What determines the $K^-$ multiplicity at energies around 1-2 AGeV?

Abstract

In heavy ion reactions at energies around 1-2 AGeV the measured $K^-$ yields appear rather high as compared to pp collisions as shown by the KaoS collaboration. Employing IQMD simulations, we show that this is caused by the fact that the dominant production channel is not $BB\to BBK^+K^-$ but the mesonic $Λ(Σ) π\to K^-B$ reaction. Because the $Λ$ ($Σ$) stem from the reaction $BB \to Λ(Σ) K^+ B$, the $K^+$ and the $K^-$ yield are strongly correlated, i.e. the $K^-/K^+$ ratio occurs to be nearly independent of the impact parameter as found experimentally. $K^-$ are continuously produced but also very quickly reabsorbed leading to an almost identical rate for production and reabsorption. The final $K^-$ yield is strongly influenced by the $K^+N$ (due to their production via the $Λ(Σ)$) but very little by the $K^-$N potential.

6 pages, 4 figure, RevTeX, revised version, accepted for publication in PRL