Article
Centrality dependence of kaon yields in Si + A and Au+Au collisions at relativistic energies
Physical Review C
(1999)
Abstract
Charged kaon production has been measured in Si+Al and Si+Au collisions at 14.6A GeV/c, and Au+Au collisions at 11.1A GeV/c by Experiments 859 and 866 (the E-802 Collaboration) at the BNL AGS. Invariant transverse mass spectra and rapidity distributions for both K+ and K− are presented. The centrality dependence of rapidity-integrated kaon yields is studied. Strangeness enhancement is observed as an increase in the slope of the kaon yield with the total number of participants as well as the yield per participant. The enhancement starts with peripheral Si+Al and Si+Au collisions (relative to N+N) and appears to saturate for a moderate number of participating nucleons in Si+Au collisions. It is also observed to increase slowly with centrality in Au+Au collisions, to a level in the most central Au+Au collisions that is greater than that found in central Si+A collisions. The enhancement factors for K+ production are 3.0±0.2(stat)±0.4(syst) and 4.0±0.3(stat)±0.5(syst), respectively, for the most central 7% Si+Au collisions and the most central 4% Au+Au collisions relative to N+N at the corresponding beam energy.
Publication Date
September 9, 1999
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevC.60.044904
Publisher Statement
Copyright 1999 American Physical Society. Posted with permission.
Citation Information
Larry Ahle, Craig Ogilvie and et al.. "Centrality dependence of kaon yields in Si + A and Au+Au collisions at relativistic energies" Physical Review C Vol. 60 Iss. 4 (1999) p. 044904-1 - 044904-11 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/craig-ogilvie/104/