Differential cross sections as a function of momentum are presented for the production of K+ mesons in p−p collisions at incident proton energies of 2.54, 2.88, and 3.03 GeV. The measurements were made at 20°, 30°, and 40° relative to the direction of the internal proton beam of the Princeton-Pennsylvania accelerator. At 2.54 GeV, the results follow closely the predictions from phase space (with 60% K+ΣN and 40% K+Λp in the final state). At 2.88 and 3.03 GeV, however, there is a definite disagreement with phase space. The data are compared to the predictions of three models: (1) a model based on the assumption that K's are produced via p+p→K++X+, where X+ is a B=2, S=−1 resonance which decays into a nucleon+hyperon; (2) the isobar model; and (3) the one-pion-exchange model. Model (1) is found to be inconclusive, model (2) is inadequate, and model (3) is partly successful in predicting total cross sections, but not in interpreting the detailed experimental observations.
K+ meson production in pA (A = C, Cu, Au) collisions has been studied using the ANKE spectrometer at an internal target position of the COSY-Juelich accelerator. The complete momentum spectrum of kaons emitted at forward angles, theta < 12 degrees, has been measured for a beam energy of T(p)=1.0 GeV, far below the free NN threshold of 1.58 GeV. The spectrum does not follow a thermal distribution at low kaon momenta and the larger momenta reflect a high degree of collectivity in the target nucleus.
In the very heavy collision system Au197+197Au the K+ production process was studied as a function of impact parameter at 1 GeV/nucleon, a beam energy well below the free N-N threshold. The K+ multiplicity increases more than linearly with the number of participant nucleons and the K+/π+ ratio rises significantly when going from peripheral to central collisions. The measured K+ double differential cross section is enhanced by a factor of 6 compared to microscopic transport calculations if secondary processes (ΔN→KΛN and ΔΔ→KΛN) are ignored.
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