Dependence of the multiplicity of relativistic charged particles on the atomic number in interactions between pi /sup -/ mesons with a 17 GeV/sec pulse and between protons with 60 GeV/sec and 67 GeV/sec pulses on photoemulsion nuclei

Full account of experiments with the photo-emulsion G5 being irradiated by pi /sup -/ mesons by the CERN accelerator and the photo- emulsions BR-2 and BRx4y being irradiated by protons by the Serpukhov accelerator is presented, supported by tables and histograms. Nuclear interactions, discovered along the trace, and the division criteria between interactions of light nuclei (CNO) and heavy nuclei (AgBr) are studied. All interactions are grouped under quasi-nuclear, light nuclei and heavy nuclei, and their distribution with differing quantities of relativistic particles n/sub s/ and heavily ionized particles N/sub h/ is explained and discussed. (5 refs)