K+ nucleus reaction and total cross sections: New analysis of transmission experiments

The attenuation cross sections measured in transmission experiments at the alternating-gradient synchrotron for K+ on Li-6, C, Si and Ca at p(L) = 488, 531, 656, and 714 MeV/c are reanalyzed in order to derive total (sigma(T)) and reaction (sigma(R)) cross sections. The effect of plural (Moliere) scattering is properly accounted for, leading to revised values of sigma(T). We demonstrate the model dependence of these values, primarily due to the choice of K+ nuclear optical potential used to generate the necessary Coulomb-nuclear and nuclear elastic corrections. Values of sigma(R) are also derived, for the first time, from the same data and exhibit a remarkable degree of model independence. The derived values of sigma(T) and sigma(R) exceed those calculated by the first-order t rho optical potential for C, Si, and Ca, but not for Li-6, particularly at 656 and 714 MeV/c where the excess is 10-25%. Relative to Li-6, this excess is found to be nearly energy independent and its magnitude of 15-25% is not reproduced by any nuclear medium effect studied so far.