Overpopulation of $\bar{\Omega }$ in pp collisions: a way to distinguish statistical hadronization from string dynamics

Abstract

The $\bar{\Omega }/\Omega$ ratio originating from string decays is predicted to be larger than unity in proton proton interactions at SPS energies ($E_{\mathrm{lab}}$=160 GeV). The anti-omega dominance increases with decreasing beam energy. This surprising behavior is caused by the combinatorics of quark-antiquark production in small and low-mass strings. Since this behavior is not found in a statistical description of hadron production in proton proton collisions, it may serve as a key observable to probe the hadronization mechanism in such collisions.

4 pages, 4 figures