The interaction of ρ and K~+ mesons with matter

摘要

We review in this contribution the information we can obtain from heavy-ion experiments about the interaction of mesons with matter. We demonstrate that the vector mesons seen in experiments come predominantly from low densities. Kaons offer a better opportunity but most of the presently available experimental observables do not allow to analyze separately the three essential unknown quantities: the kaon production cross-section in the medium, the K ~+N potential interaction at finite densities and temperatures and the kaon (elastic or charge exchange) rescattering cross-section in the medium. We propose a measurement which almost exclusively tests the K~+N potential.