Exclusive photo- and electroproduction of mesons in the GeV region

Abstract

We consider the reactions gamma p --> M B, with M B being either K+ Lambda, K+ Sigma0, or Pi n, within a diquark model which is based on perturbative QCD. The model parameters and the quark-diquark distribution amplitudes of the baryons are taken from previous investigations of electromagnetic baryon form factors and Compton-scattering off protons. Reasonable agreement with the few existing photoproduction data at large momentum transfer is found for meson distribution amplitudes compatible with the asymptotic one (proportional to x (1-x)). We present also first results for hard electroproduction of the K+ Lambda final state. Our predictions exhibit some characteristic features which could easily be tested in forthcoming electroproduction experiments.