Explanation of the observed violation of isospin symmetry in relativistic nucleus-nucleus reactions

Abstract

The violation of isospin symmetry in nucleus-nucleus reactions, as shown in the ratio ${R_K=(K^++K^-)/(K^0+\bar{K}^0)}$ presented by NA61/SHINE, can be understood by introducing results from color-string fragmentation in $e^+e^-$ to nuclear reactions. This novel input allows for a consistent description of the $e^+e^-$ data, proton+proton data and finally nucleus-nucleus data at all investigated energies. We conclude that the observed isospin violation in nucleus-nucleus reactions is explained by asymmetric production of up- and down-quarks in the elementary color field fragmentation process.