Fragmentation and multifragmentation of 10.6A GeV gold nuclei.

We present the results of a study performed on the interactions of 10.6A GeV gold nuclei in nuclear emulsions. In a minimum bias sample of 1311 interactions, 5260 helium nuclei and 2622 heavy fragments were observed as Au projectile fragments. The experimental data are analyzed with particular emphasis of target separation interactions in emulsions and study of critical exponents. Multiplicity distributions of the fast-moving projectile fragments are investigated. Charged fragment moments, conditional moments as well as two and three body asymmetries of the fast moving projectile particles are determined in terms of the total charge remaining bound in the multiply charged projectile fragments. Some di erences in the average yields of helium nuclei and heavier fragments are observed, which may be attributed to a target e ect. However, two and three-body asymmetries and conditional moments indicate that the breakup mechanism of the projectile seems to be independent of target mass. We looked for evidence of critical point observable in nite nuclei by study the resulting charged fragments distributions. We have obtained the values for the critical exponents , and and compare our results with those at lower energy experiment (1.0A GeV data). The values suggest that a phase transition like behavior, is observed .