Hypernuclear Physics with Photons

We review the opportunities and challenges in the field of hypernuclear physics with electromagnetic probes. An overview is presented regarding our current understanding of the elementary production process on the nucleon. This amplitude is then used in the nuclear environment to study the hyperon-nucleon (YN) interaction. We discuss two scenarios: hypernuclear excitation that allows the investigation of hypernuclear structure and the bound Lambda in the nucleus, and quasifree kaon production on the deuteron and on nuclei, which permits a more direct access to the YN force. Specific examples are given for few-body systems and shell-model nuclei.