Study of the Low Energy Dynamics in the ppK+K- System with the Cosy-11 Magnetic Spectrometer

TL;DR

This study investigates near-threshold K+K- pair production in proton-proton collisions using the COSY-11 spectrometer, revealing discrepancies with theoretical models and suggesting significant K+K- and pK interactions.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental distributions of the pp-->ppK+K- reaction at specific energies, highlighting deviations from existing theories and emphasizing the role of meson interactions.

Findings

Experimental excitation function differs from theoretical predictions.

Distributions of cross sections show influence of K+K- and pK interactions.

Results suggest need for refined models of meson interactions.

Abstract

The near threshold production of K+K- pairs in proton-proton collisions has been investigated at the cooler synchrotron COSY below and above the threshold for the \phi meson production. The experimental excitation function determined for the pp-->ppK+K- reaction differs from theoretical expectations including proton-proton final state interaction. The discrepancy may be assigned to the influence of K+K- or pK interaction. In this article we present distributions of the cross section for the pp-->ppK+K- reaction as a function of the invariant masses of two and three particle subsystems at excess energies of Q=10 MeV and 28 MeV.