Research Symposium

BIO

Derek Estrada is an undergraduate 2nd year from Miami, Florida majoring in Physics & Astrophysics at Florida State University. He is extremely fascinated by the world of physics and hopes to one day take part in astrophysics research, particularly cosmology. He has recently begun particle physics research, learning the basics of programming and how to write precise lines of code to further analyze physical phenomena.

Counting the Subatomic : Extracting the 𝝎 Yield at GlueX

Abstract

The GlueX experiment, located at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, searches for hybrid mesons and explores the light meson spectrum by utilizing a linearly polarized photon beam on a liquid hydrogen target. This research specifically focuses on analyzing the π+π-π0 final state to isolate and study the ω(782) meson. As a critical initial step, a yield study is performed to determine the number of ω to π+π-π0 events across multiple data runs, ensuring experimental consistency.

By reconstructing the invariant mass of the three-pion system and applying strategic event selection criteria—such as analyzing momentum vs. angle correlations—the signal-to-background ratio is significantly enhanced. Fits to the resulting invariant mass spectrum are then employed to separate the ω signal from background noise and extract the signal yield. These measurements form the essential foundation for future physics analysis, providing a clean and well-understood sample. Moving forward, this high-precision data will incorporate more sophisticated analysis techniques to better understand ω production mechanisms, decay dynamics, and angular distributions, ultimately offering deeper insight into the subatomic interactions governing meson structures.

Keywords: Physics, Particle Physics, Hadronic Physics