On the Extraction of Cross Sections for pi0 and eta Photoproduction off Neutrons from Deuteron Data

We discuss the procedure of extracting the photoproduction cross section for neutral pseudoscalar mesons off neutrons from deuteron data. The main statement is that the final-state interaction (FSI) corrections for the proton and neutron target are in general not equal, but for pi0 production there are special cases were they have to be identical and there are large regions in the parameter space of incident photon energy and pion polar angle, \theta^*, where they happen to be quite similar. The corrections for both target nucleons are practically identical for $\pi_0$ production in the energy range of the Delta(1232)3/2+ resonance due to the specific isospin structure of this excitation. Also above the $\Delta$-isobar range large differences between proton and neutron correction factors are only predicted for extreme forward angles ($\theta^*$ < 20 deg), but the results are similar for larger angles. Numerical results for the gp-->pi0p and gn-->pi0n correction factors are discussed. Also the model description for the available data on the differential gd-->pi0pn cross sections are given.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures; v2 fixed several minor typo

Precision high voltage divider for the KATRIN experiment

The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment (KATRIN) aims to determine the absolute mass of the electron antineutrino from a precise measurement of the tritium beta-spectrum near its endpoint at 18.6 keV with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV. KATRIN uses an electrostatic retardation spectrometer of MAC-E filter type for which it is crucial to monitor high voltages of up to 35 kV with a precision and long-term stability at the ppm level. Since devices capable of this precision are not commercially available, a new high voltage divider for direct voltages of up to 35 kV has been designed, following the new concept of the standard divider for direct voltages of up to 100 kV developed at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). The electrical and mechanical design of the divider, the screening procedure for the selection of the precision resistors, and the results of the investigation and calibration at PTB are reported here. During the latter, uncertainties at the low ppm level have been deduced for the new divider, thus qualifying it for the precision measurements of the KATRIN experiment.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figure

Crossover from phase fluctuation to amplitude-dominated superconductivity: A model system

We have experimentally studied a model system that demonstrates the crossover from a superconductor that is dominated by phase fluctuations, to one in which the amplitude of the order parameter is the controlling influence on Tc. This model system is comprised of two-dimensional granular Pb with an overlayer of Ag. The system displays many aspects of the phase diagram of the concentration dependence of Tc in the high-Tc superconductors, and this crossover has been applied to explain the phase diagram in that case. We point out the similarities and differences between the model system presented in this paper and the high-Tc superconductors

Measurement of the reaction \gamma p \TO K^ + \Lambda(1520) at photon energies up to 2.65 GeV

The reaction \gamma p \TO K^+\Lambda(1520) was measured in the energy range from threshold to 2.65 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility ELSA in Bonn. The $\Lambda(1520)$ production cross section was analyzed in the decay modes $pK^-$, $n \bar{K}^0$, $\Sigma^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}$, and $\Lambda\pi^+\pi^-$ as a function of the photon energy and the squared four-momentum transfer $t$. While the cross sections for the inclusive reactions rise steadily with energy, the cross section of the process \gamma p \TO K^+\Lambda(1520) peaks at a photon energy of about 2.0 GeV, falls off exponentially with $t$, and shows a slope flattening with increasing photon energy. The angular distributions in the $t$-channel helicity system indicate neither a $K$ nor a $K^\star$ exchange dominance. The interpretation of the $\Lambda(1520)$ as a $\Sigma(1385)\pi$ molecule is not supported.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figures, 4 table

Light Meson Dynamics Workshop. Mini proceedings

The mini-proceedings of the Light Meson Dynamics Workshop held in Mainz from February 10th to 12th, 2014, are presented. The web page of the conference, which contains all talks, can be found at https://indico.cern.ch/event/287442/overview .Comment: 46 pages, 17 contributions. Editors: W. Gradl, P. Masjuan, M. Ostrick, and S. Schere

The Impact of New Polarization Data from Bonn, Mainz and Jefferson Laboratory on γp→πN\gamma p \to \pi N Multipoles

New data on pion-photoproduction off the proton have been included in the partial wave analyses Bonn-Gatchina and SAID and in the dynamical coupled-channel approach J\"ulich-Bonn. All reproduce the recent new data well: the double polarization data for E, G, H, P and T in $\gamma p \to \pi^0 p$ from ELSA, the beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ for $\gamma p \to \pi^0 p$ and $\pi^+ n$ from Jefferson Laboratory, and the precise new differential cross section and beam asymmetry data $\Sigma$ for $\gamma p \to \pi^0 p$ from MAMI. The new fit results for the multipoles are compared with predictions not taking into account the new data. The mutual agreement is improved considerably but still far from being perfect

Measurement of gamma p --> K+ Lambda and gamma p --> K+ Sigma0 at photon energies up to 2.6 GeV

The reactions gamma p --> K+ Lambda and gamma p --> K+ Sigma0 were measured in the energy range from threshold up to a photon energy of 2.6 GeV. The data were taken with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility, ELSA. Results on cross sections and hyperon polarizations are presented as a function of kaon production angle and photon energy. The total cross section for Lambda production rises steeply with energy close to threshold, whereas the Sigma0 cross section rises slowly to a maximum at about E_gamma = 1.45 GeV. Cross sections together with their angular decompositions into Legendre polynomials suggest contributions from resonance production for both reactions. In general, the induced polarization of Lambda has negative values in the kaon forward direction and positive values in the backward direction. The magnitude varies with energy. The polarization of Sigma0 follows a similar angular and energy dependence as that of Lambda, but with opposite sign.Comment: 21 pages, 25 figures, submitted to Eur. Phys. J.