SUBTHRESHOLD K--MESON PRODUCTION IN PION-NUCLEUS COLLISIONS

The inclusive subthreshold production of K- mesons in pion-nucleus col lisions is analyzed in the first-collision approximation by means of v arious forms of the momentum distribution of intranuclear nucleons. Th e differential cross sections for K--meson production in pion-nucleon collisions are described in the phase-space model with normalization t o the experimental total cross sections. Simple parametrizations of th ese cross sections are presented. The inclusive cross sections for K-- meson production in pi + C collisions are evaluated as functions of th e primary-pion energy. The effect of uncertainties in the elementary c ross sections for near-threshold K--meson production on the K--meson y ield in pi + C collisions is investigated.