arXiv subjects

W. Koenig

Publications and source records attributed to W. Koenig.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Sub-threshold production of K^{0}_{s} mesons and Λ hyperons in Au(1.23A GeV)+Au

We present first data on sub-threshold production of K0 s mesons and Λ hyperons in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.4 GeV. We observe an universal scaling of hadrons containing strangeness, independent of their corresponding production thresholds. Comparing the yields, their scaling, and the shapes of the rapidity and the pt spectra to state-of-the-art transport model (UrQMD, HSD, IQMD) predictions, we find that none of the latter can simultaneously describe all observables with reasonable \c{hi}2 values.

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arXiv2018

Strong absorption of hadrons with hidden and open strangeness in nuclear matter

We present the first observation of K- and ϕabsorption within nuclear matter by means of π- -induced reactions on C and W targets at an incident beam momentum of 1.7 GeV/c studied with HADES at SIS18/GSI. The double ratio (K-/K+)W / (K-/K+)C is found to be 0.319 \pm 0.009(stat)+0.014-0.012 (syst) indicating a larger absorption of K- in heavier targets as compared to lighter ones. The measured ϕ/K- ratios in π-+C and π^- +W reactions within the HADES acceptance are found to be equal to $0.55 \pm 0.03(stat)+0.06-0.07$ (syst) and to $0.63 \pm 0.05(stat)-0.11+0.11$ (syst), respectively. The similar ratios measured in the two different reactions demonstrate for the first time experimentally that the dynamics of the ϕmeson in nuclear medium is strongly coupled to the K- dynamics. The large difference in the ϕproduction off C and W nuclei is discussed in terms of a strong \phiN in-medium coupling.

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arXiv2018

Centrality determination of Au+Au collisions at 1.23A GeV with HADES

The centrality determination for Au+Au collisions at 1.23A GeV, as measured with HADES at the GSI-SIS18, is described. In order to extract collision geometry related quantities, such as the average impact parameter or number of participating nucleons, a Glauber Monte Carlo approach is employed. For the application of this model to collisions at this relatively low centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 2.42$ GeV special investigations were performed. As a result a well defined procedure to determine centrality classes for ongoing analyses of heavy-ion data is established.

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arXiv2017

Deep sub-threshold ϕ production and implications for the K+/K- freeze-out in Au+Au collisions

We present data on charged kaons (K+-) and ϕ mesons in Au(1.23A GeV)+Au collisions. It is the first simultaneous measurement of K and ϕ mesons in central heavy-ion collisions below a kinetic beam energy of 10A GeV. The ϕ/K- multiplicity ratio is found to be surprisingly high with a value of 0.52 +- 0.16 and shows no dependence on the centrality of the collision. Consequently, the different slopes of the K+ and K- transverse-mass spectra can be explained solely by feed- down, which substantially softens the spectra of K- mesons. Hence, in contrast to the commonly adapted argumentation in literature, the different slopes do not necessarily imply diverging freeze- out temperatures of K+ and K- mesons caused by different couplings to baryons.

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arXiv2017

$Σ^0$ production in proton nucleus collisions near threshold

The production of $Σ^{0}$ baryons in the nuclear reaction p (3.5 GeV) + Nb (corresponding to $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=3.18$ GeV) is studied with the detector set-up HADES at GSI, Darmstadt. $Σ^{0}$s were identified via the decay $Σ^{0} \rightarrow Λγ$ with subsequent decays $Λ\rightarrow p π^{-}$ in coincidence with a $e^{+}e^{-}$ pair from either external ($γ\rightarrow e^{+} e^{-}$) or internal (Dalitz decay $γ^{*}\rightarrow e^{+} e^{-}$) gamma conversions. The differential $Σ^0$ cross section integrated over the detector acceptance, i.e. the rapidity interval $0.5 < y < 1.1$, has been extracted as $Δσ_{Σ^{0}} = 2.3 \pm (0.2)^{stat} \pm \left(^{+0.6}_{-0.6}\right)^{sys} \pm (0.2)^{norm}$ mb, yielding the inclusive production cross section in full phase space $σ^{total}_{Σ^{0}} = 5.8 \pm (0.5)^{stat} \pm \left(^{+1.4}_{-1.4}\right)^{sys} \pm (0.6)^{norm} \pm (1.7)^{extrapol}$ mb by averaging over different extrapolation methods. The $Λ_{all}$/$Σ^{0}$ ratio within the HADES acceptance is equal to 2.3 $\pm$ $(0.2)^{stat}$ $\pm$ $(^{+0.6}_{-0.6})^{sys}$. The obtained rapidity and momentum distributions are compared to transport model calculations. The $Σ^{0}$ yield agrees with the statistical model of particle production in nuclear reactions.

