Multinucleon Mechanisms in Inclusive Subthreshold K+ Production in p+C12 Collisions at 1 GeV

Abstract

We analyze recent inclusive data on K+ production in proton induced Lambda-multi nucleon knock out on Carbon 12. We describe collective effects among the incoming p and bound nucleons in a pi, rho rescattering model via the excitation of various baryon resonances. We find the dominance of Lambda N and Lambda NN final states for K+ momenta below 200 MeV/c, while for momenta above 400 MeV/c the data reflect a continuum with an unbound Lambda together with the bound residual nucleus C 12.

5 pages, 1 figure