title: Search for projectile fragments with fractional charge in relativistic heavy ion collisions.
abstract: We measured the charge of about 35000 projectile fragments with Z > or = 5e produced by 14.5 GeV/nucleon and 200 GeV/nucleon 16O beams in a Pb target using CR39 plastic nuclear track detectors.  A minimum track length of 3 mm in the detector without nuclear interaction was required.  No evidence for fragments carrying a fractional charge was found.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University of Siegen, Fed. Rep. Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brechtmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Benton
mesh_terms: D019471:Elementary Particle Interactions; D004601:Elementary Particles; D007477:Ions; D007854:Lead; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009686:Nuclear Physics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011874:Radiometry; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; C028827:CR 39; D007854:Lead; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols