Investigation of the eta production on aluminium and copper nuclei by π- mesons at the momentum of 3.3 GeV/c

The πsup(-)Asub(z) → etaAsub(z-1) reaction on Al and Cu nuclei at a 3.3 GeV/c beam momentum has been studied over a range of momentum transfer t from tsub(min) to -0.4 (GeV/c)2. The results are compared with previous ones obtained during measurements of the reaction π-p → etan. In the differential cross section for the reaction on nuclear targets, a minimum in the forward direction at -t < or approximately 0.1 (GeV/c)2 is deeper than for hydrogen. In the framework of the Glauber approach to the theory of particle production and with experimental values of Zsub(eff) for C, Al, Cu and Xe nuclei the estimation of eta meson production cross section is obtained: tau = (13sub(-5)sup(+6) mb at the energy of 3 GeV