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 < $-t$ / GeV$^2$ ≤ 1 at the photon energy E$_{lab}$ = 9 GeV , relevant for the upcoming measurements at Jefferson Lab.