Investigation ofπ+Neandπ−Neinteractions at 10.5 GeV/c

Abstract

Detailed studies of ${\pi }^{+}\mathrm{Ne}$ and ${\pi }^{-}\mathrm{Ne}$ interactions at 10.5 GeV/c have been carried out. Multiplicities, correlations, and inclusive momentum and rapidity spectra for ${\pi }^{+}$, ${\pi }^{-}$, ${\pi }^0$, and $p$ are reported. Average multiplicities for $K^0$ and ${\Lambda }^0$ production are also determined. Comparisons are made to results from $\pi p$ interactions. Relative to $\pi p$ collisions, pion production is enhanced in the target-fragmentation region but not in the central or projectile-fragmentation regions. Many of the pion production properties can be understood in terms of a simple kinematical model in which the effective target mass is greater than a nucleon mass. A surprising number of energetic protons are observed (laboratory momentum ≳ 1.3 GeV/c). For shower-track multiplicities ∼8, the produced nucleons are found to carry away an average of 40% of the incident momentum, indicating the possible existence of previously unrecognized mechanisms for the efficient momentum transfer to nucleons in particle-nucleus collisions.