In-medium ω mass from the γ+Nb → π0γ+X reaction

Abstract

Data on the photoproduction of ω mesons on nuclei have been reanalyzed in a search for in-medium modifications. The data were taken with the crystal barrel (CB)/two-arm photon spectrometer (TAPS) detector system at the ELectron Stretcher Anlage (ELSA) accelerator facility in Bonn. First results from the analysis of the data set were published by Trnka [Phys. Rev. Lett.PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.94.192303 94, 192303 (2005)], claiming a lowering of the ω mass in the nuclear medium by 14% at normal nuclear matter density. The extracted ω line shape was found to be sensitive to the background subtraction. For this reason a reanalysis of the same data set has been initiated, and a new method has been developed to reduce the background and to determine the shape and absolute magnitude of the background directly from the data. Details of the reanalysis and of the background determination are described. The ω signal on the Nb target, extracted in the reanalysis, does not show a deviation from the corresponding line shape on a LH2 target, measured as reference. The earlier claim of an in-medium mass shift is thus not confirmed. The sensitivity of the ω line shape to different in-medium modification scenarios is discussed. © 2010 The American Physical Society.