Determining pseudoscalar meson photoproduction amplitudes from complete experiments

In preparation for a new generation of complete experiments with the goal of performing a high precision extraction of pseudoscalar meson photo-production amplitudes, we present expressions that allow the direct numerical calculation of matrix elements with arbitrary spin projections from Chew-Goldberger-Low-Nambu (CGLN) amplitudes. We use this numerical tool to verify the most general analytic form of the cross section, dependent upon the three polarization vectors of the beam, target and recoil baryon, including all single, double and triple-polarization terms involving 16 spin-dependent observables. Analytic expressions that determine the recoil baryon polarization are presented, together with examples of their potential use with quasi-4? detectors to deduce observables. We assemble the analytic equations relating the 16 experimental observables and the CGLN amplitudes and use our independent method of numerical evaluation to resolve sign differences that exist in the literature.