Article

# What Can Be Learned Studying The Distribution Of The Biggest Fragment ?

05/2007;
Source: arXiv

ABSTRACT

In the canonical formalism of statistical physics, a signature of a first order phase transition for finite systems is the bimodal distribution of an order parameter. Previous thermodynamical studies of nuclear sources produced in heavy-ion collisions provide information which support the existence of a phase transition in those finite nuclear systems. Some results suggest that the observable Z1 (charge of the biggest fragment) can be considered as a reliable order parameter of the transition. This talk will show how from peripheral collisions studied with the INDRA detector at GSI we can obtain this bimodal behaviour of Z1. Getting rid of the entrance channel effects and under the constraint of an equiprobable distribution of excitation energy (E*), we use the canonical description of a phase transition to link this bimodal behaviour with the residual convexity of the entropy. Theoretical (with and without phase transition) and experimental Z1-E* correlations are compared. This comparison allows us to rule out the case without transition. Moreover that quantitative comparison provides us with information about the coexistence region in the Z1-E* plane which is in good agreement with that obtained with the signal of abnormal uctuations of configurational energy (microcanonical negative heat capacity).

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Available from: F. Gulminelli, Jun 12, 2014
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##### Article: Inclusive selection of intermediate-mass-fragment formation modes in the spallation of 136Xe
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ABSTRACT: A correlation between the production and kinematic properties of the fragments issued from fission and multifragmentation is established in the study of the reaction 136Xe + hydrogen at 1 GeV per nucleon, measured in inverse kinematics at the FRagment Separator (GSI, Darmstadt). Such observables are analysed in a comprehensive study, selected as a function of the decay mode, and related to the isotopic properties of the fragments in the intermediate-mass region. Valuable information can be deduced on the characteristics of the heaviest product in the reaction, which has been considered a fundamental observable for tagging the thermodynamic properties of finite nuclear systems.
Journal of Physics G Nuclear and Particle Physics 10/2011; 38(11):115006. DOI:10.1088/0954-3899/38/11/115006 · 2.78 Impact Factor