The LEPS/SPring-8 experiment made a comprehensive measurement of the spin-density matrix elements for $\gamma p \to \phi p$, $\gamma d \to \phi p n$ and $\gamma d \to \phi d$ at forward production angles. A linearly polarized photon beam at $E_{\gamma}$=1.6-2.4 GeV was used for the production of $\phi$ mesons. The natural-parity Pomeron exchange processes remains dominant nearthreshold. The unnatural-parity processes of pseudoscalar exchange is visible in the production from nucleons but is greatly reduced in the coherent production from deuterons. There is no strong $E_{\gamma}$-dependence, but some dependence on momentum-transfer. A small but finite value of the spin-density matrix elements reflecting helicity-nonconserving amplitudes in the $t$-channel is observed.
Measurements of the spin density matrix element RHO(JJ=0,MM=00) for the GAMMA P --> PHI P reaction in the helicity system as a function of T-Tmin for 3 incident photon energy regions.
Measurements of the spin density matrix element RE(RHO(JJ=0,MM=10)) for the GAMMA P --> PHI P reaction in the helicity system as a function of T-Tmin for 3 incident photon energy regions.
Measurements of the spin density matrix element RHO(JJ=0,MM=1-1) for the GAMMA P --> PHI P reaction in the helicity system as a function of T-Tmin for 3 incident photon energy regions.
Photoproduction of $\phi$-meson on protons was studied by means of linearly polarized photons at forward angles in the low-energy region from threshold to $E_{\gamma}$= 2.37 GeV. The differential cross sections at $t = -|t|_{min}$ do not increase smoothly as $E_{\gamma}$ increases, but show a local maximum at around 2.0 GeV. The angular distributions demonstrate that $\phi$-mesons are photo-produced predominantly by helicity-conserving processes, and the local maximum is not likely due to unnatural-parity processes.
Differential cross section as a function of T+ABS(TMIN) in the photon energy range 1.57 to 1.67 GeV.
Differential cross section as a function of T+ABS(TMIN) in the photon energy range 1.67 to 1.77 GeV.
Differential cross section as a function of T+ABS(TMIN) in the photon energy range 1.77 to 1.87 GeV.