K-S(0) and Lambda Production in Pb-Pb Collisions at root s(NN)=2: 76 TeV

The ALICE measurement of K_{S}^{0} and Λ production at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76 TeV is presented. The transverse momentum (p_{T}) spectra are shown for several collision centrality intervals and in the p_{T} range from 0.4 GeV/c (0.6 GeV/c for Λ) to 12 GeV/c. The p_{T} dependence of the Λ/K_{S}^{0} ratios exhibits maxima in the vicinity of 3 GeV/c, and the positions of the maxima shift towards higher p_{T} with increasing collision centrality. The magnitude of these maxima increases by almost a factor of three between most peripheral and most central Pb-Pb collisions. This baryon excess at intermediate p_{T} is not observed in pp interactions at sqrt[s]=0.9 TeV and at sqrt[s]=7 TeV. Qualitatively, the baryon enhancement in heavy-ion collisions is expected from radial flow. However, the measured p_{T} spectra above 2 GeV/c progressively decouple from hydrodynamical-model calculations. For higher values of p_{T}, models that incorporate the influence of the medium on the fragmentation and hadronization processes describe qualitatively the p_{T} dependence of the Λ/K_{S}^{0} ratio.