Amplitude analysis for hypercharge exchange reactions

The s channel helicity non-flip amplitudes for the line reversed reactions pi N to K( Sigma , Lambda ) and KN to pi ( Sigma , Lambda ) are determined directly from cross-section and polarization data at 4 GeV/c. Rigorous bounds are obtained on the magnitudes of the flip amplitudes, whose phases are assumed to be given by an exchange degenerate K*-K** Regge trajectory. The solution for the non-flip amplitude is unique and shows the following characteristics: (i) Im K* ( Delta lambda =0) has a 'cross-over' zero at t approximately=-0.15 in both Sigma and Lambda reactions, (ii) Im K** ( Delta lambda =0) has an approximate double zero near t approximately=-0.6 in Sigma reactions and a positive minimum there in Lambda reactions, (iii) Re K* ( Delta lambda =0) and Re K** ( Delta lambda =0) are less peripheral in character than their imaginary counter-part and have similar behaviour at alpha =0 to simple Regge poles. (12 refs).