Measurement of η photoproduction on the proton from threshold to 1500 MeV

Beam asymmetry and differential cross-section for the reaction γp → ηp were measured from production threshold to 1500MeV photon laboratory energy. The two dominant neutral decay modes of the η -meson, η → 2γ and η → 3π0 , were analyzed. The full set of measurements is in good agreement with previously published results. Our data were compared with three models. They all fit satisfactorily the results but their respective resonance contributions are quite different. The possible photoexcitation of a narrow state N(1670) was investigated and no evidence was found.