First measurement of differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries for photoproduction of the ${f}_{0}(980)$ meson decaying into ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ at ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}&lt;2.4$ GeV

Letter

First measurement of differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries for photoproduction of the $f_{0} (980)$ meson decaying into $π^{0} π^{0}$ at $E_{γ} < 2.4$ GeV

N. Muramatsu et al. (LEPS2/BGOegg Collaboration)

Phys. Rev. C 107, L042201 – Published 7 April 2023

Abstract

For the first time, differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries were measured for the reaction $γ p \to f_{0} (980) p \to π^{0} π^{0} p$ by using a linearly polarized photon beam up to $2.4 GeV$ and a liquid hydrogen target. The $f_{0}$ (980) photoproduction signal was clearly observed owing to the absence of contributions from vector-meson photoproduction. The results indicate the $t$ -channel exchange of vector mesons as a mechanism of the $f_{0} (980)$ photoproduction at $E_{γ} \approx 2.1 GeV$ , putting constraints on the nature of $f_{0} (980)$ .