Subthreshold K+ production in proton-nucleus collisions

Double differential K⁺ cross sections have been measured in p+C collisions at 1.2, 1.5 and 2.5 GeV beam energy and in p+Pb collisions at 1.2 and 1.5 GeV. The K⁺ spectrum taken at 2.5 GeV can be reproduced quantitatively by a model calculation which takes into account first chance proton-nucleon collisions and internal momentum with energy distribution of nucleons according to the spectral function. At 1.2 and 1.5 GeV beam energy the K⁺ data excess significantly the model predictions for first chance collisions. When taking secondary processes into account the results of the calculations are in much better agreement with the data.     

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.     

The effect of Lorentz-like force on collective flows of <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Superscript>+</Superscript> in Au+Au collisions at 1.5 GeV/nucleon

Producing kaon mesons in heavy-ion collisions at beam energies below their threshold energy is an important way to investigate the properties of dense nuclear matter. In this study, based on the newly updated version of the ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics model, we introduce the kaon-nucleon (KN) potential, including both the scalar and vector (also dubbed Lorentz-like) aspects. We revisit the influence of the KN potential on the collective flow of K⁺ mesons produced in Au+Au collisions at E_lab = 1.5 GeV/nucleon and find that the contribution of the newly included Lorentz-like force is very important, particulary for describing the directed flow of K⁺. Finally, the corresponding KaoS data of both directed and elliptic flows can be simultaneously reproduced well.     

Kaon interferometry in heavy-ion collisions at the CERN SPS

K⁺K⁺ and K^–K^– correlations from S+Pb collisions at 200 GeV/c per nucleon and K⁺K⁺ correlations from p+Pb collisions at 450 GeV/c per nucleon, are presented as measured by the focusing spectrometer of the NA44 experiment at CERN. Multidimensional fits are performed in order to characterize the kaon-emission volume, which is found to be smaller than the pion-emission volume.     

Direct comparison of phase-space distributions of K- and K+ mesons in heavy-ion collisions at SIS energies -- evidence for in-medium modifications of kaons?

The ratio of K^- to K⁺-meson yields has been measured in the systems ⁹⁶Ru + ⁹⁶Ru at 1.69 A GeV, ⁹⁶Ru+⁹⁶Zr at 1.69 A GeV, and ⁵⁸Ni+⁵⁸Ni at 1.93 A GeV incident beam kinetic energy. The yield ratio is observed to vary across the measured phase space. Relativistic transport-model calculations indicate that the data are best understood if in-medium modifications of the kaons are taken into account. Received: 30 November 1998 / Accepted: 20 December 2000     

Azimuthal Distributions of K + Mesons in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Strange mesons are considered to be sensitive to in-medium modifications. Theory predicts a repulsive K ⁺ N potential and an attractive K ^? N potential in dense matter. A repulsive K ⁺ N potential would repel the K ⁺ mesons from the bulk of the nucleons and therefore cause a preferred out-of-plane emission of K ⁺ mesons at midrapidity and a directed flow opposite to the nucleons at target and projectile rapidity. One of observables to probe in-medium effects is the azimuthal emission pattern of K ⁺ mesons in heavy ion collisions. KaoS collaboration has measured the azimuthal distributions of K ⁺ mesons in Au + Au reactions at 1.5 A GeV and Ni + Ni reactions at 1.93 A GeV. Data show that K ⁺ mesons exhibit a pronounced enhancement at ${\phi = {90}^\circ}$ , i.e. perpendicular to the reaction plane. The data have also been fitted using the first two components of a Fourier series to get the directed flow v ₁ and elliptic flow v ₂. We used the quantum molecular dynamics model based on the covariant kaon dynamics to simulate the Au + Au collisions at 1.5 A GeV and the Ni + Ni collisions at 1.93 A GeV, to analyze the azimuthal distributions of K ⁺ mesons, and to calculate v ₁ and v ₂ of K ⁺ mesons. Calculated results with a repulsive in-medium K ⁺ N potential can reasonably describe the features of KaoS data. This indicates that the azimuthal distribution is one of sensitive probes to extract information on in-medium properties at high densities.     

Event-by-event hadron ratio fluctuations from Au+Au collisions at RHIC-STAR

We present measurements of event-by-event fluctuations on hadron multiplicity ratios (K/??, p/??, K/p) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ and 200 GeV using the STAR detector at RHIC. The magnitude of dynamical fluctuations ?? _dyn for p/?? and K/p ratios change smoothly from a large negative value at 7.7 GeV to a smaller negative value at 200 GeV while that for the K/?? ratios exhibits no significant beam energy dependence. The dynamical fluctuations related to pair production ?? _dyn ^pair dyn for the p/K, K/p, K ^?/K ⁺ and p/p ratios at 200 GeV all exhibit a maximum at the mid-central collisions and decrease at the most peripheral and most central collisions.     

