Study of η and η' Photoproduction at MAMI.

The reactions γp→ηp and γp→η^{'}p are measured from their thresholds up to the center-of-mass energy W=1.96 GeV with the tagged-photon facilities at the Mainz Microtron, MAMI. Differential cross sections are obtained with unprecedented statistical accuracy, providing fine energy binning and full production-angle coverage. A strong cusp is observed in the total cross section for η photoproduction at the energies in the vicinity of the η^{'} threshold, W=1896 MeV (E_{γ}=1447 MeV). Within the framework of a revised ηMAID isobar model, the cusp, in connection with a steep rise of the η^{'} total cross section from its threshold, can only be explained by a strong coupling of the poorly known N(1895)1/2^{-} state to both ηp and η^{'}p. Including the new high-accuracy results in the ηMAID fit to available η and η^{'} photoproduction data allows the determination of the N(1895)1/2^{-} properties.

Insight into the Narrow Structure in η Photoproduction on the Neutron from Helicity-Dependent Cross Sections.

The double polarization observable E and the helicity dependent cross sections σ_{1/2} and σ_{3/2} were measured for η photoproduction from quasifree protons and neutrons. The circularly polarized tagged photon beam of the A2 experiment at the Mainz MAMI accelerator was used in combination with a longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target. The almost 4π detector setup of the Crystal Ball and TAPS is ideally suited to detect the recoil nucleons and the decay photons from η→2γ and η→3π^{0}. The results show that the narrow structure previously observed in η photoproduction from the neutron is only apparent in σ_{1/2} and hence, most likely related to a spin-1/2 amplitude. Nucleon resonances that contribute to this partial wave in η production are only N 1/2^{-} (S_{11}) and N 1/2^{+} (P_{11}). Furthermore, the extracted Legendre coefficients of the angular distributions for σ_{1/2} are in good agreement with recent reaction model predictions assuming a narrow resonance in the P_{11} wave as the origin of this structure.

RADIOMETRIC SURVEY OF THE TYAA RIVER SAND MINE IN KITUI, KENYA.

Gamma spectroscopic analyses of sand and rock samples from Tyaa River report an average activity concentration of 33 ± 1, 55 ± 2.8 and 812 ± 40.46 Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively in the sand. A similar analysis of rock samples reveals a mean of 21 ± 2.47, 49 ± 2.47 and 782 ± 39.13 Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The absorbed dose rate in rocks averaged 75 ± 3.78 nGyh-1, while in the sand was 86.2 ± 4.31 nGyh-1. The ranges and mean radiological hazard indices (radium equivalent, internal and external) were within the permissible limits and the use of sand and rocks from this mine as construction material pose no health risks. Correlation analysis between the radioactivity in the sand and rocks reveals weak non-linear positive relationships suggesting that they might be from different bedrocks.