Neutron polarisation transfer, Cx′, in π+ photoproduction off the proton, d(γ⊙, (n)over-right-arrowπ+)nspec

We report a first measurement of the double-polarisation observable, C-x', in pi(+) photoproduction off the proton. The C-x' double-polarisation observable represents the transfer of polarisation from a circularly polarised photon beam to the recoiling neutron. The MAMI circularly polarised photon beam impinged on a liquid deuterium target cell, with reaction products detected in the Crystal Ball calorimeter. Ancillary apparatus surrounding the target provided tracking, particle identification and determination of recoil nucleon polarisation. The C-x' observable is determined for photon energies 800-1400 MeV, providing new constraints on models aiming to elucidate the spectrum and properties of nucleon resonances. This is the first determination of any polarisation observable from the beam-recoil group of observables for this reaction. Inclusion of the new data in the database of the SAID partial wave analysis shifted the solution to a new global minima which, not only gives better agreement with the current data, but also improves the description of a range of other single and double polarisation observables for charged pion photoproduction.

Automated summary

We present the first measurement of the double-polarisation observable, C-x', in pi(+) photoproduction off the proton. The experiment provides new constraints on models aiming to understand the spectrum and properties of nucleon resonances. The inclusion of the new data in the analysis database has improved the description of various single and double polarisation observables in charged pion photoproduction.