K⁺ -meson production in pBe interactions at T_p = 2.9 GeV

The production of K⁺ and π⁺ mesons and protons in pBe collisions at T _p =2.9 GeV has been studied at the ITEP proton synchrotron. Ejectiles with a momentum of p=545 MeV/c were observed under an emission angle theta=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 ration d²σ_K⁺ /dωdp: d²σ_π⁺ /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 section E∙d³σ_K⁺ /d³ p=(3.1±1.2) mb GeV^-2c³sr^-1 and a total cross section of σ_tot(pBe) =(3.7±1.5) mb. These cross sections are compared with existing data and theoretical predictions. The A dependence of K⁺ production in the few-GeV range is analyzed.