University of Groningen Delta ( + + ) production in 158 A GeV Pb-208 + Pb-208 interactions at the CERN

The D-resonance production in central 158 A GeV PbqPb collisions at the CERN SPS has been studied. The D production was estimated from the invariant mass spectrum of pp-pairs by subtracting a mixed event background. The measured D abundance is compared with the results from other experiments at lower energies, and with a model calculation assuming thermal and chemical equilibrium. q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 25.75.Dw