Abstract: | Results are presented on and production in p–W and S–W interactions at 200 GeV/c/nucleon measured via the dimuon decay in a large kinematic region. The data are normalized to the charged particle multiplicity in the same rapidity interval. They have been collected using the HELIOS/3 muon spectrometer at the CERN SPS. The ratio , where is the relevant resonance branching fraction, increases between proton and sulphur projectiles, and is somewhat enhanced going from peripheral to central S–W interactions. This results from an increase in the number of produced 's per charged particle. The ratio is measured in different intervals of p and rapidity. It is not clearly dependent on p, but is larger at higher rapidities. production, likewise normalized to charged multiplicity, is significantly lower in S–W compared to p–W interactions. Received: 27 October 1997 / Revised version: 5 March 1998 / Published online: 13 July 1998 |