Cross sections for the γp→K*0Σ+ reaction at Eγ=1.7-3.0 GeV

Differential cross sections for the reaction {gamma}p{yields}K*{sup 0}{sigma}{sup +} are presented in the photon energy range of 1.7 to 3.0 GeV. The K*{sup 0} was detected by its decay products, K{sup +}{pi}{sup -}, in the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility's large acceptance spectrometer (CLAS) detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. These data are the first K*{sup 0} photoproduction cross sections ever published over a broad range of angles. Comparison with a theoretical model based on the vector and tensor K*-quark couplings shows good agreement with the data, except at forward angles, suggesting that the role of scalar {kappa} meson exchange should be investigated.