φ-meson photoproduction from nuclei

We study coherent and incoherent φ-meson photoproduction from nuclei. The available data are analyzed in terms of single- and coupled-channel photoproduction. It is found that the data on coherent photoproduction can be well reproduced within a single-channel optical model and show only little room for ω-φ mixing. These data indicate a normal distortion of the φ-meson in nuclei, which is compatible with the results obtained through the vector meson dominance model. The data on incoherent φ-meson photoproduction show an anomalous A-dependence resulting in a very strong φ-meson distortion. These data can be explained by a coupled-channel effect through the dominant contribution from the ω↦φ or the π↦φ transition or, more speculative, through the excitation of a cryptoexotic Bφ-baryon.