Transparency ratio in γA -> η' A' and the in-medium η' width

Abstract

The photoproduction of η'-mesons off different nuclei has been measured with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system for incident photon energies between 1500 - 2200 MeV. The transparency ratio has been deduced and compared to theoretical calculations describing the propagation of η'-mesons in nuclei. The comparison indicates a width of the η' -meson of the order of Γ= 15-25 MeV at ρ=ρ_0 for an average momentum p_{η'} = 1050 MeV/c, at which the η'-meson is produced in the nuclear rest frame. The inelastic η' N cross section is estimated to be 3 - 10 mb. Parameterizing the photoproduction cross section of η'-mesons by σ(A) = σ_0 A^α, a value of α= 0.84\pm0.03 has been deduced.

14 pages, 6 figures