Hadron Production and Propagation in Pion-Induced Reactions on Nuclei

Abstract

Hadron production ($π^\pm$, proton, $Λ$, $K_S^0$, $K^\pm$) in $π^- + \mathrm{C}$ and $π^- + \mathrm{W}$ collisions is investigated at an incident pion beam momentum of $1.7~\mathrm{GeV}/c$. This comprehensive set of data measured with HADES at SIS18/GSI significantly extends the existing world data on hadron production in pion induced reactions and provides a new reference for models that are commonly used for the interpretation of heavy-ion collisions. The measured inclusive differential production cross-sections are compared with state-of-the-art transport model (GiBUU, SMASH) calculations. The (semi-) exclusive channel $π^- + A \rightarrow Λ+ K_S^0 +X$, in which the kinematics of the strange hadrons are correlated, is also investigated and compared to a model calculation. Agreement and remaining tensions between data and the current version of the considered transport models are discussed.