Bayesian Model Selection for Electromagnetic Kaon Production on the Nucleon

Abstract

We present the results of a Bayesian analysis of a Regge model for K+ Lambda photoproduction. The model is based on the exchange of K+(494) and K*+(892) trajectories in the t-channel. For different prior widths, we find decisive Bayesian evidence (\Delta ln Z ~ 24) for a K+ Lambda photoproduction Regge model with a positive vector coupling and a negative tensor coupling constant for the K+(892) trajectory, and a rotating phase factor for both trajectories. Using the chi^2 minimization method, one could not draw this conclusion from the same dataset.