Photoproduction of $f_0(980)$ and $f_0(1500)$ resonances off a proton target

TL;DR

This study investigates the photoproduction of the scalar mesons $f_0(980)$ and $f_0(1500)$ off a proton target near threshold, using an effective Lagrangian approach to analyze different production channels and compare with experimental data.

Contribution

The paper introduces a detailed theoretical model for $f_0(980)$ and $f_0(1500)$ production, highlighting the dominant production mechanisms for each resonance.

Findings

$s$-channel dominates $f_0(980)$ production

$t$-channel describes $f_0(1500)$ data well

Predictions can be tested at CLAS

Abstract

We study the $\gamma p \to p f_0$ [$f_0(980)$ and $f_0(1500)$] reaction close to threshold within an effective Lagrangian approach. The production process is described by $s$-channel nucleon pole or $t$-channel $\rho$ and $\omega$ exchange. The $K^0 \bar{K}^0$ invariant mass distributions of the $\gamma p\to f_0(980)p \to K^0 \bar{K}^0$ and $\gamma p\to f_0(1500)p \to K^0 \bar{K}^0 p$ reactions are investigated, where the two kaons have been separated in $S$ wave decaying from $f_0(980)$ and $f_0(1500)$. It is shown that the $s$-channel process is favored for the production of $f_0(980)$, while for the $f_0(1500)$ production, the experimental measurements can be described quite well by the $t$-channel process. It is expected that the theoretical results can be tested by further experiments at CLAS.