Mechanism of collective interaction in disintegration of heavy nuclei by protons with the energy of 1 GeV

A two-shoulder time-of-flight spectrometer has been used to investigate deep inelastic disintegration of heavy nuclei by 1 GeV protons. Masses, kinetic energies and momenta of two additional massive fragments dispersing perpendicularly to a primary proton beam were measured in the experiment. Events with essential nucleon losses (up to 100 a.u.m.) are stated to be characterized by increased total kinetic energy of fragments and noticeable value of transferred and transverse momenta as well (up to 2-3 GeV/c). These kinematic peculiarities testify to presence of a special mechanism of heavy nucleus disintegration followed by essential nucleon losses. The threshold value of nucleon losses (45+-5) a.u.m. corresponding to transition from ordinary high-energy pressure after intranuclear cascade to a new mechanism of nuclear reaction is determined. The main peculiarity of the new mechanism is that a group of nucleons receiving essential part of energy and momentum of an incident particle is separated inside the nucleus. The physical reason for this collective mechanism of interaction can be associated with production of pion bubbles inside the nucleus under pion interaction with a nucleus regarded as a relativistic nucleon system