Mott-Anderson freeze-out and the strange matter “horn”

Abstract

We discuss the $\sqrt{s}$-dependence of the $K^+/\pi^+$ ratio in heavy-ion collisions (the "horn" effect) within a Mott-Anderson localization model for chemical freeze-out. The different response of pion and kaon radii to the hot and dense hadronic medium results in different freeze-out conditions. We demonstrate within a simple model that this circumstance enhances the "horn" effect relative to statistical models with universal chemical freeze-out.