Subthreshold $K^+$ production in proton-nucleus collisions

M. Debowski (1) , R. Barth (1) , M. Boivin , Y. Le Bornec (2) , M. Cieslak , M.P. Comets (2) , P. Courtat (2) , R. Gacougnolle (2) , E. Grosse (1) , T. Kirchner (2) , J.M. Martin (2) , D. Miskowiec (1) , C. Muentz , E. Schwab (1) , P. Senger (1) , C. Sturm , B. Tatischeff (2) , A. Wagner , W. Walus , N. Willis (2) , R. Wurzinger , J. Yonnet , A. Zghiche

1 GSI - Helmholtz zentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH
2 IPNO - Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay

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.

Domaines: Physique Nucléaire Expérimentale [nucl-ex]

M. Debowski, R. Barth, M. Boivin, Y. Le Bornec, M. Cieslak, et al.. Subthreshold $K^+$ production in proton-nucleus collisions. Zeitschrift für Physik A, 1996, 356, pp.313-325. ⟨10.1007/s002180050185⟩. ⟨in2p3-00001316⟩