Testing the nature of the $\Lambda (1520)$ resonance through photoproduction

Abstract

Recent studies within the framework of chiral unitary theory produce the $\Lambda (1520)$ resonance, among several others, as a dynamically generated resonance from the interaction of the baryon decuplet and the meson octet. The $\Lambda (1520)$ qualifies as a quasibound state of $\pi \Sigma(1385)$ and this has repercussion in some observable quantities. In the present work we show that the $\gamma p\to K^+K^-p$ reaction has a sizeable cross section for invariant $K^-p$ masses above the $\Lambda(1520)$ mass. On the other hand, we also find that the $\gamma p\to K^+\pi\Sigma(1385)$ reaction has a sizeable cross section in that energy region as a consequence of the strong coupling of the $\Lambda (1520)$ to $\pi\Sigma(1385)$, and then we make predictions for the ratio of this cross section to that of the $\gamma p\to K^+ K^-p $ reaction.