Selected vector-meson decay-distributions in reactions of polarized photons with protons

TL;DR

This paper develops a formalism to analyze vector meson decay distributions in polarized photon-proton reactions, highlighting differences from purely hadronic decays and providing formulas for data analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a new formalism for studying vector meson decay distributions in polarized photon-proton interactions, especially for the channel V→π^0γ.

Findings

Decay distributions differ noticeably from purely hadronic decays.

Formulas are provided for data analysis and interpretation.

The formalism aids in understanding vector meson photo-production with polarized photons.

Abstract

We develop a formalism for studying vector meson ($V$) photo-production at the proton ($p$) with polarized photons, $\vec\gamma p \to V p $, through an analysis of the decay distribution in the channel $V\to\pi^0\gamma$. We show that this decay distribution differs noticeably from the distributions of purely hadronic decays, like $\phi\to K^+K^-$, $\omega\to \pi^0\pi^+\pi^-$. Formulas for the decay distributions are presented which are suitable for data analysis and interpretation.