Strangeness Enhancement and Thermalization in pp, d A and AA Collisions at RHIC

Abstract

Preliminary strangeness enhancement factors measured in pp, d–Au and Au–Au collisions at RHIC will be discussed and compared to model predictions. The impact of elementary collision effects, such as Cronin enhancement and jet production, on collective parameters measured in Au–Au collisions, e.g. radial expansion and distributions, will be discussed.