Comparative Regge analysis of $\Lambda, \Sigma^0, \Lambda(1520)$ and   $\Theta^+$ production in $\gamma p$, $\pi p$ and $pp$ reactions
  Using the Quark-Gluon Strings Model -- combined with Regge phenomenology -- we perform a comparative analysis of $\Lambda$, $\Sigma^0$, $\Lambda(1520)$ and $\Theta^+$ production in binary reactions induced by photon, pion and proton beams on the nucleon. We find that the existing experimental data on the $\gamma p \to K^+ \Lambda$ differential and total cross sections can be described very well by the model for photon energies $1 - 16$ GeV and $-t < 2$ GeV$^2$ assuming a dominant contribution of the $K^*$ Regge trajectory. Moreover, using the same parameters we also reproduce the total $\gamma p \to K^+ \Sigma^0$ and $\gamma p \to K^+ \Lambda(1520)$ cross sections suggesting a 'universality' of the Regge model. In order to check the consistency of the approach we evaluate the differential and total cross sections for the reaction $\pi^- p \to K^0 \Lambda$ which is also found to be dominated by the $K^*$ Regge trajectory. Using the apparent 'universality' of the Regge model we extend our scheme to the analysis of the binary reactions $\gamma p \to \bar{K}^0 \Theta^+$, $\pi^- p \to K^- \Theta^+$ and $pp \to \Sigma^+ \Theta^+$ as well as the exclusive and inclusive $\Theta^+$ production in the reactions $pp \to p \bar{K}^0 \Theta^+$ and $pp \to \Theta^+ X$. Our detailed studies demonstrate that $\Theta^+$ production does not follow the 'universality' principle thus suggesting an essentially different internal structure of the exotic baryon relative to conventional hyperons or hyperon resonances. 
V.Yu. Grishina, L.A. Kondratyuk (ITEP Moscow), W. Cassing (Univ.   Giessen), M. Mirazita, P. Rossi (INFN Frascati)