FRAGMENTATION CROSS-SECTIONS OF RELATIVISTIC PB-208 PROJECTILES

Production cross sections of more than 270 isotopes ranging from Z = 5 9 to Z = 82 were measured in the reaction Pb-208(1 GeV A)+Cu. The meth od of identifying the projectile fragments and evaluating the producti on cross sections is described. The experimental data are compared wit h a modern version of the abrasion-ablation model and with the empiric al parameterization EPAX. Apart from deviations in the details they bo th snow an overall good agreement. The cross sections of those fragmen ts which are produced by the removal of protons only test the lower pa rt of the excitation energy distribution. For the first time, the four -proton removal channel could be observed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B .V.