CHARGE-CHANGING FRAGMENTATION OF 10.6 GEV NUCLEON AU-197 NUCLEI/

We have measured the charge-changing cross sections of 10.6 GeV/nucleo n Au-197 nuclei interacting in targets of CH2 (polyethylene), C, Al, C u, Sn, and Pb. Cross sections for H are calculated from those measured in C and CH2. The total charge-changing cross sections are higher tha n those measured at energies of less than or equal to 1 GeV/nucleon. T he measured cross sections for the heavier targets are somewhat larger than those predicted by a model based on data taken at lower energies with lighter targets. Partial charge-changing cross sections for the production of fragments from the incident Au projectiles were measured for charge changes (Delta Z) from Delta Z = +1, Hg-80, down to approx imately Delta Z = -29, Sn-50. In comparison to lower energy measuremen ts, these partial cross sections are found to be smaller for small Del ta Z and larger or the same for large Delta Z. The H partial cross sec tions are found to follow a power law in Delta Z similar to that for h eavier targets, instead of the exponential form observed at lower ener gies. Factorization is found to hold for all partial cross sections wi th Delta Z greater than two. In the heavier targets, the cross section s for one and two proton removal have significant contributions from e lectromagnetic dissociation. The electromagnetic dissociation contribu tion to the total cross section is derived and found to be relatively small, but with a strong dependence on the charge of the target nuclei of the form Z(T)(1.76+/-0.01).