Constraints on background contributions from K+ Lambda electroproduction

Abstract

Results for response functions for kaon electroproduction on the proton are presented. A tree-level hadrodynamical model is adopted and it is shown that some of the electroproduction response functions are particularly powerful with the eye on gaining control over the parameterization of the background diagrams. The existing data set for the p(e,e'K+)Lambda reaction appears to rule out the use of a g_{K+ Lambda p} coupling constant beyond the boundaries of softly broken SU(3) flavor symmetry. Also the use of soft hadronic form factors, which has been proposed as a valid alternative for a hadrodynamical description of the p(gamma,K+)Lambda data in the resonance region, seems to be disfavored by the magnitude of the measured p(e,e'K+)Lambda cross sections.