Dynamics of the Multifragmentation of 1A GeV Gold on Carbon

Dynamics of many-particle fragmentation in a cellular automaton model

A three-dimensional cellular automaton model developed by the authors to deal with the dynamics of N-body interactions has been adapted to investigate the head-on collision of two identical bound clusters of particles, and the ensuing process of fragmentation. The range of impact energies is chosen low enough, to secure that a compound bound cluster can be formed. The model is devised to simulate the laboratory set-up of fragmentation experiments as monitored by 4 pi detectors. The particles interact via a Lennard-Jones potential. At low impact energies the numerical experiments following the dynamics of the individual particles indicate a phase of energy sharing among all the particles of the compound cluster. Fragments of all sizes are then found to evaporate from the latter cluster. The cluster sizes, measured in our setup by simulated 4 pi detectors, conform to a power law of exponent approximately 2.6. In an attempt to duplicate the laboratory caloric curves related, in particular, to nuclear fragmentation processes, we introduce several temperature parameters (kinetic temperature of nucleons, kinetic temperature of fragments, reaction equilibrium temperatures). Theoretical caloric curves are then constructed for those temperature parameters, we regard as physically most relevant. Our results show that different temperature definitions generate different curve patterns, indicating that the fragmentation system remains far from thermodynamic equilibrium. The pattern of the laboratory caloric curve for Au-Au collision experiments as derived from a recent analysis [NuPECC Report, 1997 (unpublished)] is reproduced qualitatively by our reaction temperatures.

First-order transition with power-law singularity in models with absorbing states

We study one- and two-dimensional models which undergo a transition between active and absorbing phases. The transition point in these models is of a novel type: jump of the order parameter coincides with its power-law singularity. Some arguments supported by Monte Carlo simulations prompted us to predict the exact location of the transition point. Both models possess gaugelike symmetry.

Signals for a transition from surface to bulk emission in thermal multifragmentation

Excitation-energy-gated two-fragment correlation functions have been studied between E(*)/A = (2-9)A MeV for equilibriumlike sources formed in 8-10 GeV/c pi(-) and p+197Au reactions. Comparison with an N-body Coulomb-trajectory code shows an order of magnitude decrease in the fragment emission time in the interval E(*)/A = (2-5)A MeV, followed by a nearly constant breakup time at higher excitation energy. The decrease in emission time is strongly correlated with the onset of multifragmentation and thermally induced radial expansion, consistent with a transition from surface-dominated to bulk emission expected for spinodal decomposition.

Application of cellular automata to N-body systems

A two-dimensional cellular automaton model is introduced to deal with the dynamics of a finite system of particles whose interactions are simulated by two-body step potentials. The method is illustrated for a potential approximating the standard Lennard-Jones potential, representative for the problem of heavy ion collisions in nuclear physics. From the cellular automaton dynamics thermodynamic equilibrium state variables are introduced in the usual way. The numerical experiments indicate the occurrence of a phase transition. Macroscopically the transition is marked by a singularity in the equation of state; microscopically it manifests itself by the formation of clusters of particles of all sizes, obeying a mass distribution in the form of a power law of exponent 1.35.