Excitation-energy spectra of $^{ 11}$C nuclei near the $\eta^\prime$-meson production threshold have been measured by missing-mass spectroscopy using the $^{ 12}$C($p$,$d$) reaction. A carbon target has been irradiated with a 2.5 GeV proton beam supplied by the synchrotron SIS-18 at GSI to produce $\eta^\prime$ meson bound states in $^{ 11}$C nuclei. Deuterons emitted at $0^\circ$ in the reaction have been momentum-analyzed by the fragment separator (FRS) used as a high-resolution spectrometer. No distinct structure due to the formation of $\eta^\prime$-mesic states is observed although a high statistical sensitivity is achieved in the experimental spectra. Upper limits on the formation cross sections of $\eta^\prime$-mesic states are determined, and thereby a constraint imposed on the $\eta^\prime$-nucleus interaction is discussed.
Categories: nucl-ex nucl-th