K +-meson production inpBe interactions atT p=2.9 GeV

Abstract The production ofK + andπ + mesons and protons inpBe collisions atT p=2.9 GeV has been studied at the ITEP proton synchrotron. Ejectiles with a momentum ofp=545 MeV/c were observed under an emission angle ϑ=17°. The detectors which have been developed for the identification of kaons out of a six orders of magnitude more intense background of pions and protons are described. A cross-section ratio d2σ K +/dΩdp: d2 σ p /dΩdp: d2σ p /dΩdp of (1±0.34):(85±1):(31±1) has been measured. Normalization with existing pion data yields an invariant differential cross sectionE·d3σ K +/d3 p=(3.1±1.2) mbGeV−2c3sr−1 and a total cross section of σtot(pBe)=(3.7±1.5) mb. These cross sections are compared with existing data and theoretical predictions. TheA dependence ofK + production in the few-GeV range is analyzed.