Comparison of hadron production models for π±, k±, protons and antiprotons production in proton–carbon interactions at 60 GeV/c

Abstract

In this research paper, the comprehensive results on the double differential yield of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons, protons and antiprotons as a function of laboratory momentum are reported. These hadrons are produced in proton–carbon interaction at 60 GeV/c. EPOS 1.99, EPOS-LHC and QGSJETII-04 models are used to perform simulations. Comparing the predictions of these models show that QGSJETII-04 model predicts higher yields of all the hadrons in most of the cases at the peak of the distribution. In this interval, the EPOS 1.99 and EPOS-LHC produce similar results. In most of the cases at higher momentum of the hadrons, all the three models are in good agreement. For protons, all models are in good agreement. EPOS-LHC gives high yield of antiprotons at high momentum values as compared to the other two models. EPOS-LHC gives higher prediction at the peak value for [Formula: see text] mesons and protons at higher polar angle intervals of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, and EPOS 1.99 gives higher prediction at the peak value for [Formula: see text] mesons for [Formula: see text]. The model predictions, except for antiprotons, are compared with the data obtained by the NA61/SHINE experiment at 31 GeV/c proton–carbon collision, which clearly shows that the behavior of the distributions in models are similar to the ones from the data but the yield in data is low because of lower beam energy.