PHOTOPRODUCTION OF PIO WITH PLANE POLARIZED 3-GEV PHOTONS

The cross section for photoproduction of π0 mesons was measured at a photon energy of 3 GeV and squared four-momentum transfer (t) of -0.1 to -1.2 (GeV/c)2 using plane-polarized photons. The asymmetry was found to be consistent with +1.0 for t values above -0.4 and below -1.1. For -0.4<~t<~-1.0 there is a dip in the asymmetry and at t=-0.6 it drops to 0.55 ± 0.15. This result precludes a simple Regge model with ω0 and B; a theoretical description requires Regge cuts or an ω′ exchange. © 1969 The American Physical Society.