Separated Structure Functions for Exclusive $K^+\Lambda$ and $K^+\Sigma^0$ Electroproduction at 5.5 GeV with CLAS

TL;DR

This paper presents detailed measurements of separated structure functions for exclusive $K^+\Lambda$ and $K^+\Sigma^0$ electroproduction at 5.5 GeV, covering a broad kinematic range, aiding the search for missing baryon resonances.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive dataset of separated structure functions for these reactions over a wide kinematic range, enhancing constraints on baryon resonance models.

Findings

Measured $\sigma_U$, $\sigma_{LT}$, $\sigma_{TT}$, $\sigma_{LT'}$ structure functions.

Data span $Q^2$ from 1.4 to 3.9 GeV$^2$ and $W$ up to 2.6 GeV.

Results will help constrain baryon resonance analyses.

Abstract

We report measurements of the exclusive electroproduction of $K^+\Lambda$ and $K^+\Sigma^0$ final states from an unpolarized proton target using the CLAS detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The separated structure functions $\sigma_U$, $\sigma_{LT}$, $\sigma_{TT}$, and $\sigma_{LT'}$ were extracted from the $\Phi$-dependent differential cross sections acquired with a longitudinally polarized 5.499 GeV electron beam. The data span a broad range of momentum transfers $Q^2$ from 1.4 to 3.9 GeV$^2$, invariant energy $W$ from threshold to 2.6 GeV, and nearly the full center-of-mass angular range of the kaon. The separated structure functions provide an unprecedented data sample, which in conjunction with other meson photo- and electroproduction data, will help to constrain the higher-level analyses being performed to search for missing baryon resonances.