Mean transverse mass of hadrons in proton-proton reactions

Understand

An energy dependence of the mean transverse mass $\langle m_T\rangle$ at mid-rapidity in proton-proton ($p+p$) reactions is studied within the ultra-relativistic quantum molecular dynamics (UrQMD).

• The UrQMD model predicts a nonmonotonous dependence of $\langle m_T\rangle$ on collision energy for several hadron species: for $\pi^+$, $p$, $K^+$, and $\Lambda$ the mean transverse mass has a maximum at the center of mass energy region $5\le \sqrt{s}\le 8$ GeV.
• These results are a consequence of an interplay of two contributions: 1) excitations and decays of the baryonic resonances $N^*$ and $\Delta$; 2) excitations and decays of the baryonic strings.
• The UrQMD results do not show any nonmonotonous dependence of $\langle m_T\rangle$ on $\sqrt{s}$ for $\pi^-$, $K^{-}$, and antiprotons.