Enhancement of hyperon production at central rapidity in 158 A GeV/c Pb–Pb collisions

Results are presented on hyperon and antihyperon production in Pb–Pb, pPb and pBe collisions at 158 GeV/c per nucleon. Λ, Ξ and Ω yields have been measured at central rapidity and medium transverse momentum as functions of the centrality of the collision. Comparing the yields in Pb–Pb to those in pBe interactions, strangeness enhancement is observed. The enhancement increases with the centrality and with the strangeness content of the hyperons, reaching a factor of about 20 for the Ω in the central Pb–Pb collisions.