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arXiv2017

$Δ$(1232) Dalitz decay in proton-proton collisions at T=1.25 GeV measured with HADES

We report on the investigation of $Δ$(1232) production and decay in proton-proton collisions at a kinetic energy of 1.25 GeV measured with HADES. Exclusive dilepton decay channels $ppe^{+}e^{-}$ and $ppe^{+}e^{-}γ$ have been studied and compared with the partial wave analysis of the hadronic $ppπ^{0}$ channel. They allow to access both $Δ^+ \to pπ^0(e^+e^-γ)$ and $Δ^+ \to pe^+e^-$ Dalitz decay channels. The perfect reconstruction of the well known $π^0$ Dalitz decay serves as a proof of the consistency of the analysis. The $Δ$ Dalitz decay is identified for the first time and the sensitivity to N-$Δ$ transition form factors is tested. The $Δ$(1232) Dalitz decay branching ratio is also determined for the first time; our result is (4.19 $\pm$ 0.62 syst. $\pm$ 0.34 stat.) $\times $ 10$^{-5}$, albeit with some model dependence.

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arXiv2017

Analysis of pion production data measured by HADES in proton-proton collisions at 1.25 GeV

Baryon resonance production in proton-proton collisions at a kinetic beam energy of 1.25 GeV is investigated. The multi-differential data were measured by the HADES collaboration. Exclusive channels with one pion in the final state ($npπ^{+}$ and $ppπ^{0}$) were put to extended studies based on various observables in the framework of a one-pion exchange model and with solutions obtained within the framework of a partial wave analysis (PWA) of the Bonn-Gatchina group. The results of the PWA confirm the dominant contribution of the $Δ$(1232), yet with a sizable impact of the $N$(1440) and non-resonant partial waves.

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arXiv2017

Analysis of the exclusive final state npe$^+$e$^-$ in quasi-free np reaction

We report on the investigation of dielectron production in tagged quasi-free neutron-proton collisions by using a deuteron beam of kinetic energy 1.25 GeV/u inpinging on a liquid hydrogen target. Our measurements with HADES confirm a significant excess of $e^+e^-$ pairs above the $π^{0}$ mass in the exclusive channel $dp \to npe^{+}e^{-}(p_{spect})$ as compared to the exclusive channel $ppe^{+}e^{-}$ measured in proton-proton collisions at the same energy. That excess points to different bremsstrahlung production mechanisms. Two models were evaluated for the role of the charged pion exchange between nucleons and double-$Δ$ excitation combined with intermediate $ρ$-meson production. Differential cross sections as a function of the $e^+e^-$ invariant mass and of the angles of the virtual photon, proton and electrons provide valuable constraints and encourage further investigations on both experimental and theoretical side.

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arXiv2016

Inclusive Λ production in proton-proton collisions at 3.5 GeV

The inclusive production of Λ hyperons in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 3.18 GeV was measured with HADES at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt. The experimental data are compared to a data-based model for individual exclusive Λ production channels in the same reaction. The contributions of intermediate resonances such as Σ(1385), Δ++ or N* are considered in detail. In particular, the result of a partial wave analysis is accounted for the abundant pK$^+$Λ final state. Model and data show a reasonable agreement at mid rapidities, while a difference is found for larger rapidities. A total Λ production cross section in p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 3.18 GeV of σ(pp $\to$ Λ + X) = 207.3 $\pm$ 1.3 +6.0 -7.3 (stat.) $\pm$ 8.4 (syst.) +0.4 -0.5 (model) μb is found.

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arXiv2016

The $\bf{Λp}$ interaction studied via femtoscopy in p + Nb reactions at $\mathbf{\sqrt{s_{NN}}=3.18} ~\mathrm{\bf{GeV}}$

We report on the first measurement of $pΛ$ and $pp$ correlations via the femtoscopy method in p+Nb reactions at $\mathrm{\sqrt{s_{NN}}=3.18} ~\mathrm{GeV}$, studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES). By comparing the experimental correlation function to model calculations, a source size for $pp$ pairs of $r_{0,pp}=2.02 \pm 0.01(\mathrm{stat})^{+0.11}_{-0.12} (\mathrm{sys}) ~\mathrm{fm}$ and a slightly smaller value for $pΛ$ of $r_{0,Λp}=1.62 \pm 0.02(\mathrm{stat})^{+0.19}_{-0.08}(\mathrm{sys}) ~\mathrm{fm}$ is extracted. Using the geometrical extent of the particle emitting region, determined experimentally with $pp$ correlations as reference together with a source function from a transport model, it is possible to study different sets of scattering parameters. The $pΛ$ correlation is proven sensitive to predicted scattering length values from chiral effective field theory. We demonstrate that the femtoscopy technique can be used as valid alternative to the analysis of scattering data to study the hyperon-nucleon interaction.

