ELECTROMAGNETIC PRODUCTION OF THE HYPERTRITON

Kaon photoproduction on He-3, gamma + He-3 --> K+ + H-3(Lambda), is st udied in the framework of the impulse approximation. Realistic He-3 wa ve functions obtained as solutions of Faddeev equations with the Reid soft-core potential are used along with different H-3(Lambda) wave fun ctions, Results are compared for several elementary operator models, w hich can successfully describe the elementary kaon production off the proton up to a photon lab energy of k = 2.2 GeV. It is found that the corresponding cross sections are small, of the order of several nanoba rns. It is also shown that the influence of Fermi motion is important, while the effect of different off-shell assumptions on the cross sect ion is not too significant. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.