorganisms, and TEM images were collected to confirm such effect. Overall, the extracts exhibited good antibacterial activity against MRSA and E. coli but not against S. pneumoniae and K. pneumoniae as determined by measuring the inhibition zones in plate-diffusion assays. TEM images of treated microorganisms revealed that the R. canescens DC. extracts induced irreversible deformations and damage to the cell membranes of the microorganisms leading to the leakage of cytoplasmic components and eventual cell death. Analysis of Time-Kill curves indicated that the extracts induced 100% killing of the test microorganisms within 10-18 h at the respective MBC. Finally, qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted to decipher the active ingredients in the plant extracts.The current study reports the first data on the antimicrobial activity of different parts of R. canescens DC. Such promising data opens new avenues for broader assessment of the pharmacological profile of the scarcely investigated R. canescens DC

Photoproduction of pions and properties of baryon resonances from a Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis

Masses, widths and photocouplings of baryon resonances are determined in a coupled-channel partial wave analysis of a large variety of data. The Bonn-Gatchina partial wave formalism is extended to include a decomposition of t- and u-exchange amplitudes into individual partial waves. The multipole transition amplitudes for $\gamma p\to p\pi^0$ and $\gamma p\to n\pi^+$ are given and compared to results from other analyses.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figure

Photoproduction of mesons off nuclei

Recent results for the photoproduction of mesons off nuclei are reviewed. These experiments have been performed for two major lines of research related to the properties of the strong interaction. The investigation of nucleon resonances requires light nuclei as targets for the extraction of the isospin composition of the electromagnetic excitations. This is done with quasi-free meson photoproduction off the bound neutron and supplemented with the measurement of coherent photoproduction reactions, serving as spin and/or isospin filters. Furthermore, photoproduction from light and heavy nuclei is a very efficient tool for the study of the interactions of mesons with nuclear matter and the in-medium properties of hadrons. Experiments are currently rapidly developing due to the combination of high quality tagged (and polarized) photon beams with state-of-the-art 4pi detectors and polarized targets

P-wave excited baryons from pion- and photo-induced hyperon production

We report evidence for $N(1710)P_{11}$, $N(1875)P_{11}$, $N(1900)P_{13}$, $\Delta(1600)P_{33}$, $\Delta(1910)P_{31}$, and $\Delta(1920)P_{33}$, and find indications that $N(1900)P_{13}$ might have a companion state at 1970\,MeV. The controversial $\Delta(1750)P_{31}$ is not seen. The evidence is derived from a study of data on pion- and photo-induced hyperon production, but other data are included as well. Most of the resonances reported here were found in the Karlsruhe-Helsinki (KH84) and the Carnegie-Mellon (CM) analyses but were challenged recently by the Data Analysis Center at GWU. Our analysis is constrained by the energy independent $\pi N$ scattering amplitudes from either KH84 or GWU. The two $\pi N$ amplitudes from KH84 or GWU, respectively, lead to slightly different $\pi N$ branching ratios of contributing resonances but the debated resonances are required in both series of fits.Comment: 22 pages, 28 figures. Some additional sets of data are adde