The importance of initial-final state correlations for the formation of fragments in heavy ion collisions

Using quantum molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the formation of fragments in symmetric reactions between beam energies of E=30AMeV and 600AMeV. After a comparison with existing data we investigate some observables relevant to tackle equilibration: dsigma/dErat, the double differential cross section dsigma/pt.dpz.dpt,... Apart maybe from very energetic E>400AMeV and very central reactions, none of our simulations gives evidence that the system passes through a state of equilibrium. Later, we address the production mechanisms and find that, whatever the energy, nucleons finally entrained in a fragment exhibit strong initial-final state correlations, in coordinate as well as in momentum space. At high energy those correlations resemble the ones obtained in the participant-spectator model. At low energy the correlations are equally strong, but more complicated; they are a consequence of the Pauli blocking of the nucleon-nucleon collisions, the geometry, and the excitation energy. Studying a second set of time-dependent variables (radii, densities,...), we investigate in details how those correlations survive the reaction especially in central reactions where the nucleons have to pass through the whole system. It appears that some fragments are made of nucleons which were initially correlated, whereas others are formed by nucleons scattered during the reaction into the vicinity of a group of previously correlated nucleons.Comment: 45 pages text + 20 postscript figures Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Breakup Density in Spectator Fragmentation

Proton-proton correlations and correlations of protons, deuterons and tritons with alpha particles from spectator decays following 197Au + 197Au collisions at 1000 MeV per nucleon have been measured with two highly efficient detector hodoscopes. The constructed correlation functions, interpreted within the approximation of a simultaneous volume decay, indicate a moderate expansion and low breakup densities, similar to assumptions made in statistical multifragmentation models. PACS numbers: 25.70.Pq, 21.65.+f, 25.70.Mn, 25.75.GzComment: 11 pages, LaTeX with 3 included figures; Also available from http://www-kp3.gsi.de/www/kp3/aladin_publications.htm

Break-up stage restoration in multifragmentation reactions

In the case of Xe+Sn at 32 MeV/nucleon multifragmentation reaction break-up fragments are built-up from the experimentally detected ones using evaluations of light particle evaporation multiplicities which thus settle fragment internal excitation. Freeze-out characteristics are extracted from experimental kinetic energy spectra under the assumption of full decoupling between fragment formation and energy dissipated in different degrees of freedom. Thermal kinetic energy is determined uniquely while for freeze-out volume - collective energy a multiple solution is obtained. Coherence between the solutions of the break-up restoration algorithm and the predictions of a multifragmentation model with identical definition of primary fragments is regarded as a way to select the true value. The broad kinetic energy spectrum of $^3$He is consistent with break-up genesis of this isotope.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure

Breakup Conditions of Projectile Spectators from Dynamical Observables

Momenta and masses of heavy projectile fragments (Z >= 8), produced in collisions of 197Au with C, Al, Cu and Pb targets at E/A = 600 MeV, were determined with the ALADIN magnetic spectrometer at SIS. An analysis of kinematic correlations between the two and three heaviest projectile fragments in their rest frame was performed. The sensitivity of these correlations to the conditions at breakup was verified within the schematic SOS-model. The data were compared to calculations with statistical multifragmentation models and to classical three-body calculations. Classical trajectory calculations reproduce the dynamical observables. The deduced breakup parameters, however, differ considerably from those assumed in the statistical multifragmentation models which describe the charge correlations. If, on the other hand, the analysis of kinematic and charge correlations is performed for events with two and three heavy fragments produced by statistical multifragmentation codes, a good agreement with the data is found with the exception that the fluctuation widths of the intrinsic fragment energies are significantly underestimated. A new version of the multifragmentation code MCFRAG was therefore used to investigate the potential role of angular momentum at the breakup stage. If a mean angular momentum of 0.75$\hbar$/nucleon is added to the system, the energy fluctuations can be reproduced, but at the same time the charge partitions are modified and deviate from the data. PACS numbers: 25.70.Mn, 25.70.Pq, 25.75.Ld, 25.75.-qComment: 38 pages, RevTeX with 21 included figures; Also available from http://www-kp3.gsi.de/www/kp3/aladin_publications.htm

