Quantum molecular dynamics simulation of expanding nuclear matter and nuclear multifragmentation

Abstract

Multifragmentation resulting from an expanding nuclear matter is investigated on the basis of quantum molecular dynamics. In particular, the dependence of the fragment mass distribution on the initial temperature ${(T}_{\mathrm{init}})$ and the radial flow velocity $(h)$ is studied. When $h$ is large, the distribution shows exponential shape, whereas for small $h,$ it obeys the power law. Although the power law is what Fisher's droplet model predicts, the fragmentation mechanism in an expanding system is found to be different from the one in a thermally equilibrated system.