Kaon photoproduction in the color-dielectric model

The kaon photoproduction process {γ}p{→}K⁺{Λ} is studied in a momentum-projected color dielectric quark model. In contrast to phenomenological analyses, only a few Feynman diagrams are used, yet the diagrams include form factors derived from quark wave functions. The predicted cross sections are close to experiment. The unitarization of the Born diagrams, which effectively includes the K{Λ} final-state interaction, is found to be important in the prediction of the {Λ} polarization. It is concluded that only a small number of graphs is needed to explain the basic physics as long as a realistic model of the baryon structure and final-state interactions are included.