The Photoproduction of Hybrid Mesons from Cebaf to HERA

Abstract

Decay widths, branching ratios and production dynamics of some recently discovered $J^{PC} = 1^{-+}, 0^{-+}$,$1^{--}$ and $2^{-+}$ mesons are found to be in remarkable agreement with the predicted properties of hybrid mesons. We propose tests for this new dynamics, emphasise the critical role of $\pi b_1$ or $\pi h_1$ decay channels in discriminating hybrids from conventional states, and suggest that photoproduction may offer special opportunities for isolation and confirmation of hybrids.