  A model of electromagnetic interaction of relativistic heavy ions which makes
it possible to calculate the inclusive and exclusive characteristics of such
interactions is presented. The multistep model includes (1) the single and
double virtual photon absorption by a nucleus, (2) intranuclear cascades of
produced hadrons and (3) statistical decay of excited residual nuclei described
by evaporation, fission and multifragmentation mechanisms. Components of the
model were verified by comparison of calculation results with experimental data
obtained with monoenergetic photons and heavy ions at KEK-Tanashi Synchrotron
and CERN SPS accelerator, respectively.
