INTERACTIONS OF 10.6 GEV N GOLD NUCLEI WITH LIGHT AND HEAVY TARGET NUCLEI IN NUCLEAR-EMULSION/

We have investigated the particle production and fragmentation of nucl ei participating in the interactions of 10.6 GeV/n gold nuclei in nucl ear emulsions. A new criterion has been found to distinguish between t he interactions of these gold nuclei with the light (H,C,N,O) and heav y (Ag,Br) target nuclei in the emulsion . This has allowed separate an alyses of the multiplicity and pseudo-rapidity distributions of the si ngly charged particles emitted in Au-(H,C,N,O) and Au-(Ag,Br) interact ions, as well as of the modes of breakup of the projectile and target nuclei. The pseudo-rapidity distributions show strong forward asymmetr ies, particularly for the interactions with the light nuclei. Heavy ta rget nuclei produce a more severe breakup of the projectile gold nucle us than do the lighter targets. A negative correlation between the num ber of fragments emitted from the target nuclei and the degree of cent rality 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.