On the relation between $K_s^0$ and charged kaon yields in proton-proton collisions

Abstract

A compilation of the experimental p+p data of neutral and charged kaon production has revealed a discrepancy between the observed $K_s^0$ yield and the average number of produced charged kaons $K_s^0=(K^{+}+K^{-})/2$. This widespread relation holds only for a colliding system that is an uniform population w.r. to the isospin (i.e. that consists of an equal number of all members of a given isospin multiplet). This is not the case for p+p collisions therefore one should not expect that it will describe the data accurately. A much better agreement is obtained with a model based on the quark structure of the participating hadrons.