Total Cross Section of the Reaction pp \to pK^+ΛClose to Threshold

Abstract

The energy dependence of the total cross section for the pp \to pK^+Λreaction was measured in the threshold region covering the excess energy range up to 7MeV. Existing model calculations describe the slope of the measured cross sections well, but are too low by a factor of two to three in rate. The data were used for a precise determination of the beam momentum of the COSY-synchrotron.

11 pages, 5 figures