Cluster production in 14.5A GeV c Si-nucleus collisions

Characteristics of clusters of relativistic charged secondaries produced in 14.5A GeV/c Si-nucleus collisions are investigated by examining the behavi our of the rapidity gap distribution. The findings reveal that the maximum number of relativistic charged particles constituting a cluster is four. Fu rther, the size of the cluster is observed to remain essentially independen t of the mass of the struck nucleus. A comparison of the result of the pres ent study with those reported earlier for hadron-hadron and hadron-nucleus collisions indicates that similar mechanisms may operate in the production of secondary particles in both hadronic and nuclear collisions at high ener gies.