Transverse Characteristics of Hadron Production in Elementary and Nuclear Collisions at the CERN SPS Energies

A comprehensive study of transverse phenomena at CERN-SPS energies has been performed using data collected by the NA49 experiment. Results on p, p, pi+ and pi- production in elementary hadronic interactions (p + p, pi+ +p and pi- + p) as well as in nuclear collisions (centrality-defined p + Pb, C + C, Si + Si And Pb + Pb) are presented. The dependence of transverse momentum spectra, and in particular the <pT> - xF correlations, on particle species, collision energy, size and structure of the colliding objects has been investigated. Particle composition, in terms of the nuclear modification factors RpA (pT) for different xF regions – and particle ratios, has been also studied. The whole set of experimental data puts strong constraints on theoretical models aiming at the description of hadron production in the studied reactions.