Double KS0 photoproduction off the proton at CLAS

Abstract

© 2018 American Physical Society. The f0(1500) meson resonance is one of several contenders to have significant mixing with the lightest glueball. This resonance is well established from several previous experiments. Here we present the first photoproduction data for the f0(1500) via decay into the KS0KS0 channel using the CLAS detector. The reaction γp→fJp→KS0KS0p, where J=0,2, was measured with photon energies from 2.7-5.1 GeV. A clear peak is seen at 1500 MeV in the background subtracted invariant mass spectra of the two kaons. This is enhanced if the measured four-momentum transfer to the proton target is restricted to be less than 1.0 GeV2. By comparing data with simulations, it can be concluded that the peak at 1500 MeV is produced primarily at low t, which is consistent with a t-channel production mechanism.