OBSERVABLE SENSITIVITIES TO SCALING OF K-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS WITHIN NUCLEI()

We have used an impulse approximation optical model to compute a range of K+-nucleus observables, considering how these vary with assumption s about alterations of the K+-nucleon amplitudes within complex nuclei . The observable elastic, inelastic, total and reaction cross sections are approximately linearly dependent upon the interior K+-nucleon amp litudes, not cross sections. Similar comparisons are made for quasi-el astic scattering, computing the number of nucleons contributing incohe rently to the reaction through an eikonal model incorporating enhanced cross sections. All measured observables are consistent with enhanced in-medium K+-nucleon amplitudes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.