Measurement of the g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ reaction with the Crystal Ball/TAPS detectors at the Mainz Microtron

TL;DR

This study measures the g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ reaction using advanced detectors at Mainz Microtron, providing new data that enhances understanding of this reaction's cross sections and polarization, and improves theoretical models.

Contribution

First detailed measurement of the g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ reaction from threshold to 1.45 GeV using the Crystal Ball and TAPS detectors at Mainz Microtron.

Findings

Total and differential cross sections obtained

Recoil hyperon polarization measured

Data improves reaction modeling accuracy

Abstract

The g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ reaction has been measured from threshold to Eg=1.45 GeV (W_cm=1.9 GeV) using the Crystal Ball and TAPS multiphoton spectrometers together with the photon tagging facility at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. In the present experiment, this reaction was searched for in the 3pi^0 p final state, by assuming K^0_S -> pi^0 pi^0 and Sigma^+ -> pi^0 p. The experimental results include total and differential cross sections as well as the polarization of the recoil hyperon. The new data significantly improve empirical knowledge about the g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ reaction in the measured energy range. The results are compared to previous measurements and model predictions. It is demonstrated that adding the present g p -> K^0 Sigma^+ results to existing data allowed a better description of this reaction with various models.