Dynamical approach to spectator fragmentation in Au+Au reactions at 35 MeV/A

The characteristics of fragment emission in peripheral $^{197}$Au+$^{197}$Au collisions 35 MeV/A are studied using the two clusterization approaches within framework of \emph{quantum molecular dynamics} model. Our model calculations using \emph{minimum spanning tree} (MST) algorithm and advanced clusterization method namely \emph{simulated annealing clusterization algorithm} (SACA) showed that fragment structure can be realized at an earlier time when spectators contribute significantly toward the fragment production even at such a low incident energy. Comparison of model predictions with experimental data reveals that SACA method can nicely reproduce the fragment charge yields and mean charge of the heaviest fragment. This reflects suitability of SACA method over conventional clusterization techniques to investigate spectator matter fragmentation in low energy domain.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepte

Time Scales in Spectator Fragmentation

Proton-proton correlations and correlations of p-alpha, d-alpha, and t-alpha from spectator decays following Au + Au collisions at 1000 AMeV have been measured with an highly efficient detector hodoscope. The constructed correlation functions indicate a moderate expansion and low breakup densities similar to assumptions made in statistical multifragmentation models. In agreement with a volume breakup rather short time scales were deduced employing directional cuts in proton-proton correlations. PACS numbers: 25.70.Pq, 21.65.+f, 25.70.MnComment: 8 pages, with 5 included figures; To appear in the proceedings of the CRIS 2000 conference; Also available from http://www-kp3.gsi.de/www/kp3/aladin_publications.htm

Statistical Multifragmentation of Non-Spherical Expanding Sources in Central Heavy-Ion Collisions

We study the anisotropy effects measured with INDRA at GSI in central collisions of Xe+Sn at 50 A.MeV and Au+Au at 60, 80, 100 A.MeV incident energy. The microcanonical multifragmentation model with non-spherical sources is used to simulate an incomplete shape relaxation of the multifragmenting system. This model is employed to interpret observed anisotropic distributions in the fragment size and mean kinetic energy. The data can be well reproduced if an expanding prolate source aligned along the beam direction is assumed. An either non-Hubblean or non-isotropic radial expansion is required to describe the fragment kinetic energies and their anisotropy. The qualitative similarity of the results for the studied reactions suggests that the concept of a longitudinally elongated freeze-out configuration is generally applicable for central collisions of heavy systems. The deformation decreases slightly with increasing beam energy.Comment: 35 pages, 19 figures, submitted to Nuclear Physics

Pion radii in nonlocal chiral quark model

The electromagnetic radius of the charged pion and the transition radius of the neutral pion are calculated in the framework of the nonlocal chiral quark model. It is shown in this model that the contributions of vector mesons to the pion radii are noticeably suppressed in comparison with a similar contribution in the local Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model. The form-factor for the process gamma*pi+pi- is calculated for the -1 GeV^2<q^2<1.6 GeV^2. Our results are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Thermal and Chemical Freeze-out in Spectator Fragmentation

Isotope temperatures from double ratios of hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, and carbon isotopic yields, and excited-state temperatures from yield ratios of particle-unstable resonances in 4He, 5Li, and 8Be, were determined for spectator fragmentation, following collisions of 197Au with targets ranging from C to Au at incident energies of 600 and 1000 MeV per nucleon. A deviation of the isotopic from the excited-state temperatures is observed which coincides with the transition from residue formation to multi-fragment production, suggesting a chemical freeze-out prior to thermal freeze-out in bulk disintegrations.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C, small changes as suggested by the editors and referee

Multiplicity correlations of intermediate-mass fragments with pions and fast protons in 12C + 197Au

Low-energy pi+ (E < 35 MeV) from 12C+197Au collisions at incident energies from 300 to 1800 MeV per nucleon were detected with the Si-Si(Li)-CsI(Tl) calibration telescopes of the INDRA multidetector. The inclusive angular distributions are approximately isotropic, consistent with multiple rescattering in the target spectator. The multiplicity correlations of the low-energy pions and of energetic protons (E > 150 MeV) with intermediate-mass fragments were determined from the measured coincidence data. The deduced correlation functions 1 + R \approx 1.3 for inclusive event samples reflect the strong correlations evident from the common impact-parameter dependence of the considered multiplicities. For narrow impact-parameter bins (based on charged-particle multiplicity), the correlation functions are close to unity and do not indicate strong additional correlations. Only for pions at high particle multiplicities (central collisions) a weak anticorrelation is observed, probably due to a limited competition between these emissions. Overall, the results are consistent with the equilibrium assumption made in statistical multifragmentation scenarios. Predictions obtained with intranuclear cascade models coupled to the Statistical Multifragmentation Model are in good agreement with the experimental data.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, subm. to EPJ