Measurements of π^±, K^±, p and (p)over-bar spectra in ⁴⁰Ar+⁴⁵Sc collisions at 13A to 150A GeV/c

The NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron studies the onset of deconfinement in strongly interacting matter through a beam energyscan of particle production in collisions of nuclei of varied sizes. This paper presents results on inclusive double-differential spectra, transverse momentum and rapidity distributions and mean multiplicities of pi(+/-), K-+/-, p and (p) over bar produced in Ar-40+Sc-45 collisions at beam momenta of 13A,19A,30A,40A,75Aand 150AGeV/c. The analysis uses the 10% mostcentral collisions, where the observed forward energy definescentrality. The energy dependence of the K-+/-/pi(+/-) ratios aswell as of inverse slope parameters of the K-+/- transverse mass distributions are placed in between those found in inelastic p + p and central Pb + Pb collisions. The results obtained here establish a system-size dependence of hadron production properties that so far cannot be explained either within statistical or dynamical models.