η’ beam asymmetry at threshold using the BGO-OD experiment

Abstract

The unexpected nodal structure of the beam asymmetry recently reported by the GRAAL collaboration in η′ photoproduction very close to threshold could be explained by a previously unobserved narrow resonance. The BGO-OD experiment is ideally suited to verify this measurement via the detection of forward going charged particles which in the threshold region of interest allows the identification of the reaction γp → η′ p solely based on the proton going in the forward direction. This yields unprecedented statistics if, in the missing mass analysis of the η′ meson, the background can be sufficiently well controlled. Preliminary results using a linearly polarised photon beam are shown. The reaction γp → η′ p was identified in the BGO forward spectrometer, with simulated data used to seperate signal and background.