LowpT phenomena in A+A and p+A collisions at mid-rapidity

Abstract CERN experiment NA44 measures pion and kaon distributions at p T = 0–320 MeV/c at midrapidity in p+A and A+A collisions at 450 and 200A GeV/c, respectively. Pion production from p+Pb and A+A is slightly enhanced at low p T relative to p+Be, but less than observed at target rapidity. The low p T behavior can be understood in the context of the RQMD model as arising from baryonic resonance decays.