Strangeness photoproduction at extremely forward angles at the BGO-OD experiment

TL;DR

The BGO-OD experiment investigates strangeness photoproduction at forward angles using a specialized detector setup, providing insights into low momentum transfer processes and reaction mechanisms relevant to hypernuclei and molecular interactions.

Contribution

This study presents new measurements of differential cross sections and line shapes for strangeness photoproduction at extremely forward angles, enhancing understanding of t-channel exchange mechanisms.

Findings

Progress in $K^+\Lambda$(1405) differential cross sections

Measurements of $K^0$ photoproduction at forward angles

Data on $K^+\Lambda$ and $K^+\Sigma^0$ photoproduction

Abstract

The BGO-OD experiment at the ELSA accelerator facility uses an energy tagged bremstrahlung photon beam to investigate the internal structure of the nucleon. The setup consists of a highly segmented BGO calorimeter surrounding the target, with a particle tracking magnetic spectrometer at forward angles. BGO-OD is ideal for investigating low momentum transfer processes due to the acceptance and high momentum resolution at forward angles. This enables the investigation of strangeness photoproduction where $t$-channel exchange mechanisms play a dominant role. A detailed understanding of this low-momentum transfer region is also crucial for constraints in hypernuclei electroproduction, and sensitive to any extended, molecular-like interactions that may contribute to reaction mechanisms. Progress in the study of $K^+\Lambda$(1405) differential cross sections and line shapes, $K^0$ photoproduction, and differential cross section measurements for $K^+\Lambda$ and $K^+\Sigma^0$ photoproduction at extremely forward angles is presented. Opportunities for hypernuclei studies are also discussed.