The $\gamma p\to K^{+}\Lambda \left(1520\right)$ reaction mechanism is investigated within a Regge-effective Lagrangian hybrid approach based on our previous study of this reaction [Phys. Rev. C 89, 015203 (2014)]. Near threshold and for large $K^{+}$ angles, the data from both the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility large acceptance spectrometer (CLAS) and the laser electron photon beamline at SPring-8 (LEPS) can be successfully described by considering the contributions from the contact, $t$-channel $\overline{K}$ exchange, $u$-channel $\Lambda \left(1115\right)$ hyperon pole, and $s$-channel nucleon pole and $N^{*}\left(2120\right)$ resonance contributions. However, for higher energies and forward $K^{+}$ angles, systematic discrepancies with data appear, which hint at the possible existence of sizable quark-gluon string mechanism effects. We show how the inclusion of a $\overline{K}$-Regge-trajectory exchange in the $t$ channel leads to an efficient description of the $\Lambda \left(1520\right)$ photoproduction channel over the whole energy and angular ranges accessible in the CLAS experiment.

• Received 13 May 2014
• Revised 9 November 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.90.065203