Differential Cross Section and Recoil Polarization Measurements for the \u3ci\u3eγp\u3c/i\u3e→\u3ci\u3eK\u3c/i\u3e\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3eΛ Reaction Using CLAS at Jefferson Lab
We present measurements of the differential cross section and \u27B; recoil polarization for the γp → K+Λ reaction made using the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab. These measurements cover the center-of-mass energy range from 1.62 to 2.84 GeV and a wide range of center-of-mass K+ production angles. Independent analyses were performed using the K+pπ− and K+p (missing π−) final-state topologies; results from these analyses were found to exhibit good agreement. These differential-cross-section measurements show excellent agreement with previous CLAS and LEPS results and offer increased precision and a 300-MeV increase in energy coverage. The recoil polarization data agree well with previous results and offer a large increase in precision and a 500-MeV extension in energy range. The increased center-of-mass energy range that these data represent will allow for independent study of nonresonant K+\u27B; photoproduction mechanisms at all production angles
