Multiplicity of π− mesons in the interactions of 18 GeV/c α-particles with Li, C, Ne, Al, Cu and Pb nuclei

Abstract Multiplicity distributions of π − mesons from the interaction of 18 GeV/ c α-particles with 6 Li, C, Ne, Al, Cu and Pb nuclei have been obtained with the use of a 2 m streamer chamber (SKM-200). The distributions are compared with those from elementary particle interactions and the A -dependence of the average multiplicity is discussed in terms of several theoretical models.