Study of Zweig's Rule Using phi Mesons in a Broad Band Neutral Beam

摘要

A study of Zweig's rule using phi mesons in a high energy photon beam was performed. Measurement of the ratio sigma( gamma A implies phi pi pi A)/sigma( gamma A implies omega pi pi A) = 0.10 +- 0.02 is taken as evidence that there is not as strong suppression as could be expected. Other ratios show strange particle production down from nonstrange particle production by a factor of twelve. Decays involving phi mesons are studied, and the only candidate seen is a four sigma effect in the mode two phis with a mass 2.15 GeV. F meson, charm pseudo-scalar meson and exotic vector mesons which might decay into phis are not seen. The phi prime is not seen with an upper limit sigma( gamma A implies phi'A)B(phi' implies K exp + K exp - pi exp + pi exp - ) < 6 nb per nucleon. (ERA citation 04:053805)