Search for Θ+(1540) pentaquark in high-statistics measurement of γp→(K)over-bar0K+n at CLAS -: art. no. 042001

The exclusive reaction gamma p ->(K) over bar (0)K(+)n was studied in the photon energy range between 1.6 and 3.8 GeV searching for evidence of the exotic baryon Theta(+)(1540)-> nK(+). The decay to nK(+) requires the assignment of strangeness S=+1 to any observed resonance. Data were collected with the CLAS detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 70 pb(-1). No evidence for the Theta(+) pentaquark was found. Upper limits were set on the production cross section as function of center-of-mass angle and nK(+) mass. The 95% C.L. upper limit on the total cross section for a narrow resonance at 1540 MeV was found to be 0.8 nb.