Photoproduction of γp→K+Λ*(1520) and decay of Λ*(1520)→K−p in the Reggeized framework

Photoproduction of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}(1520)$ resonance of spin-parity ${\frac{3}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ off the proton target is investigated within the Regge framework where the reggeization of the $t$-channel meson exchange is applied for the $K(494)+{K}^{*}(892)+{K}_{2}^{*}(1430)$ exchanges in the Born amplitude. The present model is based on two basic ingredients; one is the minimal gauge prescription for the convergence of the reaction and the other is the role of ${K}_{2}^{*}$ crucial to be consistent with high energy data. Cross sections for total, differential, and photon polarization asymmetry are reproduced without fit parameters and compared with existing data. The LAMP2 and LEPS measurements of the angular distribution of ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ in the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}(1520)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}p$ decay are investigated and found to be dominated by the decay of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{*}$ with helicity $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3/2$ based on the analysis of the density matrix elements. Detailed discussion on the density matrix elements is given to clarify the analysis of the observable. The reaction mechanism is featured by the dominance of the contact term with $K$ and ${K}_{2}^{*}$ exchanges following in the low energy region. The ${K}^{*}$ exchange appears in a minor role. At high energies beyond ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}\ensuremath{\approx}5$ GeV the role of ${K}_{2}^{*}$ exchange leads over other exchanges in the reaction process.