Phi meson-baryon cross sections, estimated within a one-boson-exchange model, serve as input for a calculation of the collision rates in hot hadronic matter. We find that the width of the \phi meson is modified through collisions with baryons by 1-10 MeV at 160 MeV temperature depending on the baryon fugacity. Thermalization of the \phi in high energy heavy ion collisions is discussed.
Categories: nucl-th