K * (892) 0 and K ¯ * (892) 0 production in central Pb + Pb, Si + Si, C + C, and inelastic p + p collisions at 158 A GeV

Production of the K*(892)0 and K*(892)⁰ resonances was studied via their K⁺π⁻ and K⁻π⁺ decay modes in central Pb+Pb, Si+Si, C+C, and inelastic p+p collisions at 158A GeV(√(sNN)=17.3 GeV) with the NA49 detector at the CERN SPS. Transverse momentum and rapidity distributions were measured and total yields were estimated. The yield of K* exceeds that of K* by about a factor of two in nucleus-nucleus reactions. The total yield ratios ⟨K*⟩/⟨K+⟩ and ⟨K*⟩/⟨K-⟩ are strongly suppressed in central Pb+Pb compared to p+p, C+C, and Si+Si collisions, in agreement with the expected attenuation of these short-lived resonance states in the hadronic phase of the expanding fireball. The UrQMD model, although incorporating such a scenario, does not provide a quantitative description of the experimental results. The statistical hadron gas model assuming the same freeze-out parameters for stable hadrons and resonances overestimates the ⟨K*⟩/⟨K⟩ ratios in central Pb+Pb collisions by about a factor of 2.5.