Inclusive K+-meson production in proton-nucleus interactions

The production of K+-mesons in pA (A = D: Q Cu, Ag, Au) collisions has been investigated at the COoler SYnchrotroii COSY-Julich for beam energies T-p = 1.0-2.3 GeV. Double differential inclusive p C cross-sections at forward angles theta(K+) < 12 degrees as well as the target mass dependence of the K+ momentum spectra have been measured with the ANKE spectrometer. Far below the free NN threshold at T-NN = 1.58 GeV the spectra reveal a high degree of collectivity in the target nucleus. From the target mass dependence of the cross-sections at higher energies, the repulsive in-medium potential of the K+--mesons can be deduced. Using pN cross-section parameterisations from the literature and our measured pD data we derive a cross-section ratio sigma(pn --> K+X)/sigma(pp --> K+X) similar to (3-4).