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.
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