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arXiv2015

Statistical model analysis of hadron yields in proton-nucleus and heavy-ion collisions at SIS 18 energies

The HADES data from p+Nb collisions at center of mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 3.2 GeV are analyzed by employing a statistical model. Accounting for the identified hadrons $π^0$, $η$, $Λ$, $K^{0}_{s}$, $ω$ allows a surprisingly good description of their abundances with parameters $T_{chem}=(99\pm11)$ MeV and $μ_{b}=(619\pm34)$ MeV, which fits well in the chemical freeze-out systematics found in heavy-ion collisions. In supplement we reanalyze our previous HADES data from Ar+KCl collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 2.6 GeV with an updated version of the statistical model. We address equilibration in heavy-ion collisions by testing two aspects: the description of yields and the regularity of freeze-out parameters from a statistical model fit. Special emphasis is put on feed-down contributions from higher-lying resonance states which have been proposed to explain the experimentally observed $Ξ^-$ excess present in both data samples.

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arXiv2015

Study of the quasi-free $np \to np π^+π^-$ reaction with a deuterium beam at 1.25 GeV/nucleon

The tagged quasi-free $np \to npπ^+π^-$ reaction has been studied experimentally with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at GSI at a deuteron incident beam energy of 1.25 GeV/nucleon ($\sqrt s \sim$ 2.42 GeV/c for the quasi-free collision). For the first time, differential distributions for $π^{+}π^{-}$ production in $np$ collisions have been collected in the region corresponding to the large transverse momenta of the secondary particles. The invariant mass and angular distributions for the $np\rightarrow npπ^{+}π^{-}$ reaction are compared with different models. This comparison confirms the dominance of the $t$-channel with $ΔΔ$ contribution. It also validates the changes previously introduced in the Valencia model to describe two-pion production data in other isospin channels, although some deviations are observed, especially for the $π^{+}π^{-}$ invariant mass spectrum. The extracted total cross section is also in much better agreement with this model. Our new measurement puts useful constraints for the existence of the conjectured dibaryon resonance at mass M$\sim$ 2.38 GeV and with width $Γ\sim$ 70 MeV.

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arXiv2015

K*(892)+ production in proton-proton collisions at E_beam = 3.5 GeV

We present results on the K*(892)+ production in proton-proton collisions at a beam energy of E = 3.5 GeV, which is hitherto the lowest energy at which this mesonic resonance has been observed in nucleon-nucleon reactions. The data are interpreted within a two-channel model that includes the 3-body production of K*(892)+ associated with the Lambda- or Sigma-hyperon. The relative contributions of both channels are estimated. Besides the total cross section sigma(p+p -> K*(892)+ + X) = 9.5 +- 0.9 +1.1 -0.9 +- 0.7 mub, that adds a new data point to the excitation function of the K*(892)+ production in the region of low excess energy, transverse momenta and angular spectra are extracted and compared with the predictions of the two-channel model. The spin characteristics of K*(892)+ are discussed as well in terms of the spin-alignment.

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arXiv2015

Subthreshold Xi- Production in Collisions of p(3.5 GeV)+Nb

Results on the production of the double-strange cascade hyperon $\mathrm{Ξ^-}$ are reported for collisions of p\,(3.5~GeV)\,+\,Nb, studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at SIS18 at GSI Helmholtzzentrum for Heavy-Ion Research, Darmstadt. For the first time, subthreshold $\mathrm{Ξ^-}$ production is observed in proton-nucleus interactions. Assuming a $\mathrm{Ξ^-}$ phase-space distribution similar to that of $\mathrmΛ$ hyperons, the production probability amounts to $P_{\mathrm{Ξ^-}}=(2.0\,\pm0.4\,\mathrm{(stat)}\,\pm 0.3\,\mathrm{(norm)}\,\pm 0.6\,\mathrm{(syst)})\times10^{-4}$ resulting in a $\mathrm{Ξ^-/(Λ+Σ^0)}$ ratio of $P_{\mathrm{Ξ^-}}/\ P_{\mathrm{Λ+Σ^0}}=(1.2\pm 0.3\,\mathrm{(stat)}\pm0.4\,\mathrm{(syst)})\times10^{-2}$. Available model predictions are significantly lower than the estimated $\mathrm{Ξ^-}$ yield.

