Production of $\pi^+$ and $K^+$ mesons in argon-nucleus interactions at 3.2 AGeV

Abstract

First physics results of the BM@N experiment at the Nuclotron/NICA complex are presented on {\pi}+ and K+ meson production in interactions of an argon beam with fixed targets of C, Al, Cu, Sn and Pb at 3.2 AGeV. Transverse momentum distributions, rapidity spectra and multiplicities of $\pi^+$ and $K^+$ mesons are measured. The results are compared with predictions of theoretical models and with other measurements at lower energies.