Strange mesons in dense nuclear matter

Experimental data on the production of kaons and antikaons in heavy-ion collisions at relativistic energies are presented and discussed with respect to in-medium effects. The K ^?/K⁺ ratios measured in nucleus-nucleus collisions are 1–2 orders of magnitude larger than in proton-proton collisions. The azimuthal angle distributions of K ⁺ mesons indicate a repulsive kaon-nucleon potential. Microscopic transport calculations consistently explain both the yields and the emission patterns of kaons and antikaons when assuming that their properties are modified in dense nuclear matter. The K ⁺ production excitation functions measured in light and heavy collision systems provide evidence for a soft nuclear equation-of-state.     

Strange particle production from SIS to LHC

A review of meson emission in heavy-ion collisions at incident energies from SIS up to collider energies is presented. A statistical model assuming chemical equilibrium and local strangeness conservation (i.e. strangeness conservation per collision) explains most of the observed features, e.g. the different centrality dependences of pions and kaons. Furthermore, the independence of theK ⁺ toK ^- ratio on the number of participating nucleons observed between SIS and relativistic heavy-ion collider (RHIC) is consistent with this model. The observed maximum in theK ⁺/π⁺ excitation function is also seen in the ratio of strange to non-strange particle production. The appearance of this maximum around 30 A.GeV is due to the energy dependence of the chemical freeze-out parametersT and μ_B.     

K + production in proton-nucleus collision

We present a dynamical study ofK ⁺ production in proton-nucleus collisions from 1.2 to 2.5 GeV bombarding energy. The evolution of the proton-nucleus collision is described by a transport equation of the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck type. We incorporate all known sources forK ⁺ production and study their momentum and angular distributions, and the excitation function. We show that at lower energies (E _b<1.5 GeV) theNΔ andNN* channels dominate the kaon yield for light systems. At higher bombarding energies the directNN channel accounts for almost the whole cross section.     

What can we learn from high-p<Subscript>T</Subscript> correlations of neutral strange baryons and mesons at RHIC?

We present results on two-particle azimuthal correlations of neutral strange baryons (Λ, Λ̄) and mesons (K_S ⁰) for p_T=2–6 GeV/c associated with non-identified charged particles in d+Au and Au+Au collisions at  =200 GeV measured by the STAR experiment. We investigate in detail the associated yield of charged particles as a function centrality of the collision and transverse momentum of trigger and associated particles to look for possible flavor, baryon/meson and particle/anti-particle differences. We compare our results to the proton and pion triggered correlations as well as to a fragmentation and recombination model. PACS 25.75.-q; 25.75.Gz     

The high-density symmetry energy in heavy ion collisions

The nuclear symmetry energy as a function of density is rather poorly constrained theoretically and experimentally both below saturation density, but particularly at high density, where very few relevant experimental data exist. We discuss observables which could yield information on this question, in particular, proton-neutron flow differences, and the production of pions and kaons in relativistic heavy ion collisions. For the meson production we investigate particularly ratios of the corresponding isospin partners π⁻/π⁺ and K⁰/K⁺, where we find that the kaons are an interesting probe to the symmetry energy. In this case we also discuss the influence of various choices for the kaon potentials or in-medium effective masses.     

Balance functions at RHIC

The balance function is based on the principle that charge is locally conserved when particles are pair produced. Balance functions have been measured for all charged pairs, identified pion pairs, and identified charged kaon pairs in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 200$ GeV and p+p collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 200$ GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider using STAR. Balance functions for all charged particles from Au+Au scale smoothly with centrality to the p+p value. Balance functions for charged particles and pions are narrower in central collisions than in peripheral collisions consistent with trends predicted by models incorporating the concept of late hadronization. Balance functions for kaon pairs represent a strangeness balance. Balance functions for kaons are narrower than those for pion pairs and may show less dependence on centrality.     

Kaon and pion ratio probes of jet quenching in nuclear collisions

Non-Abelian energy loss in quark gluon plasmas is shown to lead to novel hadron ratio suppression patterns in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions. Here we investigate pion and kaon production in pp and AA collisions in a perturbative QCD frame, suppression pattern and hadron ratios. The K^?/K⁺ and K⁺/π⁺ ratios are found to be most sensitive to the opacity (density) of the plasma. Experimental data indicate that the fragmentation dominated pQCD region will be reached only at higher p _T; in an intermediate p _Tregion other particle production mechanisms dominate the K/π ratios.     

