A measurement of Lambda-proton scattering cross sections at CLAS*

The Lambda-proton scattering cross section has been newly measured using data from the CLAS detector. These data are useful in part because the previous measurements are all from the 1970’s, using bubble-chamber technology, and the current data have much higher statistics at higher momenta of the Lambda beam.  The interest in these data is because the nuclear equation-of-state for neutron stars may change if strange matter is at their center, but this possibility depends on better knowledge of the Lambda-N and Lambda-NN scattering reactions. In this talk, I will describe the secondary beam production of Lambdas in the 40 cm-long liquid hydrogen target and the detection of the Lambda-proton scattering at CLAS.  Preliminary cross sections for incident Lambda momenta above 0.8 GeV/c will be presented.  A discussion of the implications of these new cross sections and a comparison with theoretical calculations will follow, along with future directions such as the separation of spin-triplet and spin-singlet scattering amplitudes using polarization observables.