Target dependence of central rapidity $\lambda$ production in sulfur-nucleus collisions at 200 GeV/c per nucleon

Central rapidity {Lambda} production has been measured in sulfur collisions with Cu, Ag, and Pb at 200 GeV/{ital c} per nucleon. Lambdas produced in these collisions were identified by their charged decays recorded by a time projection chamber. The {Lambda} yields are compared as a function of target mass. For each target, the yields are reported as a function of {Lambda} transverse kinetic energy and zero degree energy (a measure of collision centrality). In each system, the data exceed predictions of the VENUS {ital size}{minus}2(4.02) model of sulfur-nucleus collisions. The observed excesses show no obvious variation with collision centrality from moderate to highly central collisions.