Measurements of charged pion and kaon production in central Pb+Pb collisions at 40, 80 and 158 AGeV are presented. These are compared with data at lower and higher energies as well as with results from p+p interactions. The mean pion multiplicity per wounded nucleon increases approximately linearly with s_NN^1/4 with a change of slope starting in the region 15-40 AGeV. The change from pion suppression with respect to p+p interactions, as observed at low collision energies, to pion enhancement at high energies occurs at about 40 AGeV. A non-monotonic energy dependence of the ratio of K^+ to pi^+ yields is observed, with a maximum close to 40 AGeV and an indication of a nearly constant value at higher energies.The measured dependences may be related to an increase of the entropy production and a decrease of the strangeness to entropy ratio in central Pb+Pb collisions in the low SPS energy range, which is consistent with the hypothesis that a transient state of deconfined matter is created above these energies. Other interpretations of the data are also discussed.
Total pion multiplicity for all inelastic PBAR P collisions from the compilation presented in Gazdzicki and Rohrich ZP C65(95)215, C71(96)55.
Total pion multiplicity for all inelastic P P collisions from the compilation presented in Gazdzicki and Rohrich ZP C65(95)215, C71(96)55. Statistical errors (not given) are in the range 1-3%).
The energy dependence of the K+/PI+ ratio at y = 0 in PB PB and AU AU collisions. This table includes the present NA49 data as well as other data CT.= The commmon systematic error on the NA49 points is +-7%. including PHENIX and AGS data.
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