The $K^{\ast 0}\Lambda$ photoproduction off a neutron

TL;DR

This study investigates the photoproduction of $K^{*0}\Lambda$ off a neutron using an effective Lagrangian approach, highlighting the dominant role of $K$-exchange and comparing different theoretical models with preliminary experimental data.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the interaction mechanisms in $K^{*0}\Lambda$ photoproduction, including the comparison of Regge and Feynman models for the $t$-channel contribution.

Findings

$K$-exchange dominates the $t$-channel contribution.

$7$ exchange contribution is significantly smaller.

Discrepancies between models are small at current energies but grow at higher energies.

Abstract

Inspired by the preliminary experimental data by the CLAS Collaboration, the $K^{\ast 0}\Lambda$ photoproduction off a neutron is studied within an effective Lagrangian approach. The contributions from the Born terms including $s$, $u$, and $t$ channels are considered to calculate the amplitude, with which the cross sections are calculated and compared with preliminary CLAS data. The theoretical results indicate that the contribution from the $K$-exchange $t$ channel plays a dominant role for the $K^{\ast 0}\Lambda$ photoproduction. The contribution from the $\kappa$ exchange is found one order of magnitude smaller than that from the $K$ exchange. Both the Regge model and the Feynman model are applied to treat the $t$-channel contribution. The discrepancy between two models is found small in the energy range of CLAS data and predicted to become obvious at energies higher than 3 GeV. More precise experimental data especially at backward angles will be helpful to further understand the interaction mechanism of the $K^{\ast 0}\Lambda$ photoproduction.