Exclusive tensor meson photoproduction

Abstract

We study tensor meson photoproduction outside of the resonance region, at beam energies of a few GeVs. We build a model based on Regge theory that includes the leading vector and axial exchanges. We consider two determinations of the unknown helicity couplings and fit to the recent a 2 photoproduction data from CLAS. Both choices give a similar description of the a 2 cross section but result in different predictions for the parity asymmetries and the f 2 photoproduction cross section. We conclude that new measurements of f 2 photoproduction in the forward region are needed to pin down the correct production mechanism. We also extend our predictions to the 8.5 GeV beam energy, where current experiments are running.