Eta and eta-prime meson production in the reaction pn -> dM near threshold

The two-step model with pi-, rho- and omega- exchanges taken into account is applied to investigate the reactions pn -> d eta and pn -> d eta-prime. The existing experimental data on the reaction pn -> d eta are analysed and predictions for the cross section of the reaction pn -> d eta-prime are presented. It is found that pi- as well as rho exchange yield significant contributions in both reactions. The effect of the final state interaction is also studied.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure

Photoproduction of mesons from nuclei - In-medium properties of hadrons

Recent experimental results for the in-medium properties of hadrons obtained with photoproduction of mesons from nuclei are discussed. The experiments were done with the TAPS detector at the tagged photon beam of the MAMI accelerator in Mainz. Measured were the final states $\pi^o X$, $\eta X$, $2\pi^oX$, and $\pi^o\pi^{\pm}X$ for $^{12}$C, $^{40}$Ca, $^{93}$Nb, and $^{208}$Pb up to the second resonance region. The results were used for an investigation of the in-medium properties of the P$_{33}$(1232), the P$_{11}$(1440), the D$_{13}$(1520), and the S$_{11}$(1535) resonances. It was found that the cross sections can be spilt into a component which originates from the low density surface region of the nuclei and a component which scales like the nuclear volume. The energy dependence of the surface component is strikingly similar to the deuteron, it shows a clear signal for the second resonance peak. The volume component is lacking this peak and shows an enhancement at intermediate energies. Furthermore the measurement of coherent $\eta$-photoproduction and the final state $p\pi^o$ from $^3$He is discussed in the context of the search for $\eta$-mesic nuclei.Comment: Proceedings of International School of Nuclear Physics, 26th Course, Lepton Scattering and the Structure of Hadrons and Nuclei, Erice-Sicily, Italy 16. - 24. September 2004, to be published in Prog. Part. Nucl. Phy

Measurement of p + d -> 3He + eta in S(11) Resonance

We have measured the reaction p + d -> 3He + eta at a proton beam energy of 980 MeV, which is 88.5 MeV above threshold using the new ``germanium wall'' detector system. A missing--mass resolution of the detector system of 2.6% was achieved. The angular distribution of the meson is forward peaked. We found a total cross section of (573 +- 83(stat.) +- 69(syst.))nb. The excitation function for the present reaction is described by a Breit Wigner form with parameters from photoproduction.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, corrected typos in heade

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