Nodal trajectories of spin observables and kaon photoproduction dynamics

Abstract

Spin observables for the reaction $\gamma p \rightarrow K^+ \Lambda$ are examined using three recent dynamical models and are compared to the general features of such observables deduced earlier by Fasano, Tabakin and Saghai. These general features, such as the energy dependence of spin observables and the location of nodes in their angle dependence, are realized. Several instructive surprises, which occur in this comparison to the conjectures of Fasano et al., are then discussed. The sensitivity of spin observables to isobar and {\it t-}channel dynamics is analyzed and suggestions for selecting experiments which provide important dynamical information are presented.