Implementation of Vertex Reconstruction in the Search for Resonances in the 1610-1770 MeV Invariant Mass Region

In recent years, there has been considerable activity in the realm of baryon spectroscopy. A collaboration between Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute (PNPI), Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP), and Abilene Christian University (ACU), is aimed at increasing the understanding of the 1610-1770 MeV invariant mass region. ACU is particularly interested in the N*(1710) resonance, a poorly defined excited state of the nucleon. Utilizing GEANT4 and ROOT, two powerful simulation and analysis programs, ACU is simulating the $\pi ^{-}$p -$> \quad {\rm K}\Lambda $ reaction to help find the optimum design parameters for the experiment. In order to reconstruct the $\pi ^{-}$p -$> \quad {\rm K}\Lambda $ events, a vertex reconstruction algorithm was designed, tested, and implemented. An overview of the design process, capabilities, limitations, and current results will be discussed.