Compound multiplicity in the collisions of 4.1 A GeV/c 22Ne nuclei with nuclear emulsion

Abstract

This work displays a study of the compound multiplicity characteristics of 4.1 A GeV/c 22Ne–emulsion interactions, where the number of shower and grey particles taken together is termed as compound multiplicity, Nc. The present data are compared with the corresponding ones obtained for other projectiles at nearly the same momentum per nucleon. It is observed that while the average compound multiplicity depends on the mass number of the projectile, Ap, the value of the ratio <Nc>/D(Nc) seems to be independent of Ap. The impact parameter is found to affect the shape of the compound multiplicity distribution. A positive linear dependence of the compound multiplicity on both the black and heavy charged particles is also noted. Finally, the results indicate that the value of <Nc> depends also on the target mass number. PACS No.: 25.70