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arXiv2014

Partial Wave Analysis of the Reaction $p(3.5 GeV)+p \to pK^+Λ$ to Search for the "$ppK^-$" Bound State

Employing the Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis framework (PWA), we have analyzed HADES data of the reaction $p(3.5GeV)+p\to pK^{+}Λ$. This reaction might contain information about the kaonic cluster "$ppK^-$" via its decay into $pΛ$. Due to interference effects in our coherent description of the data, a hypothetical $\overline{K}NN$ (or, specifically "$ppK^-$") cluster signal must not necessarily show up as a pronounced feature (e.g. a peak) in an invariant mass spectra like $pΛ$. Our PWA analysis includes a variety of resonant and non-resonant intermediate states and delivers a good description of our data (various angular distributions and two-hadron invariant mass spectra) without a contribution of a $\overline{K}NN$ cluster. At a confidence level of CL$_{s}$=95\% such a cluster can not contribute more than 2-12\% to the total cross section with a $pK^{+}Λ$ final state, which translates into a production cross-section between 0.7 $μb$ and 4.2 $μb$, respectively. The range of the upper limit depends on the assumed cluster mass, width and production process.

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arXiv2014

Medium effects in proton-induced $K^{0}$ production at 3.5 GeV

We present the analysis of the inclusive $K^{0}$ production in p+p and p+Nb collisions measured with the HADES detector at a beam kinetic energy of 3.5 GeV. Data are compared to the GiBUU transport model. The data suggest the presence of a repulsive momentum-dependent kaon potential as predicted by the Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT). For the kaon at rest and at normal nuclear density, the ChPT potential amounts to $\approx 35$ MeV. A detailed tuning of the kaon production cross sections implemented in the model has been carried out to reproduce the experimental data measured in p+p collisions. The uncertainties in the parameters of the model were examined with respect to the sensitivity of the experimental results from p+Nb collisions to the in-medium kaon potential.

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arXiv2014

Lambda hyperon production and polarization in collisions of p(3.5 GeV) + Nb

Results on $Λ$ hyperon production are reported for collisions of p(3.5 GeV) + Nb, studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at SIS18 at GSI Helmholtzzentrum for Heavy-Ion Research, Darmstadt. The transverse mass distributions in rapidity bins are well described by Boltzmann shapes with a maximum inverse slope parameter of about $90\,$MeV at a rapidity of $y=1.0$, i.e. slightly below the center-of-mass rapidity for nucleon-nucleon collisions, $y_{cm}=1.12$. The rapidity density decreases monotonically with increasing rapidity within a rapidity window ranging from 0.3 to 1.3. The $Λ$ phase-space distribution is compared with results of other experiments and with predictions of two transport approaches which are available publicly. None of the present versions of the employed models is able to fully reproduce the experimental distributions, i.e. in absolute yield and in shape. Presumably, this finding results from an insufficient modelling in the transport models of the elementary processes being relevant for $Λ$ production, rescattering and absorption. The present high-statistics data allow for a genuine two-dimensional investigation as a function of phase space of the self-analyzing $Λ$ polarization in the weak decay $Λ\rightarrow p π^-$. Finite negative values of the polarization in the order of $5-20\,\%$ are observed over the entire phase space studied. The absolute value of the polarization increases almost linearly with increasing transverse momentum for $p_t>300\,$MeV/c and increases with decreasing rapidity for $y < 0.8$.

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arXiv2014

Associate K^0 production in p+p collisions at 3.5 GeV: The role of Delta(1232)++

An exclusive analysis of the 4-body final states $\mathrm{Λ+ p + π^{+} + K^{0}}$ and $\mathrm{Σ^{0} + p + π^{+} + K^{0}}$ measured with HADES for p+p collisions at a beam kinetic energy of 3.5 GeV is presented. The analysis uses various phase space variables, such as missing mass and invariant mass distributions, in the four particle event selection (p, $π^+$, $π^+$, $π^-$) to find cross sections of the different production channels, contributions of the intermediate resonances $\mathrm{Δ^{++}}$ and $\mathrm{Σ(1385)^{+}}$ and corresponding angular distributions. A dominant resonant production is seen, where the reaction $\mathrm{Λ+ Δ^{++} + K^{0}}$ has an about ten times higher cross section ($\mathrm{29.45\pm0.08^{+1.67}_{-1.46}\pm2.06\,μb}$) than the analogous non-resonant reaction ($\mathrm{2.57\pm0.02^{+0.21}_{-1.98}\pm0.18\,μb}$). A similar result is obtained in the corresponding $Σ^{0}$ channels with $\mathrm{9.26\pm0.05^{+1.41}_{-0.31}\pm0.65\,\ mu b}$ in the resonant and $\mathrm{1.35\pm0.02^{+0.10}_{-1.35}\pm0.09\,μb}$ in the non-resonant reactions.

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