Production of charged pions, kaons and antikaons in relativistic C + C and C + Au collisions

Production cross-sections of charged pions, kaons and antikaons have been measured in C+C and C+Au collisions at beam energies of 1.0 and 1.8 AGeV for different polar emission angles. The kaon and antikaon energy spectra can be described by Boltzmann distributions whereas the pion spectra exhibit an additional enhancement at low energies. The pion multiplicity per participating nucleon M(π⁺)/<A _part> is a factor of about 3 smaller in C+Au than in C+C collisions at 1.0 AGeV whereas it differs only little for the C and the Au target at a beam energy of 1.8 AGeV. The K⁺ multiplicities per participating nucleon M(K⁺)/ <A _part> are independent of the target size at 1 AGeV and at 1.8 AGeV. The K^- multiplicity per participating nucleon M(K^-)/ <A _part> is reduced by a factor of about 2 in C+Au as compared to C+C collisions at 1.8 AGeV. This effect might be caused by the absorption of antikaons in the heavy target nucleus. Transport model calculations underestimate the K^-/K⁺ ratio for C+C collisions at 1.8 AGeV by a factor of about 4 if in-medium modifications of K-mesons are neglected. Received: 10 December 1999 / Accepted: 14 November 2000     

Inclusive strange particle production in π+p interactions at 16 GeV/c

The production of $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{S}}{}^0\text{, Λ}\text{and}\text{Λ}$ is measured in π⁺p reactions at 16 GeV/c. The total strange particle cross section is found to be 4.0 ± 0.3 mb, about 20% of the inelastic cross section. Cross sections for single strange particles and for strange particle pairs are determined, both inclusively and as functions of the charged multiplicity. Relative production rates for different strange particle combinations are compared with the prediction of the isospin statistical model. Inclusive spectra for single particles are studied and it is found the K_S⁰ are produced mostly in the forward hemisphere, most probably by fragmentation of the incident pion into $\text{K}\text{K}\text{π}$. The Λ are mostly backwards, probably deriving from fragmentation of the proton into ΛK pairs. The $\text{Λ}$ tend to be produced forwards, but evidence is found for central $\text{Λ}\text{Λ}$ production. Distributions in rapidity of the Λ particles from π⁺p interactions are compared in terms of the factorisation hypothesis. Results are given on the Λ transversal polarisation.     

Pion-production in heavy-ion collisions at SIS energies

We investigate the production of pions in heavyion collisions in the energy range of 1–2 GeV/A. The dynamics of the nucleus-nucleus collisions is described by a set of coupled transport equations of the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck type for baryons and mesons. Besides theN(938) and theΔ(1232) we also take into account nucleon resonances up to masses of 1.95 GeV/c² as well asπ-,η- andρ-mesons. We study in detail the influence of the higher baryonic resonances and the 2π-production channels (NN→NNππ) on the pion spectra in comparison toπ ^? data fromAr+KCl collisions at 1.8 GeV/A andπ ⁰-data forAu+Au at 1.0GeV/A. We, furthermore, present a detailed comparison of differential pion angular distributions with the BEVALAC data forAr+KCl at 1.8 GeV/A. The general agreement obtained indicates that the overall reaction dynamics is well described by our novel transport approach.     

K + production in proton and deuteron induced reactions at subthreshold energies

The production ofK ⁺ mesons in proton-nucleus and deuteron-nucleus collisions is analyzed with respect to one-step nucleon-nucleon (NN → N ΛK ⁺),Δ- nucleon (ΔN → N Λ K⁺) and two-step pion-nucleon (πN → K ⁺ Λ) production channels on the basis of experimental ground state momentum distributions and free on-shell production processes. Whereas forK ⁺ production in proton-nucleus reactions the secondary channelπN clearly dominates at subthreshold energies, meson and nucleon induced channels are of similar magnitude in deuteron-nucleus reactions. Contrary to nucleus-nucleus collisions theΔ induced reaction channels are found to be of minor importance. The experimental differentiation of the underlying microscopic reaction channels appears possible via differential proton —K ⁺ coincidence measurements as shown in detail by the microscopic simulations including proton rescattering.     

In-Medium Kaon Potential and Nuclear Equation of State Measured in Nucleus–Nucleus Collisions

The kaon production in heavy ion collisions at intermediate energies provides a sensitive probe to study the in-medium properties and nuclear equation of state of hadrons. Properties of kaons in dense hadronic matter are important for a better understanding of both, the possible restoration of chiral symmetry in dense hadronic matter and the properties of nuclear matter at high densities. We investigated the in-medium kaon potential and nuclear equation of state by transverse mass spectra of K ⁺ mesons in heavy ion collisions. We use quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) models based on covariant kaon dynamics to simulate ${_{28}^{58}Ni +_{28}^{58}Ni}$ collisions at 1.93 A GeV, to analyze the transverse mass spectra of K ⁺. Calculated results with a repulsive in-medium K ⁺N potential can reasonably describe the features of KaoS data. They also shown that the transverse mass spectrum of K ⁺ mesons is a sensitive observable to probe the kaon in-medium potential in dense nuclear matter.     

Pion freeze-out time in Pb+Pb collisions at 158?AGeV/c studied via π-/π+ and K-/K+ ratios

The effect of the final state Coulomb interaction on particles produced in Pb+Pb collisions at 158 AGeV/c has been investigated in the WA98 experiment through the study of the π^-/π⁺ and K^-/K⁺ ratios measured as a function of m_T-m₀. While the ratio for kaons shows no significant m_T dependence, the π^-/π⁺ ratio is enhanced at small m_T-m₀ values with an enhancement that increases with centrality. A silicon pad detector located near the target is used to estimate the contribution of hyperon decays to the π^-/π⁺ ratio. The comparison of results with predictions of the RQMD model in which the Coulomb interaction has been incorporated allows to place constraints on the time of the pion freeze-out.     

