Influence of N∗-resonances on hyperon production in the channel pp→K+Λp at 2.95, 3.20 and 3.30 GeV/c beam momentum

Hyperon production in the threshold region was studied in the reaction pp→K+Λp using the time-of-flight spectrometer COSY-TOF. Exclusive data, covering the full phase-space, were taken at the three different beam momenta of pbeam=2.95, 3.20 and 3.30 GeV/c, corresponding to excess energies of ε=204, 285 and 316 MeV, respectively. Total cross-sections were deduced for the three beam momenta to be 23.9±0.8±2.0μb, 28.4±1.3±2.2μb and 35.0±1.3±3.0μb. Differential observables including Dalitz plots were obtained. The analysis of the Dalitz plots reveals a strong influence of the N(1650)-resonance at pbeam=2.95 GeV/c, whereas for the higher momenta an increasing relative contribution of the N(1710)- and/or of the N(1720)-resonance was observed. In addition, the pΛ-final-state interaction turned out to have a significant influence on the Dalitz plot distribution.