Charged pions and light nuclei (p, d, t, ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$, and ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$) have been measured in the interaction of proton beams with C, Nb, and Pb targets at 0.8 and 1.6 GeV incident energies, using a large solid angle detector. From slices on the multiplicity of protonlike particles (free protons and protons bound in light fragments), the events have been sorted out into two classes corresponding to more peripheral and more central collisions. For each class of events, the mean value and the dispersion of the ${\mathrm{\pi }}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{\pi }}^{\mathrm{-}}$ multiplicity distributions have been studied as a function of target mass and incident energy. Comparisons to the Liege intranuclear cascade predictions exhibit some discrepancies which are discussed.

• Received 13 November 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.43.2711