Strangeness Production in Deep Inelastic ep Scattering at HERA

The production of strange hadrons is investigated using deep-inelastic scattering events measured with the H1 detector at HERA. The K0 s and Λ production cross sections and their ratios are determined and presented differentially as functions of several kinematical variables. The K0 s production rate is compared to the production of charged particles in the same region of phase space. In addition, the Λ Λ̄ asymmetry is measured. The production of K*(892) vector mesons in deep-inelastic scattering at low Q2, observed through the decay chain K∗± → K0 s π±, is measured for the first time at HERA. Inclusive cross sections are presented as functions of the transverse momentum squared P∗2 T and Feymann-x xF of the hadronic center of mass frame. The data are compared to theoretical predictions based on leading order Monte Carlo programs with parton showers.