Multiplicity of charged particles produced in π- and K- collisions with nuclei in streamer chamber at 40 GeV/c

Results are presented on the multiplicity of charged particles nsup(ch) produced in π-- and K--meson interactions with Li, C, S, Cu, Cs(1) and Pb nuclei (the mass number A varies from 7 to 207). Data on multiplicities of secondary charged particles in the K-A interactions are given for the first time. The average multiplicity of negative particles < n- > in hadron-nucleus interactions normalized to the average multiplicity of negative particles in hadron-nucleon interactions R-=< n- >sub(hA)/< n- >sub(hN) is approximated by the formula R-=(0.78+-0.06)+(0.32+-0.04)anti ν. Alternatively, the normalized average multiplicity of all charged particles Rsup(ch)=< nsup(ch) >sub(hA)/< nsup(ch) >sub(hN) is approximated by a function with a sharper slope: Rsup(ch)=(0.18+-0.10)+(0.85+-0.06)anti ν. Here, anti ν=Aσsub(hN)/σsup(hA) is a quantity which is commonly interpreted as an average number of the hadron inelastic scattering events inside the nucleus