The reaction γ + p → K + + Σ + π was used to determine the invariant mass distributions or "line shapes" of the Σ + π − , Σ − π + and Σ 0 π 0 final states, from threshold at 1328 MeV/c 2 through the mass range of the Λ(1405) and the Λ(1520). The measurements were made with the CLAS system at Jefferson Lab using tagged real photons, for center-of-mass energies 1.95 < W < 2.85 GeV. The three mass distributions differ strongly in the vicinity of the I = 0 Λ(1405), indicating the presence of substantial I = 1 strength in the reaction. Background contributions to the data from the Σ 0 (1385) and from K * Σ production were studied and shown to have negligible influence. To separate the isospin amplitudes, Breit-Wigner model fits were made that included channel-coupling distortions due to the NK threshold. A best fit to all the data was obtained after including a phenomenological I = 1, J P = 1/2 − amplitude with a centroid at 1394 ± 20 MeV/c 2 and a second I = 1 amplitude at 1413 ± 10 MeV/c 2 . The centroid of the I = 0 Λ(1405) strength was found at the Σπ threshold, with the observed shape determined largely by channel-coupling, leading to an apparent overall peak near 1405 MeV/c 2 .

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We report on the first measurement of the beam-spin asymmetry in the exclusive process of coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering off a nucleus. The experiment used the 6 GeV electron beam from the CEBAF accelerator at Jefferson Lab incident on a pressurized 4 He gaseous target placed in front of the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). The scattered electron was detected by CLAS and the photon by a dedicated electromagnetic calorimeter at forward angles. To ensure the exclusivity of the process, a specially designed radial time projection chamber was used to detect the recoiling 4 He nuclei. We measured beam-spin asymmetries larger than those observed on the free proton in the same kinematic domain. From these, we were able to extract, in a model-independent way, the real and imaginary parts of the only 4 He Compton form factor, HA. This first measurement of coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering on the 4 He nucleus, with a fully exclusive final state via nuclear recoil tagging, leads the way toward 3D imaging of the partonic structure of nuclei.

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Background: Measurements of polarization observables for the reactions γ p → K + and γ p → K + 0 have been performed. This is part of a program of measurements designed to study the spectrum of baryon resonances in particular, and nonperturbative QCD in general. Purpose: The accurate measurement of several polarization observables provides tight constraints for phenomenological fits, which allow the study of strangeness in nucleon and nuclear systems. Beam-recoil observables for the γ p → K + 0 reaction have not been reported before now. Method: The measurements were carried out using linearly polarized photon beams incident on a liquid hydrogen target, and the CLAS detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The energy range of the results is 1.71 < W < 2.19 GeV, with an angular range −0.75 < cos θ K < +0.85. Results: The observables extracted for both reactions are beam asymmetry , target asymmetry T , and the beam-recoil double polarization observables O x and O z .

The quasi-free γd → π − p(p) differential cross section has been measured with CLAS at photon beam energies Eγ from 0.445 GeV to 2.510 GeV (corresponding to W from 1.311 GeV to 2.366 GeV) for pion center-of-mass angles cos θ c.m. π from −0.72 to 0.92. A correction for final state interactions has been applied to this data to extract the γn → π − p differential cross sections. These cross sections are quoted in 8428 (Eγ, cos θ c.m. π) bins, a factor of nearly three increase in the world statistics for this channel in this kinematic range. These new data help to constrain coupled-channel analysis fits used to disentangle the spectrum of N * resonances and extract their properties. Selected photon decay amplitudes N * → γn at the resonance poles are determined for the first time and are reported here.