Nucleon and $\Delta$ resonances in $\gamma p \to K^+ \Sigma^0(1385)$ photoproduction

The photoproduction of $\gamma p \to K^+ \Sigma^0(1385)$ is investigated based on an effective Lagrangian approach using the tree-level Born approximation, with the purpose of understanding the reaction mechanisms and resonance contents and their associated parameters in this reaction. In addition to the $t$-channel $K$ and $K^\ast(892)$ exchanges, $s$-channel nucleon ($N$) exchange, $u$-channel $\Lambda$ exchange, and generalized contact term, the exchanges of a minimum number of $N$ and $\Delta$ resonances in the $s$ channel are taken into account in constructing the reaction amplitudes to describe the experimental data. It is found that the most recent differential cross-section data from the CLAS Collaboration can be well reproduced by including one of the $N(1895){1/2}^-$, $\Delta(1900){1/2}^-$, and $\Delta(1930){5/2}^-$ resonances. The reaction mechanisms of $\gamma p \to K^+ \Sigma^0(1385)$ are discussed in detail, and the predictions of the beam and target asymmetries for this reaction are given. The cross sections of $\gamma p \to K^0 \Sigma^+(1385)$ are shown to be able to further constrain the theoretical models and pin down the resonance contents for $\gamma p \to K^+ \Sigma^0(1385)$.