Speaker
Description
Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is the theory of the strong force and gives rise to a spectrum of hadrons. Hadrons such as qq̅ and qqq states have been observed but others, such as the gg (glueball) or the qq̅g (hybrid) state are not forbidden. A gg pair can share the same quantum numbers as a qq̅ meson, resulting in the ‘mixing’ of their respective states; the observed physical particle is a superposition of pure glueball and pure meson states.
The π⁰ π⁰ channel provides a window into these states, and others, due to a high level of statistics and quantum number restraints ensuring the even spin number of the intermediate particle. Through this channel an analysis sensitive to quantum number of the lowest lying glueball at JPC = 0(++) and possible ‘mixed’ JPC = 2(++) state become possible, as well as an analysis of other states which require clearer branching fractions and differential cross sections to compare with theoretical predictions.
Using data obtained as part of the GlueX collaboration at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, alongside sPlot analysis techniques, encouraging preliminary moment and partial wave analysis results have been obtained using a combination of parametric and non-parametric moment models. Future work will study the systematics of different fit methods in detail.
