Energy dependence of pion and kaon production in central Pb+Pb collisions

(NA49 Collaboration) Afanasiev, SV; Anticic, T; Barna, D; Bartke, J; Barton, RA; Behler, M; Betev, L; Bialkowska, H; Billmeier, A; Blume, C; Blyth, CO; Boimska, B; Botje, M; Bracinik, J; Bramm, R; Brun, R; Buncic, P; Cerny, V; Cramer, JG; Csato, P; Dinkelaker, P; Eckhardt, V; Filip, P; Fodor, Z; Foka, P; Freund, P; Friese, V; Gal, J; Gazdzicki, M; Georgopoulos, G; Gladysz, E; Hegyi, S; Hohne, C; Igo, G; Jones, PG; Kadija, K; Karev, A; Kolesnikov, VI; Kollegger, T; Kowalski, M; Kraus, I; Kreps, M; van Leeuwen, M; Levai, P; Malakhov, AI; Margetis, S; Markert, C; Mayes, BW; Melkumov, GL; Mischke, A; Molnar, J; Nelson, JM; Palla, G; Panagiotou, AD; Perl, K; Petridis, A; Pikna, M; Pinsky, L; Puhlhofer, F; Reid, JG; Renfordt, R; Retyk, W; Roland, C; Roland, G; Rybicki, A; Sammer, T; Sandoval, A; Sann, H; Schmitz, N; Seyboth, P; Sikler, F; Sitar, B; Skrzypczak, E; Squier, GTA; Stock, R; Strobele, H; Susa, T; Szentpetery, I; Sziklai, J; Trainor, TA; Varga, D; Vassiliou, M; Veres, GI; Vesztergombi, G; Vranic, D; Wetzler, A; Whitten, C; Yoo, IK; Zaranek, J; Zimanyi, J; (2002) Energy dependence of pion and kaon production in central Pb+Pb collisions. Physical Review C, 66 (5). pp. 1-43. ISSN 0556-2813

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Abstract

Measurements of charged pion and kaon production in central Pb+Pb collisions at 40, 80, and 158 A GeV are presented. These are compared with data at lower and higher energies as well as with results from p+p interactions. The mean pion multiplicity per wounded nucleon increases approximately linearly with s1/4NN with a change of slope starting in the region 15–40 A GeV. The change from pion suppression with respect to p+p interactions, as observed at low collision energies, to pion enhancement at high energies occurs at about 40A GeV. A nonmonotonic energy dependence of the ratio of K+ to π+ yields is observed, with a maximum close to 40A GeV and an indication of a nearly constant value at higher energies. The measured dependences may be related to an increase of the entropy production and a decrease of the strangeness to entropy ratio in central Pb+Pb collisions in the low SPS energy range, which is consistent with the hypothesis that a transient state of deconfined matter is created above these energies. Other interpretations of the data are also discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	nuclear experiment; high energy physics
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics
Divisions:	Division of Experimental Physics
Depositing User:	Tome Antičić
Date Deposited:	04 Apr 2016 15:31
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/2679
DOI:	10.1103/PhysRevC.66.054902

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