Measurement of the beam asymmetry $Sigma$ for $pi^0$ and $eta$ photoproduction on the proton at $E_gamma = 9$ GeV

We report measurements of the photon beam asymmetry $Sigma$ for the reactions $vec{gamma}pto ppi^0$ and $vec{gamma}pto peta $ from the GlueX experiment using a 9 GeV linearly-polarized, tagged photon beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target in Jefferson Labs Hall D. The asymmetries, measured as a function of the proton momentum transfer, possess greater precision than previous $pi^0$ measurements and are the first $eta$ measurements in this energy regime. The results are compared with theoretical predictions based on $t$-channel, quasi-particle exchange and constrain the axial-vector component of the neutral meson production mechanism in these models.