Rapidity dependence of multiplicity distributions in proton-nucleus collisions at 360 GeV/c

Multiplicity distributions in various rapidity intervals for charged particles produced in collisions of 360 GeV/c protons with aluminium (Al) and gold (Au) targets are presented. The data were analysed separately for the forward and backward hemispheres. Each distribution is well described by a negative binomial distribution. The experimental distributions are compared with the predictions of the multichain model calculated by the Monte Carlo program MCMHA in which the intranuclear cascade process is included, and also with the Lund Monte Carlo FRITIOF. The results of MCMHA reproduce quite well the multiplicity distributions for various rapidity intervals.