Analysis of the data on spin density matrix elements for $\gamma p \to K^{*+}\Lambda$

Abstract

In our previous work [Phys. Rev. C {\bf 96}, 035206 (2017)], the high-precision differential cross-section data for $\gamma p \to K^{*+}\Lambda$ reported by the CLAS Collaboration has been analyzed within an effective Lagrangian approach. It was found that apart from the $t$-channel $K$, $K^*$, and $\kappa$ exchanges, the $u$-channel $\Lambda$, $\Sigma$, and $\Sigma^*$ exchanges, the $s$-channel $N$ exchange, and the interaction current, one needs to introduce at least two nucleon resonances in the $s$ channel in constructing the reaction amplitudes to describe the cross-section data. One of the needed resonances is $N(2060)5/2^-$, and the other one could be one of the $N(2000)5/2^+$, $N(2040)3/2^+$, $N(2100)1/2^+$, $N(2120)3/2^-$, and $N(2190)7/2^-$ resonances. In this paper, we further include in our analysis the data on spin density matrix elements for $K^*$ meson reported recently by the CLAS Collaboration, with the purpose being to impose further constraints on extracting the resonance contents and to gain a better understanding of the reaction mechanism. It turns out that with the new data on spin density matrix elements taken into account, only the set with the $N(2060)5/2^-$ and $N(2000)5/2^+$ resonances among those five possible solutions extracted from the analysis of the differential cross-section data can satisfactorily describe the data on both the differential cross sections and the spin density matrix elements. Further analysis shows that this reaction is dominated by the $t$-channel $K$ exchange and $s$-channel $N(2060)5/2^-$ and $N(2000)5/2^+$ exchanges.