Yields and phase space distributions of φ -mesons emitted from p+p (minimum bias trigger), p+Pb (at various centralities) and central Pb+Pb collisions are reported ( E beam =158 A GeV). The decay φ →K + K − was used for identification. The φ / π ratio is found to increase by a factor of 3.0±0.7 from inelastic p+p to central Pb+Pb. Significant enhancement in this ratio is also observed in subclasses of p+p events (characterized by high charged-particle multiplicity) as well as in the forward hemisphere of central p+Pb collisions. In Pb+Pb no shift or significant broadening of the φ -peak is seen.
Transverse mass distribution for PHI mesons produced in PB PB collisions averaged over the rapidity region 3.0 to 3.8.
Transverse mass distribution for PHI mesons produced in P P collisions averaged over the rapidity region 2.9 to 4.5.
Rapidity distributions for PHI mesons produced in PB PB collisions.
Data on φ -production obtained by the CERN NA49 experiment for central Pb+Pb collisions at 158 GeV/u are presented. Compared with pp interactions the φ -yield shows substantial strangeness enhancement: the φ /π ratio is found to increase by a factor of 2.6 ± 0.6, which is approximately the square of the K/π enhancement.
5% most central collosions, MT - M0 = 0 - 1.4 GeV, preliminary data.
5% most central events.