Plural Theories for the Shower Component in High Energy Nuclear Disintegrations

Abstract

Detailed numerical results are presented for the average numbers of protons and mesons emitted as shower particles in high energy nuclear disintegrations. The results for two schemes of plural production of mesons are compared with results previously obtained using the Heitler-Janossy(1) model in which it was assumed that the nucleus is transparent to the mesons emitted in the individual nucleon-nucleon collisions. It is concluded that this latter model best fits the limited experimental data available. The results presented for mesons are based on the assumption that the shower particles consist of $\pi$-mesons and protons only. This assumption is not essential, as the energy going into the meson component could be considered as producing mesons of various types. Some recent criticisms of the cascade theory are also answered.