We report the measurement of the $\gamma p \rightarrow K^{+}\Lambda$ and $\gamma p \rightarrow K^{+}\Sigma^{0}$ reactions at SPring-8. The differential cross sections and photon-beam asymmetries are measured at forward $K^{+}$ production angles using linearly polarized tagged-photon beams in the range of $E_{\gamma}=1.5$--3.0 GeV. With increasing photon energy, the cross sections for both $\gamma p \rightarrow K^{+}\Lambda$ and $\gamma p \rightarrow K^{+}\Sigma^{0}$ reactions decrease slowly. Distinct narrow structures in the production cross section have not been found at $E_{\gamma}=1.5$--3.0 GeV. The forward peaking in the angular distributions of cross sections, a characteristic feature of $t$-channel exchange, is observed for the production of $\Lambda$ in the whole observed energy range. A lack of similar feature for $\Sigma^{0}$ production reflects a less dominant role of $t$-channel contribution in this channel. The photon-beam asymmetries remain positive for both reactions, suggesting the dominance of $K^{*}$ exchange in the $t$ channel. These asymmetries increase gradually with the photon energy, and have a maximum value of +0.6 for both reactions. Comparison with theoretical predictions based on the Regge trajectory in the $t$ channel and the contributions of nucleon resonances indicates the major role of $t$-channel contributions as well as non-negligible effects of nucleon resonances in accounting for the reaction mechanism of hyperon photoproduction in this photon energy regime.
Differential cross sections for the GAMMA P --> K+ LAMBDA reaction as a function of photon energy Egamma for the kaon c.m. production polar angle 0.6 < cos(theta) < 0.7.
Differential cross sections for the GAMMA P --> K+ LAMBDA reaction as a function of photon energy Egamma for the kaon c.m. production polar angle 0.7 < cos(theta) < 0.8.
Differential cross sections for the GAMMA P --> K+ LAMBDA reaction as a function of photon energy Egamma for the kaon c.m. production polar angle 0.8 < cos(theta) < 0.9.
Photoproduction of $\Lambda$(1520) with liquid hydrogen and deuterium targets was examined at photon energies below 2.4 GeV in the SPring-8/LEPS experiment. For the first time, the differential cross sections were measured at low energies and with a deuterium target. A large asymmetry of the production cross sections from protons and neutrons was observed at backward K$^{+/0}$ angles. This suggests the importance of the contact term, which coexists with t-channel K exchange under gauge invariance. This interpretation was compatible with the differential cross sections, decay asymmetry, and photon beam asymmetry measured in the production from protons at forward K$^+$ angles.
The measured differential cross sections from the liquid hydrogen target, protons, as a function the K+ polar angle.
The measured differential cross sections from the liquid hydrogen target, protons, as a function the photon energy at forward K+ polar angles of 19-43 degrees .
The measured of differential cross section at backward K+/K0 polar angles of 120-150 degrees as a function of photon energy from the liquid hydrogen target, protons, and liquid deuterium target, deuterons.
Differential cross sections for $\gamma p \to K^+\Lambda(1405)$ and $\gamma p \to K^+\Sigma^0(1385)$ reactions have been measured in the photon energy range from 1.5 to 2.4 GeV and the angular range of $0.8<\cos(\Theta)<1.0$ for the $K^+$ scattering angle in the center-of-mass system. This data is the first measurement of the $\Lambda(1405)$ photoproduction cross section. The lineshapes of \LamS measured in $\Sigma^+\pi^-$ and $\Sigma^-\pi^+$ decay modes were different with each other, indicating a strong interference of the isospin 0 and 1 terms of the $\Sigma\pi$ scattering amplitudes. The ratios of \LamS production to \SigS production were measured in two photon energy ranges: near the production threshold ($1.5<E_\gamma<2.0$ GeV) and far from it ($2.0 <E_\gamma<2.4$ GeV). The observed ratio decreased in the higher photon energy region, which may suggest different production mechanisms and internal structures for these hyperon resonances.
Cross section for LAMBDA(1405) production.
Cross section for SIGMA(1385)0 production.
Cross sections for the $\gamma p \to K^+ \Lambda$ have been measured at backward angles using linearly polarized photons in the range 1.50 to 2.37 GeV. In addition, the beam asymmetry for this reaction has been measured for the first time at backward angles. The $\Lambda$ was detected at forward angles in the LEPS spectrometer via its decay to $p\pi^-$ and the K^+ was inferred using the technique of missing mass. These measurements, corresponding to kaons at far backward angles in the center-of-mass frame, complement similar CLAS data at other angles. Comparison with theoretical models shows that the reactions in these kinematics provide further opportunities to investigate the reaction mechanisms of hadron dynamics.
Differential cross sections as a function of the Mandelstam variable U for photon beam energy 1.5 to 1.8 GeV.
Differential cross sections as a function of the Mandelstam variable U for photon beam energy 1.8 to 2.1 GeV.
Differential cross sections as a function of the Mandelstam variable U for photon beam energy 2.1 to 2.4 GeV.
Differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries have been measured for the gamma n -> K+ Sigma- and gamma p -> K+ Sigma0 reactions separately using liquid deuterium and hydrogen targets with incident linearly polarized photon beams of Egamma=1.5-2.4 GeV at 0.6<cosTheta<1. The cross section ratio of sigma(K+Sigma-)/sigma(K+Sigma0), expected to be 2 on the basis of the isospin 1/2 exchange, is found to be close to 1. For the K+Sigma- reaction, large positive asymmetries are observed indicating the dominance of the K*-exchange. A large difference between the asymmetries for the K+Sigma- and K+Sigma0 reactions can not be explained by simple theoretical considerations.
Differential cross section for GAMMA P --> K+ SIGMA0.. Errors are statistical only.
Photon beam asymmetry for GAMMA N --> K+ SIGMA-.. Errors are statistical only.
Photon beam asymmetry for GAMMA P --> K+ SIGMA0.. Errors are statistical only.
Differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries for the gamma p rightarrow K+ Lambda and gamma p rightarrow K+ Sigma0 reactions have been measured in the photon energy range from 1.5 GeV to 2.4 GeV and in the angular range from Theta_{cm} = 0 to 60 of the K+ scattering angle in the center of mass system at the SPring-8/LEPS facility. The photon beam asymmetries for both the reactions have been found to be positive and to increase with the photon energy. The measured differential cross sections agree with the data measured by the CLAS collaboration at cosTheta_{cm}<0.9 within the experimental uncertainties, but the discrepancy with the SAPHIR data for the K+Lambda reaction is large at cosTheta_{cm}>0.9. In the K+Lambda reaction, the resonance-like structure found in the CLAS and SAPHIR data at W=1.96 GeV is confirmed. The differential cross sections at forward angles suggest a strong K-exchange contribution in the t-channel for the K+Lambda reaction, but not for the K+Sigma0 reaction.
Photon beam asymmetries for the two reactions as a function of CM angle for photon beam energy 1.55 GeV (W=1.947 GeV).
Photon beam asymmetries for the two reactions as a function of CM angle for photon beam energy 1.65 GeV (W=1.994 GeV).
Photon beam asymmetries for the two reactions as a function of CM angle for photon beam energy 1.75 GeV (W=2.041 GeV).
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