Asymmetry of π meson emission in nucleus-nucleus collisions as a measure of the target-to-projectile ratio of the numbers of interacting nucleons.

Experimental data on the forward-backward asymmetry of π emission in (d,He,C)Ta interactions at p/A=4.2 GeV/c are presented. The absolute value of the asymmetry coefficient of the inclusive π production in the nucleon-nucleon CMS decreases as A with increasing atomic mass of projectile nucleus. A method of obtaining the target-to-projectile ratio of the numbers of participant nucleons N /N through measuring the velocity of the symmetric pion emission system is proposed. It has been found that N/N∼A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]