Electroproduction of the Λ(1520) hyperon

The reaction ep{yields}e'K{sup +}{Lambda}(1520) with {Lambda}(1520){yields}p'K{sup -} was studied at electron beam energies of 4.05, 4.25, and 4.46 GeV, using the CLAS detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The cos {theta}{sub K{sup +}}, {phi}{sub K{sup +}}, Q{sup 2}, and W dependencies of {Lambda}(1520) electroproduction are presented for the kinematic region 0.9sup 2}<2.4 GeV{sup 2} and 1.95sup 2} dependence of the {Lambda}(1520) decay angular distribution is presented for the first time. The cos {theta}{sub K{sup +}} angular distributions suggest t-channel diagrams dominate the production process. Fits to the {Lambda}(1520) t-channel helicity frame decay angular distributions indicate the m{sub z}={+-}1/2 parentage accounts for about 60% of the total yield, which suggests this reaction has a significant contribution from t-channel processes with either K{sup +} exchange or longitudinal coupling to an exchanged K{sup *}. The Q{sup 2} dependence of the {Lambda}(1520) production cross section is the same as that observed for {Lambda}(1116) photo- and electroproduction.