[en] Using a novel analysis technique, the gluon polarisation in the nucleon is re-evaluated using the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry measured in the cross section of semi-inclusive single-hadron muoproduction with photon virtuality Q"2 > 1 (GeV/c)"2. The data were obtained by the COMPASS experiment at CERN using a 160 GeV/c polarised muon beam impinging on a polarised "6LiD target. By analysing the full range in hadron transverse momentum p_T, the different p_T-dependences of the underlying processes are separated using a neural-network approach. In the absence of pQCD calculations at next-to-leading order in the selected kinematic domain, the gluon polarisation Δg/g is evaluated at leading order in pQCD at a hard scale of μ"2 = left angle Q"2 right angle = 3 (GeV/c)"2. It is determined in three intervals of the nucleon momentum fraction carried by gluons, x_g, covering the range 0.04 < x_g < 0.28 and does not exhibit a significant dependence on x_g. The average over the three intervals, left angle Δg/g right angle = 0.113 ± 0.038_(_s_t_a_t_._) ± 0.036_(_s_y_s_t_._) at left angle x_g right angle ∼ 0.10, suggests that the gluon polarisation is positive in the measured x_g range. (orig.)

[en] The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has investigated the reaction π^-γ → π^-π^-π⁺ embedded in the Primakoff reaction of 190 GeV pions scattering in the Coulomb field of a lead target, π^-Pb → π^-π^-π⁺ Pb. Exchange of quasi-real photons is selected by isolating the sharp Coulomb peak observed at momentum transfer below 0.001 (GeV/c)². Using a partial-wave analysis the amplitudes and relative phases of the a₂(1320) and π₂(1670) mesons have been extracted, and the Coulomb and the diffractive contributions have been disentangled. Measuring absolute production cross sections we have determined the radiative width of the a₂(1320) to be Γ₀(a₂(1320) → πγ) = (358 ± 6_stat ± 42_syst) keV. As the first measurement, Γ₀(π₂(1670) → πγ) = (181 ± 11_stat ± 27_syst) keV . (BR^PDG_f2π/BR_f2π) is obtained for the radiative width of the π₂(1670), where in this analysis the branching ratio BR^PDG_f2π = 0.56 has been used. We compare these values to previous measurements and theoretical predictions. (orig.)

[en] Large samples of Λ, Σ(1385) and Ξ(1321) hyperons produced in the deep-inelastic muon scattering off a ⁶LiD target were collected with the COMPASS experimental setup at CERN. The relative yields of Σ(1385)⁺, Σ(1385)^-, anti Σ(1385)^-, anti Σ(1385)⁺, Ξ(1321)^-, and anti Ξ(1321)⁺ hyperons decaying into Λ(anti Λ)π were measured. The ratios of heavy-hyperon to Λ and heavy-antihyperon to anti Λ were found to be in the range 3.8 % to 5.6 % with a relative uncertainty of about 10 %. They were used to tune the parameters relevant for strange particle production of the LEPTO Monte Carlo generator. (orig.)

[en] Multiplicities of charged hadrons produced in deep inelastic muon scattering off a ⁶LiD target have been measured as a function of the DIS variables x_Bj, Q², W² and the final state hadron variables p_T and z. The p_T² distributions are fitted with a single exponential function at low values of p_T² to determine the dependence of left angle p_T² right angle on x_Bj, Q², W² and z. The z-dependence of left angle p_T² right angle is shown to be a potential tool to extract the average intrinsic transverse momentum squared of partons, left angle k _{perpendicularto}² right angle, as a function of x_Bj and Q² in a leading order QCD parton model. (orig.)