Abstract: | Measurements of the differential cross-section and the transverse single-spin
asymmetry, A_N, vs. x_F for pi0 and eta mesons are reported for 0.4 < x_F <
0.75 at an average pseudorapidity of 3.68. A data sample of approximately 6.3
pb^{-1} was analyzed, which was recorded during p+p collisions at sqrt{s} = 200
GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The average transverse beam polarization
was 56%. The cross-section for pi0 is consistent with a perturbative QCD
prediction, and the eta/pi0 cross-section ratio agrees with previous
mid-rapidity measurements. For 0.55 < x_F < 0.75, A_N for eta (0.210 +- 0.056)
is 2.2 standard deviations larger than A_N for pi0 (0.081 +- 0.016). |