PRODUCTION OF K- MESONS IN PROTON-PROTON AND PROTON-NUCLEUS COLLISIONS AT VARIOUS ENERGIES

Experimental data on the production of K- mesons in pp collisions are analyzed, and a method is proposed for unified description of these da ta in a broad interval of energies of primary protons. The production of K- mesons in pA collisions is considered. Simple formulas for inclu sive cross sections of production of K-mesons in these collisions are presented. The results of the calculations carried out using these for mulas are compared with the available experimental data and with the r esults obtained within the framework of the model of independent quark -gluon strings.