Study of the K+π− total cross section for c.m. energy up to 3.4 GeV

The reaction K⁺p→Δ⁺⁺(1236) + anything is studied at a beam momentum of 16.0 GeV/c. The total and topological cross sections for K⁺π^? interactions are estimated by a Chew-Low extrapolation from threshold to the c.m. energy of 3.4 GeV by the maximum likelihood method.     

K+ production in a cascade model for high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions

The K⁺ production is studied for the p + NaF, Ne + NaF, Ne + Pb systems at 2.1 GeV/A in the frame of a 3-dimensional cascade model. Owing to the small elementary production cross sections, the K⁺ production is calculated perturbatively. Two kinds of production processes are introduced: baryon-baryon collisions leading to three-particle final states, and pion-nucleon collisions leading to two-body final states. The time evolution of the two processes is studied. The integrated K⁺ cross sections are in good agreement with the experimental data. The contribution of the πN induced mechanism is of the order of 25% for Ne + NaF, but increases with the size of the system. Scaling properties are discussed. A simple rescattering model is used to calculate the invariant cross section for the Ne + NaF case. Good agreement with experiment is obtained, except at forward angles.     

K + production inp-nucleus collisions

We present a non-perturbative dynamical study ofK ⁺ meson production in proton-nucleus collisions from 1.2 to 2.5 GeV bombarding energy. The dynamical evolution of the proton-nucleus collision is described by a transport equation of the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck type evolving phase-space distribution functions for nucleons, δ’s,N(1440)’s,N(1535)’s, poins and η’s with their isospin degrees of freedom. 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)NΔ andNN* channels dominate the kaon yield for light systems, and the πN channel for heavy systems. At higher bombarding energies the directNN channel accounts for almost the whole cross-section.     

Strange meson enhancement in PbPb collisions

The NA44 Collaboration has measured yields and differential distributions of K⁺, K⁻, π⁺, π⁻ in transverse kinetic energy and rapidity, around the center-of-mass rapidity in 158 A GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN SPS. A considerable enhancement of K⁺ production per π is observed, as compared to p+p collisions at this energy. To illustrate the importance of secondary hadron rescattering as an enhancement mechanism, we compare strangeness production at the SPS and AGS with predictions of the transport model RQMD.     

Measurement of the reactions K+d → K+d and K+d → p+pn and an investigation of elastic K+-nucleon scattering at 4.6 GeV/c

The coherent elastic reaction K⁺d → K⁺d and the break-up reaction K⁺d → K⁺pn are studied in a K⁺d experiment at 4.6 GeV/c which the CERN 2 m bubble chamber. Partial and differential cross sections are given and the slopes of the differential cross sections are determined. The results for the reaction K⁺d → K⁺p(n_s), where n_s denotes the spectator neutron, are compared with those of the reaction K⁺p → K⁺p on free protons. Combining our data with existing data on the reactions K⁺d → K⁰pp and K⁺p → K⁺p, parameters of the elastic K⁺-nucleon scattering at 4.6 GeV/c are determined in the framework of the Glauber model. The D-wave of the deuteron and spin-flip effects are taken into account.     

Neutral kaon production in K+p interactions at 32 GeV/c

The production of neutral kaons in the reaction K⁺p → Kⁿ + X is studied at the incident momentum of 32 GeV/c. Inclusive cross sections and single-particle distributions are presented and compared with the data at lower energies. The total inclusive cross section amounts to 7.9 ± 0.3 mb at 32 GeV/c and is significantly higher than at lower energies due to the rapid rise of multikaon production. The fraction of Kⁿ's coming from the decay of the K¹ resonances stays roughly constant with energy between 8.2 and 32 GeV/c. In the central and beam fragmentation regions the single-particle distributions reveal no energy dependence between the 16 and 32 GeV/c data in contrast with the behaviour at lower energies, while in the proton fragmentation region the data are compatible with the trend observed at lower energies and with theoretical expectations.     

Kaon production in hadronic matter

Subthreshold kaon production has been studied in symmetric nucleus-nucleus collisions as a function of the nucleus mass, beam energy and centrality. In Au+Au collsions at 1 AGeV theK ⁺ multiplicity increases more than linearly with increasing number of participating nucleons. Transport calculations have to assume a soft equation of state in order to reproduce the data. The in-mediumK ^? cross section measured in Ni+Ni collisions is enhanced by about a factor of 7 as compared to the free cross section when using theK ⁺ cross section at equivalent beam energies as a normalization.     

