Coupled-Channels Partial-Wave Analysis of Kaon Photoproduction

The K-matrix formalism is offering a very realistic approach to arrive at a description of meson-nucleon scattering that obeys unitarity since it takes into account the full coupled channels dynamics. Some examples of the importance of coupled channels effects are presented for photo-induced reactions as well as the results of a simultaneous χ^2 fit to a number of observables in a variety of reactions. A short reflection on the importance of causality is also presented