Cross sections for the γp → K*+Λ and γp → K*+Σ0 reactions measured at CLAS

The first high-statistics cross sections for the reactions gamma p -> K*(+)Lambda and gamma p -> K*(+)Sigma(0) were measured using the CLAS detector at photon energies between threshold and 3.9 GeV at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. Differential cross sections are presented over the full range of the center-of-mass angles, and then fitted to Legendre polynomials to extract the total cross section. Results for the K*(+)Lambda final state are compared with two different calculations in an isobar and a Regge model, respectively. Theoretical calculations significantly underestimate the K*(+)Lambda total cross sections between 2.1 and 2.6 GeV, but are in better agreement with present data at higher photon energies.