K∗ (892)0 meson production in inelastic p+p interactions at 40 and 80 GeV/c beam momenta measured by NA61/SHINE at the CERN SPS

Abstract

Measurements of K∗ (892)0 resonance production via its K+ π − decay mode in inelastic p+p collisions at beam momenta 40 and 80 GeV/c (√sNN = 8.8 and 12.3 GeV) are presented. The data were recorded by the NA61/SHINE hadron spectrometer at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. The template methodwas used to extract the K∗ (892)0 signal. Transversemomentum and rapidity spectra were obtained. The mean multiplicities of K∗ (892)0 mesons were found to be (35.1 ± 1.3(stat) ± 3.6(sys)) · 10−3 at 40 GeV/c and (58.3±1.9(stat)±4.9(sys))·10−3 at 80 GeV/c. The NA61/SHINE results are compared with the Epos1.99 and Hadron Resonance Gas models as well as with world data. The transverse mass spectra of K∗ (892)0 mesons and other particles previously reported byNA61/SHINEwere fitted within the Blast-Wave model. The transverse flow velocities are close to 0.1–0.2 of the speed of light and are significantly smaller than the ones determined in heavy nucleusnucleus interactions at the same beam momenta.