Δ++ production in 158 A GeV 208Pb+208Pb interactions at the CERN SPS

The Delta(++)-resonance production in central 158 A GeV Pb-208 + Pb-208 collisions at the CERN SPS has been studied. The Delta(++) production was estimated from the invariant mass spectrum of p pi(+)-pairs by subtracting a mixed event background. The measured Delta(++) abundance is compared with the results from other experiments at lower energies, and with a model calculation assuming thermal and chemical equilibrium. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.