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     

Coulomb-nuclear interference in π±p and K±p elastic scattering below 3 GeV: Measurements,real parts and K±p dispersion relations

The differential cross sections for π⁺p elastic scattering at0.6, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, GeV/c for π^-p at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 GeV/c, for K^-p at 1.2, 1.8, 2.6 GeV/c and for K^-p at 0.9, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.6 GeV/c have been measured with an overall accuracy ofthe order of 1 to 2% in an electronics experiment over the angular region corresponding to momentum transfer t between 0.0005 and 0.10 GeV². Making use of the interference effects between the Coulomb and the nuclear interaction, we have determined the magnitude and sign of the real part of the scattering amplitude near t = 0. The K^±p real parts have been used in a dispersion relation to derive the value of the KNΛ coupling constant.     

Charged multiplicities in K−p interactions at 100 GeV/c

The charged multiplicity distribution is presented for K^?p interactions produced in the hydrogen bubble chamber, BEBC, using an r.f. separated, tagged K^? beam of 110 GeV/c momentum. A comparison with K⁺p, πp and pp data at lower energies shows that the main features of the multiplicity distributions depend on energy and charge of the incident particles, but not on their strangeness. At high energies, only the energy is important.     

K<Superscript>+</Superscript> production in proton-nucleus reactions and the role of momentum-dependent potentials

The production of K⁺-mesons in proton-nucleus collisions from 1.0 to 2.5GeV is analyzed with respect to one-step nucleon-nucleon ( NN → NYK ⁺) and two-step Δ-nucleon ( ΔN → K ⁺ YN) or pion-nucleon ( πN → K ⁺ Y) production channels on the basis of a coupled-channel transport approach (CBUU) including the kaon final-state interactions. The influence of momentum-dependent potentials for the nucleon, hyperon and kaon in the final state are studied as well as the importance of K⁺ elastic rescattering in the target nucleus. The transport calculations are compared to the experimental K⁺ spectra taken at LBL Berkeley, SATURNE, CELSIUS, GSI and COSY-Jülich. It is found that the momentum-dependent baryon potentials affect the excitation function of the K⁺ cross-section; at low bombarding energies of ∼ 1.0GeV the attractive baryon potentials in the final state lead to a relative enhancement of the kaon yield, whereas the net repulsive potential at bombarding energies ∼ 2GeV causes a decrease of the K⁺ cross-section. Furthermore, it is pointed out that especially the K⁺ spectra at low momenta (or kinetic energy T _K) allow to determine the in-medium K⁺ potential almost model independently due to a relative shift of the K⁺ spectra in kinetic energy that arises from the acceleration of the kaons when propagating out of the nuclear medium to free space, i.e. converting the potential energy to the kinetic energy of the free kaon. Received: 28 January 2002 / Accepted: 3 June 2002 / Published online: 19 November 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: Wolfgang.Cassing@theo.physik.uni-giessen.de Communicated by P. Schuck     

Slow proton andΔ ++ production inK + p interactions at 70 GeV/c

The inclusive inelastic processesK ⁺ p→pX ⁺ andK ⁺ p→Δ ⁺⁺ X ⁰ are studied at an incident momentum of 70 GeV/c. The data comes from the Big European Bubble Chamber BEBC filled with hydrogen, exposed to an rf reparatedK ⁺ beam at the CERN SPS accelerator. The inclusive cross section for protons with laboratory momentump _LAB≦1.2 GeV/c is equal to (6.1±0.1) mb. InclusiveΔ ⁺⁺-production is studied for |t _{p, Δ}|<1.0(GeV/c)². Comparisons are made with otherK ⁺ p data and withpp data at 69 GeV/c. Evidence is found for Pomeron exchange at the beam vertex both for slow proton andΔ ⁺⁺-production as well as for absorptive pion exchange at the (p,Δ ⁺⁺) vertex.     

Di-electron production in C+C and p+p collisions with HADES

The High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer HADES at GSI, Darmstadt, has been designed for systematic studies of hadron properties inside nuclear matter. First measured mass and momentum distributions of e⁺e^- pairs produced in ¹²C+¹²C collisions at 1 and 2 AGeV are presented and compared with p+p collisions at 2.2 GeV incident energy. The spectrometer set-up and the analysis methods are briefly outlined and a comparison of the data with Monte-Carlo events from a generator based on known production cross-sections and branching ratios is shown and discussed.