Kaon Production in $\bar{p} p$ Reactions at a Center-of-mass Energy of 540-{GeV}

Abstract Using the UA5 detector, the inclusive central production of K s 0 and K ± mesons has been measured in non-single-diffractive interactions at the CERN SPS p p Collider at a c.m. energy of 540 GeV. The average transverse momentum is found to be 〈 p T 〉 = 0.57±0.03 GeV/ c in the rapidity range | y | π ratio has increased from about 8% at ISR energies to 9.5±0.9±0.7% (the last error is systematic) at 540 GeV. The average number of K s 0 per non-single-diffractive event is 1.1±0.1 and the inclusive inelastic cross section is estimated at 49±5 mb.