An excitation function of K- and K+ production in AU + AU reactions at the AGS

L. Ahle, Y. Akiba, K. Ashktorab, M. D. Baker, D. Beavis, B. Budick, J. Chang, C. Chasman, Z. Chen, Y. Y. Chu, T. Chujo, J. Cumming, R. Debbe, J. C. Dunlop, W. Eldredge, K. Fleming, S. Y. Fung, E. Garcia, S. Gushue, H. HamagakiR. Hayano, G. H. Heintzelman, J. H. Kang, E. J. Kim, A. Kumagai, K. Kurita, J. H. Lee, Y. K. Lee, Y. Miake, A. C. Mignerey, M. Moulson, C. Muentz, K. Nagano, C. A. Ogilvie, J. Olness, K. Oyama, L. Remsberg, H. Sako, R. Seto, J. Shea, K. Shigaki, S. G. Steadman, G. S.F. Stephans, T. Tamagawa, M. J. Tannenbaum, S. Ueno-Hayashi, F. Videbaek, H. Xiang, F. Wang, K. Yagi, F. Zhu, B. B. Back, R. R. Betts, W. C. Chang, C. Y. Chi, J. B. Cumming, S. Y. Fung, R. Ganz, A. Gillitzer, W. F. Henning, D. J. Hofman, B. Holzman, S. Y. Kim, Y. Kwon, D. McLeod, V. Nanal, R. Pak, A. Ruangma, D. Russ, P. J. Stanskas, H. Wang, F. L.H. Wolfs, A. H. Wuosmaa, G. H. Xu, H. B. Yao, C. M. Zou

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Abstract

Mid-rapidity spectra and yields of K- and K+ have been measured for Au + Au collisions at 4, 6, 8, and 10.7 AGeV. The K- yield increases faster with beam energy than for K+ and hence the K-/K+ ratio increases with beam energy. This ratio is studied as a function of both √s and √s - √s(th) which allows the direct comparison of the kaon yields with respect to the production threshold in p + p reactions. For equal √s - √s(th) the measured ratio K-/K+ = 0.2 at energies above threshold in contrast to the K-/K+ ratio of near unity observed at energies below threshold. The use of the K-/K+ ratio to test the predicted changes of kaon properties in dense nuclear matter is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)53-60
Number of pages8
JournalPhysics Letters B
Volume490
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Sep 2000
Externally publishedYes

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