N and Z odd-even staggering in Kr + Sn collisions at Fermi energies

The odd-even staggering of the yield of final reaction products has been studied as a function of proton (Z) and neutron (N) numbers for the collisions 84 Kr+112 Sn and 84 Kr+124 Sn at 35 MeV/nucleon, in a wide range of elements (up to Z ~ 20). The experimental data show that staggering effects rapidly decrease with increasing size of the fragments. Moreover the staggering in N is definitely larger than the one in Z. Similar general features are qualitatively reproduced by the GEMINI code. Concerning the comparison of the two systems, the staggering in N is in general rather similar, being slightly larger only for the lightest fragments produced in the n-rich system. In contrast the staggering in Z, although smaller than that in N, is sizably larger for the n-poor system with respect to the n-rich one.

Constrained caloric curves and phase transition for hot nuclei

Simulations based on experimental data obtained from multifragmenting quasi-fused nuclei produced in central $^{129}$Xe + $^{nat}$Sn collisions have been used to deduce event by event freeze-out properties in the thermal excitation energy range 4-12 AMeV [Nucl. Phys. A809 (2008) 111]. From these properties and the temperatures deduced from proton transverse momentum fluctuations, constrained caloric curves have been built. At constant average volumes caloric curves exhibit a monotonic behaviour whereas for constrained pressures a backbending is observed. Such results support the existence of a first order phase transition for hot nuclei.

Isospin transport in 84Kr + 112,124Sn collisions at Fermi energies

Isotopically resolved fragments with Z<=20 have been studied with high resolution telescopes in a test run for the FAZIA collaboration. The fragments were produced by the collision of a 84Kr beam at 35 MeV/nucleon with a n-rich (124Sn) and a n-poor (112Sn) target. The fragments, detected close to the grazing angle, are mainly emitted from the phase-space region of the projectile. The fragment isotopic content clearly depends on the n-richness of the target and it is a direct evidence of isospin diffusion between projectile and target. The observed enhanced neutron richness of light fragments emitted from the phase-space region close to the center of mass of the system can be interpreted as an effect of isospin drift in the diluted neck region.

The behaviour of constrained caloric curves as ultimate signature of a phase transition for hot nuclei

Simulations based on experimental data obtained from multifragmenting quasifused nuclei produced in central 129Xe + natSn collisions have been used to deduce event by event freeze-out properties on the thermal excitation energy range 4-12 AMeV. From these properties and temperatures deduced from proton transverse momentum fluctuations constrained caloric curves have been built. At constant average volumes caloric curves exhibit a monotonous behaviour whereas for constrained pressures a backbending is observed. Such results support the existence of a first order phase transition for hot nuclei.

Persistence of odd-even staggering in charged fragment yields from the 112Sn+58Ni collision at 35 MeV/nucleon

Odd-even staggering effects on charge distributions are investigated for fragments produced in semiperipheral and central collisions of 112Sn+58Ni at 35 MeV/nucleon. For fragments with Z<16 one observes a clear overproduction of even charges, which decreases for heavier fragments. In peripheral collisions staggering effects persist up to Z about 40. For light fragments, staggering appears to be substantially independent of the centrality of the collisions, suggesting that it is mainly related to the last few steps in the decay of hot nuclei.

Statistical multifragmentation features of midvelocity source in semiperipheral heavy-ion collisions

Some characteristics of midvelocity emissions in semiperipheral heavy-ion collisions at Fermi energies are discussed in the framework of a multifragmenting scenario. We report on binary dissipative collisions of 93Nb + 93Nb at 38AMeV in which we measured an abundant emission of particles and fragments not originated from the usual evaporative decay of hot primary fragments. We checked the compatibility of these emissions with the multifragmentation of a source which forms in the overlap region. One can fairly well reproduce the data assuming a hot and dilute source, possibly more n-rich than the initial nuclei; the results appear to be insensitive to the source size.

Distinctive features of Coulomb-related emissions in peripheral heavy ion collisions at Fermi energies

Light charged particles emitted at about 90 deg in the frame of the projectile-like fragment in semi-peripheral collisions of 93Nb+93Nb at 38A MeV give evidence for the simultaneous occurrence of two different production mechanisms. This is demonstrated by differences in the kinetic energy spectra and in the isotopic composition of the particles. The emission with a softer kinetic energy spectrum and a low N/Z ratio for the hydrogen isotopes is attributed to an evaporation process. The harder emission, with a much higher N/Z ratio, can be attributed to a ``midvelocity process consisting of a non-isotropic emission, on a short time-scale, from the surface of the projectile-like fragment.