Photoproduction of the Xi Hyperons

Very little is known about the doubly-strange Xi hyperons. SU(3){sub F} symmetry, based on QCD, implies the existence of many Xi states yet to be found. A complete study of the excited Xi spectrum can also be used to study other related areas of nuclear physics, such as the s - d quark mass difference and Xi p scattering. We will report on a new approach to Xi physics, using the photoproduction process gamma p --> K{sup +} K{sup +} Xi{sup -}, in which the Xi is cleanly tagged by the missing mass of the (K{sup +}K{sup +}) system. We show the current status of this study with the CLAS detector at Jefferson Laboratory, and discuss how it relates to the above topics. We also comment on the future of this program.