K* photoproduction off the nucleon: gamma N --> K* Lambda

Abstract

We study the photoproduction of $K^{\ast }(892)$ vector meson from both the charged and neutral reactions, $\gamma p\to K^{\ast +}\Lambda$ and $\gamma n\to K^{\ast 0}\Lambda$. The production mechanisms that we consider include $t$-channel $K^{\ast }$, $K$, $\kappa$ exchanges, s-channel nucleon diagram, and $u$-channel $\Lambda$, $\Sigma$, ${\Sigma }^{\ast }$ diagrams. These could constitute important backgrounds for future investigation of ``missing'' resonances that can be searched for especially in these reactions. The $t$-channel $K$ meson exchange is found to dominate both reactions. The total and differential cross sections are presented together with some spin asymmetries.

16 pages, 7 figures, REVTeX, discussions added, to appear in Phys. Rev. C