Interactions of 10.6 GeV/n gold nuclei with light and heavy target nuclei in nuclear emulsion
M. L. Cherry, Louisiana State University
A. Dabrowska, Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences
P. Deines-Jones, Louisiana State University
A. J. Dubinina, Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics
R. Hołyński, Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences
W. V. Jones, Louisiana State University
E. D. Kolganova, Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics
A. Olszewski, Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences
E. A. Pozharova, Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics
K. Sengupta, Louisiana State University
T. Yu Skorodko, Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics
V. A. Smirnitski, Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics
M. Szarska, Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences
C. J. Waddington, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
J. P. Wefel, Louisiana State University
B. Wilczyńska, Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences
W. Wolter, Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Abstract
We have investigated the particle production and fragmentation of nuclei participating in the interactions of 10.6 GeV/n gold nuclei in nuclear emulsions. A new criterion has been found to distinguish between the interactions of these gold nuclei with the light (H,C,N,O) and heavy (Ag, Br) target nuclei in the emulsion. This has allowed separate analyses of the multiplicity and pseudo-rapidity distributions of the singly charged particles emitted in Au-(H,C,N,O) and Au-(Ag,Br) interactions, as well as of the modes of breakup of the projectile and target nuclei. The pseudo-rapidity distributions show strong forward asymmetries, particularly for the interactions with the light nuclei. Heavy target nuclei produce a more severe breakup of the projectile gold nucleus than do the lighter targets. A negative correlation between the number of fragments emitted from the target nuclei and the degree of centrality of the collisions has been observed, which can be attributed to the total destruction of the relatively light target nuclei by these very heavy projectile nuclei. © 1994 Springer-Verlag.
