In-flight(K^-,N) Reactions for Study of Kaon-nucleus Interaction

We would like to emphasize that the in-flight (K-,N) reactions are particularly useful for the study of the K-nucleus interaction. Since the reaction mechanism is well known,there is little ambiguity to derive the K-nucleus interaction from the measured missing mass spectra. Here we discuss the missing mass spectra of the (K-,N) reactions on the 12C and 16O targets. The spectra show an appreciable amount of strength below the K-nucleus threshold which indicates that the K-nuclear potential is strongly attractive. Comparison of the missing mass spectra with theoretical calculations leads to a potential depth of around -190 MeV for the 12C(K-,n) reaction. A less deep potential of around -160 MeV reproduces well that of the 12C(K-,p) reaction. The difference can be due to isospin dependence of the interaction. Our data show that the K-nucleus potential is very deep to realize kaon condensation in the core of neutron stars.