The $\phi(2170)$ production in the process $\gamma p\to \eta \phi p$

Abstract

We have studied the $\gamma p\to \eta \phi p$ reaction within the effective Lagrangian approach, by considering the contribution of the intermediate state $\phi(2170)$ production, and the background contributions of $t$-channel $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ mesons exchanges with the intermediate states $N$ and $N(1535)$. Our calculations show that there may be a peak, at least a bump structure around 2180 MeV associated to the resonance $\phi(2170)$ in the $\eta\phi$ mass distribution. We suggest to search for the resonance $\phi(2170)$ in this reaction, which would be helpful to shed light on its nature.