Baryon–anti-Baryon photoproduction

Baryon–anti-baryon photoproduction off a proton target is being studied in detail at Jefferson Lab with the GlueX Experiment. We observe pp¯ and, for the first time, ΛΛ¯ photoproduction (with Λ → π−p, Λ¯ → π+ p¯) from thresholds up to Eγ = 11.4 GeV. Preliminary spectra from data accumulated during the GlueX Phase-I period are shown. Angular distributions of the photoproduced hyperons indicate more than one production mechanism in the reaction channel γp → ΛΛ¯p. A Monte Carlo simulation with four mechanisms, tested through comparison between simulation and experimental data, is presented.