Strangeness enhancements at central rapidity in 40 A GeV/c Pb-Pb collisions

Results are presented on the production of K0S, hyperons and antihyperons in Pb–Pb and p–Be interactions at 40 GeV/c per nucleon. The enhancement pattern follows the same hierarchy as seen in the higher energy data—the enhancement increases with the strangeness content of the hyperons and with the centrality of collision. The centrality dependence of the Pb–Pb yields and enhancements is steeper at 40 than at 158 A GeV/c. The energy dependence of strangeness enhancements at mid-rapidity is discussed.