The Σ^-p→Σ^-p Elastic Scattering Process

Recent work by the CLAS Collaboration has pioneered the use of short-lived beams in nuclear physics research. The Σ^- is an underutilized particle for this research; with a mean lifetime of 1.479×10^-10s, it travels only a few centimeters before decaying. There have been only nine previous measurements of Σ^-p→Σ^-p, all at energies well above the nucleon resonance region. These studies provide important tests of SU(3)_F symmetry, which predicts that the cross section for this process should be related to pp→pp. Using only the scattered proton and the products of the Σ^- decay, we reconstruct the complete process to determine the number of events. A separate analysis of the process γp→Σ^-X will be used to determine the incident flux of the beam sigmas. The angle and momentum of the beam sigmas will determine the effective target thickness. Recent analyses of the processes pp→pp and Λp→Λp suggest that we will be able to observe a signal for this process. Very preliminary work with this process indicates the possibility of many more events than presently available in the world data sample. This talk will present the motivation and history of this work, the current status of our analysis, and prospects for the future of this process.