Inclusive characteristics of negative pions in pC and pTa interactions at incident proton momentum 10 GeV/c

New data are reported on inelastic pC and pTa interactions at incident-proton momentum 10 GeV/c, using the inclusive approach in 4..pi.. geometry. The distributions of secondary negative pions in different kinematic variables are investigated. The distributions are then compared with similar distributions at incident-proton momentum 4.2 GeV/c, and also with the predictions of the Dubna variant of the cascade: evaporation model. It is shown that the model provides a good description of the experimental negative-pion distributions in momentum up to about 60 GeV/c, in the square of the transverse momentum up to about 1 (GeV/c)/sup 2/, and in rapidity in the central region. At the same time, there is a significant discrepancy between the model and the experimental data in the region of the fragmentation of the projectile and target. There is also a discrepancy in the multiplicities of the negative pions.