Invariant pT spectra and rapidity densities covering a large rapidity
range(-0.1 < y < 3.5) are presented for π± and K± mesons from
central Au+Au collisions at sNN = 62.4 GeV. The mid-rapidity yields
of meson particles relative to their anti-particles are found to be close to
unity (π−/π+∼1, K−/K+∼0.85) while the anti-proton to
proton ratio is pˉ/p∼0.49. The rapidity dependence of the
π−/π+ ratio is consistent with a small increase towards forward
rapidities while the K−/K+ and pˉ/p ratios show a steep decrease to
∼ 0.3 for kaons and 0.022 for protons at y∼3. It is observed that
the kaon production relative to its own anti-particle as well as to pion
production in wide rapidity and energy ranges shows an apparent universal
behavior consistent with the baryo-chemical potential, as deduced from the
pˉ/p ratio, being the driving parameter.Comment: Submitted to PLB, 6 journal pages, 7 figure