Role of the $K_1$ meson in $K^0$ photoproduction off the deuteron

TL;DR

This paper investigates neutral kaon photoproduction off nucleons and deuterons using new experimental data, employing an isobar model and impulse approximation, revealing the role of the $K_1$ meson and the angular distribution characteristics.

Contribution

It introduces a combined analysis of elementary and deuteron data with an isobar model, highlighting the necessity of a weighting factor for deuteron data fitting and clarifying the angular distribution behavior.

Findings

Elementary $K^0 ightarrow ext{Lambda}$ process lacks backward peaking.

Deuteron data fitting requires a weighting factor.

The $K_1$ meson plays a significant role in the reaction.

Abstract

Neutral kaon photoproduction off the nucleon and deuteron has been reinvestigated by utilizing the new experimental data on both targets. An isobar model for elementary operator and impulse approximation for the reaction on the deuteron have been used. The available free parameters in the elementary model have been extracted from both elementary and deuteron data. In contrast to the elementary reaction, fitting the deuteron data requires an inclusion of weighting factor. The result indicates that the angular distribution of the elementary $K^0\Lambda$ process does not show backward peaking behavior.