Measurement of $K^- p$ radiative capture to $gamma Lambda$ and $gamma Sigma^0$ for $p_{K^-}$ between 514 and 750 MeV/$c$

Differential cross sections for $K^-$ radiative capture in flight on the proton, leading to the $gammaLambda$ and $gammaSigma^0$ final states, have been measured at eight $K^-$ momenta between 514 and 750 MeV/$c$. The data were obtained with the Crystal Ball multiphoton spectrometer installed at the separated $K/pi$ beam line C6 of the BNL Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. The results substantially improve the existing experimental data available for studying radiative decays of excited hyperon states. An exploratory theoretical analysis is performed within the Regge-plus-resonance approach. According to this analysis, the $gammaSigma^0$ final state is dominated by hyperonresonance exchange and hints at an important role for a resonance in the mass region of 1700 MeV. In the $gammaLambda$ final state, on the other hand, the resonant contributions account for only half the strength, and the data suggest the importance of a resonance in the mass region of 1550 MeV.