Anomalous Mean Free Path ofZ=2Fragments from4.5A-GeV/cC12Projectiles in Emulsion

An anomalously short mean free path of 10.93 ± 2.00 cm is found for secondary $Z=2\mathrm{}$ fragments of $4.5A$-GeV/c ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ projectiles at distances $D<~2.5$ cm from their production in nuclear emulsions. The largest contribution to this anomalous short—mean-free-path component comes from $N_h=0\mathrm{}$ interactions of ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ in emulsion.