Neutral kaon production in p+p and p+Nb collisions

The kaon nucleus (KN) interaction in dense nuclear matter is predicted to be repulsive and increasing with density. However, determined values for this potential are not yet consistent with each other (Benabderrahmane et al., Phys Rev Lett 102:182501, 2009; Agakishiev et?al., Phys Rev C 82:044907, 2010; Büscher et?al., Eur Phys J A 22:301–317, 2004). We analyze $K^0_S$ mesons identified with the HADES detector in p+p and p+?⁹³Nb reactions at 3.5?GeV kinetic beam energy. To determine the KN potential at normal nuclear density we propose to compare the $K^0_S$ differential distributions in p+?⁹³Nb and p+p collisions. High statistics of low p _t -kaons (p _t ?<?100?MeV/c) ensure the sensitivity of our measurements to the nuclear matter effects. We present the data analysis method and first results.