English

Thermodynamics - a valuable approach to multifragmentation?

Nuclear Theory 2009-10-31 v3

Abstract

Since years it has been vividly debated whether multifragmentation is a thermal or a dynamical process. Recently it has been claimed \cite{toek1,po} that new data allow to decide this question. The conclusion, drawn in these papers, are, however, opposite. Whereas \cite{toek1} states that the behavior of different observables as a function of the fragment multiplicity excludes a thermal origin of the fragments in \cite{po} it has been argued that data show a first order phase transition between a liquid and a gaseous phase. It is the aim of this paper to show that both conclusions are premature. They are based on the salient assumption, that the system is sufficiently large to be susceptible to a canonical description. We will show that this is not the case. A micro canonical approach describes the data as good as dynamical calculations. Hence the quest for the physical origin of multifragmentation continues.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.nucl-th/9807064,
  title  = {Thermodynamics - a valuable approach to multifragmentation?},
  author = {R. Nebauer and J. Aichelin},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:nucl-th/9807064},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

17 pages, 4 figures, completely revised, accepted for publication in NPA

R2 v1 2026-07-22T18:44:34.736Z