Nuclear in-medium effects of strange particles in proton-nucleus collisions

Abstract

Dynamics of strange particles produced in proton induced nuclear reactions near threshold energies has been investigated within the Lanzhou quantum molecular dynamics (LQMD) transport model. The in-medium modifications on particle production in dense nuclear matter are considered through corrections on the elementary cross sections via the effective mass and the mean-field potentials. It is found that the attractive antikaon-nucleon potential enhances the subthreshold $\bar{K}$ production and also influences the structure of inclusive spectra. The strangeness production is strongly suppressed in proton induced reactions in comparison to heavy-ion collisions. The measured K${}^{-}$/K${}^{+}$ ratios in the ${}^{12}$C+${}^{12}$C and p+${}^{12}$C collisions from KaoS collaboration have been well explained with inclusion of the in-medium potentials.

Comments: 7 pages, 5 figures