Status of the search for exotic hybrid mesons in π⁰η and π⁰η' systems at GlueX

For several decades, various experiments have studied the spectrum of hadrons. Motivated by Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics (LQCD), “gluonic excitations” would entail several states with quantum numbers not permitted by the constituent quark model. Discovering these proposed exotic hybrid mesons with forbidden J^PC values would provide evidence for non quark-antiquark states. The search for exotic hybrid mesons at the GlueX experiment has completed the initial phase of data collection during 2018; large data samples with acceptance for all final states are currently being studied. An emphasis has been placed on the lightest exotic state with J^PC = 1^-+ predicted by LQCD. Strong interest has been placed on both the π⁰η and π⁰η' systems due to compelling evidence for exotic quantum numbers in the past. Preliminary results will be shown for γp→π⁰η^(')→4γπ⁺π^-p utilizing all of the GlueX Phase-1 data as well as a comparison to previous experimental (COMPASS) and theoretical (JPAC) results of the same channels.