Measurement of the Induced Polarization of Λ (1116) in Kaon Electroproduction with CLAS

Abstract

The CLAS Collaboration is using the p(e, e′K+p)π− reaction to measure the induced polarization of the electroproduced Λ(1116). In this experiment a 5.499‐GeV electron beam was incident upon an unpolarized liquid‐hydrogen target. The CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) was used to detect the scattered electron, the kaon, and the decay proton from the Λ hyperon. CLAS allowed for a large kinematic acceptance in Q2(0.75≤Q2≤3.5 GeV2) and W(1.6≤W≤3.0 GeV), as well as the kaon center‐of‐mass scattering angle. The goal is to map out the kinematic dependencies for the induced polarization in order to provide new constraints on models of K‐hyperon production. Along with previously published photo‐ and electroproduction cross sections and polarization observables from CLAS, LEPS, SAPHIR, and GRAAL, these new induced polarization data are needed in coupled‐channel analyses to search for previously unobserved s‐channel resonances. Preliminary polarization results are presented.