Hypernucleus formation and strangeness production in proton-nucleus reactions

We study the production of $\Lambda$ hyperons in $p + A$ reactions on the basis of a BUU transport approach from 1.1 to 1.9 GeV and evaluate the properties of the hypernuclei produced in particular with respect to their momentum distribution in the laboratory frame. Due to elastic $\Lambda N$ scattering large cross sections for the production of heavy hypernuclei in the order of 100 - 400 $\mu b$ are predicted for p + U at 1.5 - 1.9 GeV laboratory energy. Whereas the $K^+ Y$ production channels are expected to be only slightly modified in the nuclear medium, the antikaon production should be enhanced substantially due to large attractive $K^-$ selfenergies in dense matter. We predict an enhancement of the inclusive $K^-$ yield in p + $^{208}$Pb collisions of a factor of $\approx$ 10 at 2 GeV laboratory energy.