Abstract
We assume that in relativistic heavy-ion reactions positive kaons (K +) are produced in sequences of independent baryon-baryon collisions. The basic inputs into our calculation of the K + inclusive differential cross section thus are the baryon momentum distributions after a number n of collisions. These functions are, to a very good approximation, determined by their first and second moments which in turn are calculated by use of a transport theoretical approach. We compare our results with experimental data obtained from the reaction Ne + NaF at 2.1 GeV nucleon . This comparison is first made under the assumption that the kaons, once produced, escape from the participant region without further interactions. In this case, the observed K + total production cross section is reproduced quite well, but the corresponding differential cross sections are not. The inclusion of the K + elastic scattering on the surrounding baryons leads to a much better agreement with the experimental data. We also calculate the K + total production rate as a function of the bombarding energy per nucleon. At all energies, the number of kaons produced by multiply scattered baryons is seen to exceed by far that obtained from nucleons which scatter for the first time. The K + total production cross section remains sizeable in our approach even far below the threshold energy. For a very heavy system like Pb on Pb we estimate a cross section of 10 mb even 800 MeV below threshold.
Published Version
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