Cross Sections for the ${\hat{I}}^{3}p\to K^{\ast 0}\hat{I}{\pounds }^{+}$ Reaction at $E_{\hat{I}}^3=1.7-3.0$ GeV

Abstract

Differential cross sections for the reaction ${\hat{I}}^{3}p\to K^{\ast 0}\hat{I}{\pounds }^{+}$ are presented at nine bins in photon energy in the range from 1.7 to 3.0 GeV. The \kstar was detected by its decay products, $K^{+}\ddot{I}{€}^{-}$, in the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab. These data are the first \kstar photoproduction cross sections ever published over a broad range of angles. Comparison with a theoretical model based on the vector and tensor $K^{\ast }$-quark couplings shows good agreement with the data in general, after adjusting the model's two parameters in a fit to our data. Disagreement between the data at forward angles and the global angle-energy fit to the model suggests that the role of scalar $\hat{I}º$ meson exchange in $t$-channel diagrams should be investigated.

7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C (Rapid Commun.)