Correlations associated with particles produced at small angles in pp collisions at the CERN ISR

Data on correlations between momentum analysed protons, pions or K mesons, and charged particles produced in pp collisions at the CERN ISR are presented. The charged particles were detected in a ～4π scintillation counter hodoscope. The pseudo-rapidity distributions are well described by production within the limits of cylindrical phase space, with negative kaons and antiprotons yielding narrower distributions than protons, pions and positive kaons. The azimuthal distributions show symmetry around the t-channel axis in the rest frame of the recoiling mass M_x in pp → aX (a = detected proton, pion, positive kaon).     

Strangeness enhancement in sulphur—Nucleus collisions at 200 A GeV/c

The NA35 experiment used several independent methods to determine the strange particle production in p+S and S+A collisions. The different techniques show consistent results. Strangeness conservation in full phase space is used as an additional check of the consistency of the data. On the base of the analysis in full phase space it could be shown that strangeness conservation is fullfilled. The NA35K _S ⁰ in S+S and S+Ag are consistent with the NA44 results forK ⁺ andK ^?. The results of the NA36 collaboration for S+Pb collisions were extrapolated to full phase space. The comparison with the NA35 results shows more than two times lower yields. The ratio of Λ to $\bar \Lambda $ at midrapidity of NA36 is inconsistent with the high baryon density determind by NA35. The strange particle production is compared to the abundance of non strange particles, especially negatively charged pions which are measured in full phase space in the same experiment. A clear enhanced strange hadron production relative to σ^? is observed in S+Ag collisions compared to p+S reactions at the same energy. TheK _S ⁰ multiplicity in full phase space per negative hadron (h ^?) in S+S, S+Ag and Pb+Pb is enhanced by about a factor 1.6 compared to N+N and p+S collisions. The NA36 result for theK _S ⁰ multiplicity perh ^? in S+Pb is below the N+N value.     

Inclusive production of neutral kaons inK − p interactions at 32 GeV/c

The inclusive production of neutral kaons inK ^? p interactions at 32 GeV/c is studied in final states with one, two and three strange particles (K ⁿ or Λ). Inclusive and topological cross sections are obtained and their energy dependence discussed by comparison with lower energy data. The invariant differential cross sections of neutral kaons are studied as a function of Feynmanx, the c.m. rapidity and the transverse momentum, and a comparison is made with data at 14.3 GeV/c. Invariantx-distributions are obtained separately for “indirect” neutral kaons from \(\bar K*(890)\) decays and for “prompt” kaons. We also discuss the possibility of connecting quark structure functions with hadron fragmentation spectra at this c.m. energy \(\sqrt s \simeq 8 GeV\) .     

Inclusive measurements of pionic double charge exchange on 3He at low energies

Using the CHAOS spectrometer at TRIUMF pion momentum spectra and angular distributions were measured for the ³He(π⁻,π⁺) reaction at incident energies from 65 to 120 MeV and total cross sections were deduced. The data are compared to Monte Carlo simulations for the conventional reaction process as well as to predictions for the production of the hypothetical πNN resonance d′ with and without collision damping.     

Pion chemical potentials in heavy-ion collisions: relativistic quantum molecular dynamic analysis

In the framework of relativistic quantum molecular dynamics we analyse pion chemical potentials in the hadron system produced in central heavy-ion collisions at the bombarding energiesE _lab/A=(1–2) GeV/nucl. We find that the equilibrium relations hold for chemical potentials of π^?, of π⁰, of π⁺ and pion energy spectra reach local thermal equilibrium. However, there is no chemical equilibrium. The pion chemical potentials are very large and decrease during the expansion stage.     

Features of carbon-carbon interactions at a momentum of 4.2 GeV/c per nucleon that are accompanied by the production of Λ hyperons and K S 0 mesons versus the degree of nuclei collision centrality

Experiemntal data obtained by using the 2-m propane bubble chamber of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR, Dubna) are used to study the effect collision centrality on the spectra of Λ hyperons and K _S ⁰ mesons produced in carbon-carbon interactions at 4.2 A GeV/c. The multiplicity of participant protons having momenta in excess of 300 MeV/c is taken to be a measure of collision centrality. The features of pions and protons accompanying strange-particle production are also presented. The experimental data in question are compared with the prediction of a modified version of the FRITIOF model. It is shown that strange particles are predominantly produced in central and semicentral collisions. The average kinematical features of K _S ⁰ mesons are found to be indepedent of collision centrality. At the same time, the average transverse momentum of Λ hyperons and the average value of their emission angle increase slowly with increasing degree of collision centrality. The anisotropy of the angular distributions of both Λ hypersons and K _S/0 mesons in the c.m. frame of nucleon-nucleon collisions decreases with increasing collision centrality. The average transverse momentum of K _S ⁰ mesons is approximately 1.6 times higher than the average transverse momentum of π ^? mesons.