STUDY OF VECTOR-MESONS IN DIMUON PRODUCTION IN A LARGE KINEMATIC REGION IN P-W AND S-W INTERACTIONS AT 200 GEV C/NUCLEON/

Results are presented on rho + omega, phi and J/psi production in p-W and S-32-W interactions at 200 GeV/c/nucleon measured via the dimuon d ecay in a large kinematic region. The data are normalized to the charg ed particle multiplicity in the same rapidity interval. They have been collected using the HELIOS/3 muon spectrometer at the CERN SPS. The r atio B sigma(phi)(B sigma(rho) + B sigma(omega)), where B is the relev ant resonance mu mu branching fraction, increases between proton and s ulphur projectiles, and is somewhat enhanced going from peripheral to central S-W interactions. This results from an increase in the number of produced phi's per charged particle. The ratio is measured in diffe rent intervals of p tau and rapidity. It is not clearly dependent on p r, but is larger at higher rapidities. J/psi production, likewise norm alized to charged multiplicity, is significantly lower in S-W compared to p-W interactions.