K0πand K*0Σ+ photoproduction off the proton

The exclusive reactions γp → K ^*0Σ⁺(1189) and γp → K ⁰π⁰Σ⁺(1189) , leading to the p 4π⁰ final state, have been measured with a tagged photon beam for incident energies from threshold up to 2.5GeV. The experiment has been performed at the tagged photon facility of the ELSA accelerator (Bonn). The Crystal Barrel and TAPS detectors were combined to a photon detector system of almost 4π geometrical acceptance. Differential and total cross-sections are reported. At energies close to the threshold, a flat angular distribution has been observed for the reaction γp → K ⁰π⁰Σ⁺ suggesting dominant s -channel production. Σ^*(1385) and higher-lying hyperon states have been observed. An enhancement in the forward direction in the angular distributions of the reaction γp → K ^*0Σ⁺ indicates a t -channel exchange contribution to the reaction mechanism. The experimental data are in reasonable agreement with recent theoretical predictions.