Separated structure functions for the exclusive electroproduction of K+Λ and K+Σ0 final states

We report measurements of the exclusive electroproduction of K+Λ and K+Σ0 final states from a proton target using the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) large-acceptance spectrometer (CLAS) detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The separated structure functions σT,σL,σTT, and σLT were extracted from the Φ- and ε-dependent differential cross sections taken with electron beam energies of 2.567, 4.056, and 4.247 GeV. This analysis represents the first σL/σT separation with the CLAS detector, and the first measurement of the kaon electroproduction structure functions away from parallel kinematics. The data span a broad range of momentum transfers from 0.5≤Q2≤2.8GeV2 and invariant energy from 1.6≤W≤2.4 GeV, while spanning nearly the full center-of-mass angular range of the kaon. The separated structure functions reveal clear differences between the production dynamics for the Λ and Σ0 hyperons. These results provide an unprecedented data sample with which to constrain current and future models for the associated production of strangeness, which will allow for a better understanding of the underlying resonant and nonresonant contributions to hyperon production.