Determination of nuclear properties below normal density from the multifragmentation pattern

Abstract

The primordial freeze-out stage for a fragmenting nuclear system is considered in the framework of the Copenhagen multifragmentation plus evaporation model. At a given temperature it is demonstrated that reasonably chosen intermediate mass fragment multiplicities will vary strongly with the freeze-out density. Since the multifragmentation model provides us also with the available energy, as soon as the temperature and density are determined, this might allow one to scan the nuclear equation of state around the spinodal density.