Hard hadron-nucleus processes and multiquark configurations in nuclei

We have studied the inclusive production of hadrons with large transverse momentum transfers p/sub perpendicular/ in pA interactions. We have shown that the difference between the distributions of quarks in free nucleons and in nuclei can lead to an anomalously high yield of hadrons, in particular of mesons, with x/sub perpendicular/ = 2p/sub perpendicular//(s)/sup 1/2/ >0.7--0.8, as is confirmed experimentally. At small x/sub perpendicular/ the dominant contribution to the spectra under consideration comes from multiple collisions of quarks inside the nucleus