Neutral strange particle dynamics in Au + Au collisions at AGS energies

The E895 Collaboration has investigated a number of mixed-particle correlations involving neutral strange particles (K⁰_s and Λ) in 2, 4, 6 and 8 A GeV Au + Au collisions at the AGS. The first measurements for pΛ correlations indicate a correlation magnitude of about 50&percent; with a 26 MeV width. Detailed comparisons between data and theory suggest an emitting source with an effective Gaussian radius close to 4.5 fm. This radius is much larger than the value of 2.8 fm predicted by the relativistic transport code ART. Pairs of pK⁰, π^−Λ and π⁻K⁰ are found to display essentially zero correlation at 6 A GeV. The latter observations are not unexpected considering that the proton–K⁰ interaction has a very small scattering length and there are no very well known interactions between pions and Λs or K⁰s.