PROTON STOPPING IN C+C, D+C, C+TA, AND D+TA COLLISIONS AT 4.2A GEV C/

The shape of proton rapidity distributions is analyzed in terms of the ir Gaussian components, and the average rapidity loss is determined in order to estimate the amount of stopping in C + C, d + C, C + Ta, and d + Ta collisions at 4.2A GeV/c. Three Gaussians correspond to the nu clear transparency and describe well all peripheral and also C+C centr al collisions. A two-component shape is obtained in case of d + C and C+Ta central collisions. Finally one Gaussian, found in d+ Ta central collisions, corresponds to the full stopping. The calculated values of the average rapidity loss support the qualitative relationship betwee n the number of Gaussian components and the corresponding stopping pow er. It is observed in central collisions that the average rapidity los s increases with the ratio of the number of target and the number of p rojectile participants. [S0556-2813(98)04909-7].