Photoproduction of Mesons on Quasi–Free Nucleons

Abstract

The investigation of excited baryon states is important to understand the underling nature/symmetries of hadronic matter. Historically, the first nucleon excitation experiments have been done using charged pion and kaon secondary beams. Later the antiproton-proton scattering has also been involved. However, since the beginning of the 90’s meson photoproduction reactions have been considered as a powerful tool in baryon spectroscopy. In this contribution, we overview our experimental programs conducted at the bremsstrahlung photon beams of the MAMI accelerator in Mainz and the ELSA accelerator in Bonn. The results are differential and total cross sections for photoproduction of light neutral mesons and of meson pairs off quasi-free nucleons bound in the deuteron (and sometimes other light nuclei). The scientific programs of this experiments also include single and double polarization measurements as well.