Energy dependence of kaon production in central Pb$plus$Pb collisions

Abstract

Recent results from the NA49 experiment on the energy dependence of charged kaon production in central Pb+Pb collisions are presented. First results from the new data at 80 A GeV beam energy are compared with those from lower and higher energies. A difference in the energy dependence of the ⟨K+⟩/⟨π+⟩ and ⟨K−⟩/⟨π−⟩ ratios is observed. The ⟨K+⟩/⟨π+⟩ ratio shows a non-monotonic behaviour with a maximum near 40 A GeV.