Theoretical and experimental K+ plus nucleus total and reaction cross sections from the KDP-RIA model

The 5-dimensional spin-0 form of the Kemmer-Duffin-Petiau (KDP) equation is used to calculate scattering observables [elastic differential cross sections (d sigma/d Omega), total cross sections (sigma(Tot)), and total reaction cross sections (sigma(Reac))] and to deduce sigma(Tot) and sigma(Reac) from transmission data for K++ Li-6, C-12, Si-28 and Ca-40 at several momenta in the range 488-714 MeV/c. Realistic uncertainties are generated for the theoretical predictions. These errors: mainly due to uncertainties associated with the elementary K++ nucleon amplitudes, are large, which may account for some of the disagreement between experimental and theoretical sigma(Tot) and sigma(Reac). The results suggest that the K++ nucleon amplitudes need to be much better determined before further improvement in the understanding of these data can occur.