Data on Is and Ic in γ→p→pπ0π0 reveal cascade decays of N(1900) via N(1520)π

Photoproduction of two neutral pions off the proton is studied using linearly polarized photons, and the polarization observables Is and Ic are measured for the first time. These two observables are unique to multi-meson final states; they characterize correlations between the linear photon polarization and the direction of outgoing single particles in photoproduction of three-body final states. The Is and Ic distributions suggest that, in the 1.8 to 2.0 GeV mass region, the N(1520)3/2−π intermediate state is reached with reaction dynamics consistent with a dominant JP=3/2+ wave. These data are included in the Bonn–Gatchina (BnGa) partial wave analysis which is based on a large variety of data; the analysis confirms a significant contribution from the reaction chain γp→N(1900)3/2+→N(1520)3/2−π0→pπ0π0

<math altimg="si1.gif" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msup><mrow><mi>K</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup><mi>Λ</mi></math> and <math altimg="si2.gif" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msup><mrow><mi>K</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup><msup><mrow><mi>Σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow></msup></math> photoproduction with fine center-of-mass energy resolution

Measurements of <math altimg="si3.gif" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>γ</mi><mi>p</mi><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><msup><mrow><mi>K</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup><mi>Λ</mi></math> and <math altimg="si4.gif" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mi>γ</mi><mi>p</mi><mo stretchy="false">→</mo><msup><mrow><mi>K</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup><msup><mrow><mi>Σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow></msup></math> cross-sections have been obtained with the photon tagging facility and the Crystal Ball calorimeter at MAMI-C. The measurement uses a novel <math altimg="si5.gif" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msup><mrow><mi>K</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup></math> meson identification technique in which the weak decay products are characterized using the energy and timing characteristics of the energy deposit in the calorimeter, a method that has the potential to be applied at many other facilities. The fine center-of-mass energy ( W ) resolution and statistical accuracy of the new data results in a significant impact on partial wave analyses aiming to better establish the excitation spectrum of the nucleon. The new analyses disfavor a strong role for quark–diquark dynamics in the nucleon