Multiplicity and pseudorapidity distribution of photons in S+Au reaction at 200A GeV

The photon multiplicity has been measured for the first time in S+Au collisions at 200A GeV over a wide pseudorapidity range (2.8<~η<~5.2) employing a fine granularity preshower detector. The pseudorapidity density of photons increases with centrality, reaching ∼200 at the highest centrality studied. The results are compared with measurements of the charged particle multiplicity and with predictions of the VENUS event generator.