What determines the K- multiplicity at energies around (1-2)A GeV?
In heavy ion reactions at energies around (1-2)A GeV the measured K- yields appear rather high as compared to pp collisions as shown by the KaoS Collaboration. Employing quantum molecular dy-namics simulations, we show that this is caused by the fact that the dominant production channel is not BB-->BBK+K- but the mesonic Lambda(Sigma)pi-->K-B reaction. Because the Lambda (Sigma) stem from the reaction BB-->Lambda(Sigma)K+B, the K+ and the K- yield are strongly correlated, i.e., the K(-)/K(+) ratio occurs to be nearly independent of the impact parameter as found experimentally. The final K- yield is strongly influenced by the K+N [due to their production via the Lambda(Sigma)] but very little by the K-N potential.
Hartnack
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SUBATECH, Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et des Technologies Associées, University of Nantes-IN2P3/CNRS-Ecole des Mines de Nantes, 4 rue Alfred Kastler, F-44072 Nantes, Cedex 03, France.
Oeschler
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Aichelin
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