Prompt K<inf>S</inf>⁰ production in pp collisions at s=0.9 TeV

The production of K _S ⁰ mesons in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 0.9 TeV is studied with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The luminosity of the analysed sample is determined using a novel technique, involving measurements of the beam currents, sizes and positions, and is found to be 6.8±1.0 μb ^-1. The differential prompt K _S ⁰ production cross-section is measured as a function of the KS0 transverse momentum and rapidity in the region 0<pT<1.6 GeV/c and 2.5<y<4.0. The data are found to be in reasonable agreement with previous measurements and generator expectations.