Dynamical Fragment Production as a Mode of Energy Dissipation in Heavy-Ion Reactions.

Abstract

Based on measured correlations between experimental observables in the {sup 209}Bi+{sup 136}Xe reaction at {ital E}/{ital A}=28 MeV, it is shown that multiple intermediate-mass fragment (IMF) production is a dynamical process driven by the energy of relative motion of projectilelike and targetlike fragments. This kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy of the system, until a certain {open_quote}{open_quote}saturation{close_quote}{close_quote} value of approximately 3MeV/nucleon is reached. From this point on, this {open_quote}{open_quote}conventional{close_quote}{close_quote} dissipation mechanism is replaced by dynamical IMF production, constituting a new mode of energy dissipation. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}