K^0 and Λproduction in Ni + Ni collisions near threshold

Abstract

New results concerning the production of neutral strange particles, $K^0$ and $\hat{I}›$ in Ni + Ni collisions at 1.93$A$ GeV, measured with the FOPI detector at GSI-Darmstadt, are presented. Rapidity density distributions and Boltzmann slope parameter distributions are measured in nearly the full phase space of the reaction. The observables are compared to existing $K^{+}$ and proton data. While the $K^0$ data agree with previously reported $K^{+}$ measurements, the $\hat{I}›$ distributions show a different behavior relative to that of protons. The strangeness balance and the production yield per participating nucleon as a function of the centrality of the reaction are discussed, for the first time at SIS energies.

10 pages, 8 figures