The Nuclear Fragmentation Phase Transition and Rare Isotope Production

Abstract

Of all phase transitions in nuclear matter, the fragmentation phase transition is perhaps the one for which there is the best experimental evidence as of now. In addition, theoretical models have been developed to a degree where detailed comparisons are possible. With the advent of rare isotope production facilities using projectile fragmentation techniques (NSCL, GSI, ..., and hopefully RIA in the coming decade), the main interest in this field is beginning to shift towards the exploration of the isospin degree of freedom in the nuclear equation of state. Here we employ a statistical multifragmentation model and discuss the connection between the width of the isotope distribution and the isospin term in the nuclear equation of state.