Baryon -- anti-Baryon Photoproduction

Abstract

Baryon - anti-baryon photoproduction off a proton target is being studied in detail at Jefferson Lab with the GlueX Experiment. We observe $p\bar{p}$ and, for the first time, $\Lambda \bar{\Lambda }$ photoproduction (with $\Lambda \to {\pi }^{-}p$, $\bar{\Lambda }\to {\pi }^{+}\bar{p}$) from thresholds up to $E_{\gamma }=11.4$ GeV. Preliminary spectra from data accumulated during the GlueX Phase-I period are shown. Angular distributions of the photoproduced hyperons indicate more than one production mechanism in the reaction channel $\gamma p\to \Lambda \bar{\Lambda }p$. A Monte Carlo simulation with four mechanisms, tested through comparison between simulation and experimental data, is presented.

8 pages, 13 figures, MENU 2019 conference proceedings