Separated Structure Functions in $K^+\Lambda$ and $K^+\Sigma^0$ Electroproduction

Data analysis from an extensive program of kaon electroproduction from the proton utilizing electron beams from 2.5 to 5.7~GeV is presently underway in Hall B at Jefferson Laboratory. Cross sections for the $K^+\Lambda$ and $K^+\Sigma^0$ final states have been measured using the CLAS spectrometer. The data reported here were collected at beam energies of 2.6 and 4.2~GeV and span a range of kinematics in $W$ from threshold to 2.5~GeV, $Q^2$ from 0.5 to 2.5~(GeV/c)$^2$, while covering nearly the full center-of-mass angular range for the kaon. As part of this analysis, the structure functions $\sigma_U = \sigma_T + \epsilon \sigma_L$, $\sigma_{TT}$, and $\sigma_{LT}$ have been extracted from the $\phi$- and $\epsilon$-dependent differential cross sections. These structure functions have strong sensitivity to disentangle the resonant contributions in the $s$, $t$, and $u$ reaction channels from the non-resonant strength. Differences in the production dynamics for the $\Lambda$ and $\Sigma^0$ hyperons will be discussed and the data will be compared with available theoretical calculations for these processes. These measurements are part of the larger $N^*$ program of CLAS.