Test of weak and strong factorization in nucleus–nucleus collisions at several hundred MeV/nucleon

Projectile total and partial charge-changing cross sections have been measured for argon ions at 400 MeV/nucleon in carbon, aluminum, copper, tin and lead targets; cross sections for hydrogen were also obtained using a polyethylene target. The validity of weak and strong factorization properties has been investigated for partial charge-changing cross sections; measurements obtained for carbon, neon and silicon beams at 290 and 400 MeV/nucleon and iron beam at 400 MeV/nucleon, in carbon, aluminum, copper, tin and lead targets have also been used for the test. Two different analysis methods were applied and both indicated that these properties are valid, without any significant difference between weak and strong factorization. The factorization parameters have then been calculated and analyzed in order to find some systematic behavior useful for modeling purposes.