Is Strangeness Chemically Equilibrated?

Abstract

Results related to the possible chemical equilibration of hadrons in heavy ion collisions are reviewed. Overall the evidence is very strong with a few clear and well-documented deviations, especially concerning multi-strange hadrons. Two effects are considered in some detail. Firstly, the neglect of (possibly an infinite number) of heavy resonances is investigated with the help of the Hagedorn model. Secondly, possible deviations from the standard statistical distributions are investigated by considering in detail results obtained using the Tsallis distribution.