Sign ambiguity in the K Sigma channel

Ambiguities of the signs of $N\to \Sigma K$ coupling constants are studied in a multichannel partial wave analysis of a large body of pion and photo-induced reactions. It is shown that the signs are not free from some ambiguities, and further experimental data are needed. Data on the reactions $\pi^+p\to \Sigma^+K^+$ and $\gamma p\to K^+\Sigma^0$ define rather well the isospin 3/2 contributions to these channels. However the lack of information on polarization observables for the reactions $\pi^-p\to \Sigma^0K^0$, $\pi^-p\to \Sigma^-K^+$ and $\gamma p\to K^0\Sigma^+$ does not allow us to fix uniquely the signs of $N\to \Sigma K$ coupling constants. As a consequence, also the contributions of nucleon resonances to these channels remain uncertain.