A Study of Lambda-Nucleon scattering using the CLAS detector

Elastic scattering of Lambda baryons with protons is important to know, in part because these reactions might take place in the center of a neutron stars. Current $\Lambda N$ elastic scattering data comes primarily from bubble chamber experiments. The richness of $\Lambda$ production in modern day accelerators has thus never been realized. $\Lambda N$ data is very limited compared to other elastic scattering processes, such as $NN$, $KN$ and $\pi N$. Data was mined from existing experiments from the g12 run of the CLAS detector in Hall B of Jefferson Lab. A high luminosity photon beam incident on a 40 cm liquid hydrogen target allows for a $\Lambda$ beam to be created inside the target. We look at the reaction $\gamma p \rightarrow K^+ \Lambda$ to generate the $\Lambda$ beam. The created $\Lambda$ then proceeded to scatter elastically with a second proton in the target. The $K^+ \Lambda$ cross section is well known, which allows us to determine the flux of the $\Lambda$ beam. From this, preliminary results for the $\Lambda N$ cross section will be presented along with new data for its angular distribution.