Kaon production at subthreshold energies - what do we learn about the nuclear medium ?

TL;DR

This study uses the IQMD model to analyze kaon spectra and flow at subthreshold energies, revealing the significant roles of rescattering and optical potential in shaping observables, thus providing insights into the nuclear medium.

Contribution

It demonstrates how rescattering and optical potential effects influence kaon production and flow at subthreshold energies, enhancing understanding of the nuclear medium.

Findings

Rescattering dominates the temperature of kaon spectra.

Optical potential increasingly affects elliptic flow at lower energies.

Kaon observables reveal properties of the nuclear medium.

Abstract

The Isospin Quantum Molecular Dynamics model is used to compare spectra and elliptic flow of kaons produced at subthreshold energies with data taken at the SIS accelerator at GSI. We find that temperatures of the spectra are dominated by the rescattering of the kaons. The study of elliptic flow observables indicates the influence of rescattering as well as of the optical potential of the kaons with increasing dominance of the optical potential at lower incident energies.