Differential cross section of gamma n to K+ Sigma- on bound neutrons with incident photons from 1.1 to 3.6 GeV

TL;DR

This paper reports the first comprehensive measurement of the differential cross sections for gamma n to K+ Sigma- reactions on bound neutrons across a broad energy range, revealing different production mechanisms at various energies.

Contribution

It provides the first complete set of strangeness photoproduction data on the neutron over a wide angular and energy range, aiding future theoretical and experimental analyses.

Findings

Angular distribution suggests s-channel mechanisms near threshold.

Forward peak indicates t-channel contributions at higher energies.

Data constrains future reaction modeling.

Abstract

Differential cross sections of the reaction gamma d to K+ Sigma- (p) have been measured with the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab using incident photons with energies between 1.1 and 3.6 GeV. This is the first complete set of strangeness photoproduction data on the neutron covering a broad angular range. At energies close to threshold and up to E_gamma ~ 1.8 GeV, the shape of the angular distribution is suggestive of the presence of s-channel production mechanisms. For E_gamma > 1.8 GeV, a clear forward peak appears and becomes more prominent as the photon energy increases, suggesting contributions from t-channel production mechanisms. These data can be used to constrain future analysis of this reaction.