KAON ELECTROMAGNETIC PRODUCTION AND RADIATIVE-CAPTURE NEAR HYPERON THRESHOLDS

A comprehensive analysis of the available low energy kaon photoproduct ion p(gamma, K+)Y, and electroproduction p(e, e'K+)Y, data is presente d for Y = LAMBDA, SIGMA-degrees and A(1405). Using covariant perturbat ion theory in a Quantum Hadrodynamic framework [1, 2], both cross sect ions and polarization observables are computed for energies near and a bove the hyperon thresholds in anticipation of future CEBAF experiment s. Utilizing crossing symmetry, the model has also been extended to de scribe capture branching ratio data for p(K-, gamma)Y and to predict c ross sections for p(K-, e+e-)Y to motivate possible experiments at KAO N. Finally, results from a kaon form factor study, for both time-like and space-like regions, will be discussed based upon extended vector d ominance model calculations.