Polarization degrees of freedom in near-threshold photoproduction of omega mesons in the pi^0 gamma decay channel

TL;DR

This paper investigates polarization observables in near-threshold omega-meson photoproduction, analyzing how different reaction mechanisms influence measurable polarization variables to better understand the underlying reaction dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model including pomeron, pi^0 exchange, and s-channel resonances to analyze polarization in omega photoproduction near threshold.

Findings

Polarization observables are sensitive to reaction mechanisms.

Different exchange processes affect polarization variables distinctly.

The model helps distinguish between natural and unnatural parity exchanges.

Abstract

We study polarization variables in the photoproduction of omega-mesons with subsequent omega to gamma pi^0 decay. Single and double polarization observables are calculated as a function of different final-state angles. Reaction models include pomeron (natural parity) and pi^0 (unnatural parity) exchange in the t-channel. In addition, the contribution of s-channel resonances is considered. The sensitivity of the polarization observables to the reaction dynamics is discussed.