Multiplicities of forward-backward particles in 16O-emulsion interactions at 4.5 AGeV/c

An exclusive study of the characteristics of interactions accompanied by backward emission (θlab≥ 90 degree) of shower and grey particles in collisions of a 4.5 AGeV/c 16O beam with emulsion nuclei is carried out. The experimental multiplicity distributions of different particles emitted in the forward (θlab<90 degree) and backward hemispheres due to the interactions with the two emulsion components (CNO, AgBr) are presented and analyzed. The correlations between the different emitted particles are also investigated. The results indicate that there are signatures for a collective mechanism, which plays a role in the production of particles in the backward hemisphere. Hence, the backward multiplicity distribution of the emitted shower and grey particles at 4.5 AGeV/c incident momentum can be represented by a decay exponential law formula independent of the projectile size. The exponent of the power was found to increase with decreasing target size. The experimental data favor the idea that the backward particles were emitted due to the decay of the system in the latter stages of the reactions. (authors)