Mean free path of Z =2 nuclei from 3 He p interactions in liquid hydrogen

Results are presented for the total and the apparent cross section measured in 3 He p interactions at an incident momentum of 8.0 GeV/ c and for an anomalously short mean free path of Z =2 secondary nuclei from these interactions. About 14000 Z =2 nuclei leading to 2319 secondary interactions are studied. An admixture of 0.5% of anomalons is found with a mean free path of 1.5 cm to be compared with around 250 cm for primary interactions. Our results are compared with other data from the interactions of He nuclei with protons at various energies.