Observation of $\gamma p \to \Lambda \bar{\Lambda} p$ with GlueX at Jefferson Lab

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of baryon-antibaryon photoproduction in the reaction gamma p to Lambda anti-Lambda p using the GlueX detector at Jefferson Lab, covering photon energies from 4.9 to 11.6 GeV.

Contribution

It introduces the first experimental observation of this specific baryon-antibaryon production process in photon-proton interactions.

Findings

First observation of gamma p to Lambda anti-Lambda p reaction

Photon energy range from 4.9 to 11.6 GeV covered

Initial insights into reaction phenomenology

Abstract

For the first time, baryon-antibaryon photoproduction in the reaction $\gamma p \to \Lambda \bar{\Lambda} p$ has been observed at photon energies from threshold near 4.9 GeV to 11.6 GeV. The measurements are in progress with the GlueX spectrometer in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. We describe here the apparatus and methods used to make these measurements and outline the physics goals of the work. Some of the newly-seen reaction phenomenology is presented.