On the $η$ and $η'$ Photoproduction Beam Asymmetry at High Energies

Abstract

We show that, in the Regge limit, beam asymmetries in $η$ and $η'$ photoproduction are sensitive to hidden strangeness components. Under reasonable assumptions about the couplings we estimate the contribution of the $ϕ$ Regge pole, which is expected to be the dominant hidden strangeness contribution. The ratio of the asymmetries in $η'$ and $η$ production is estimated to be close to unity in the forward region $0 < -t/\text{GeV}^2 \leq 1$ at the photon energy $E_\text{lab} = 9$~GeV, relevant for the upcoming measurements at Jefferson Lab.

9 pages, 4 figures