Liquid-fog and liquid-gas phase transitions in hot nuclei

Abstract

Thermal multifragmentation of hot nuclei is interpreted as the nuclear liquid-fog phase transition inside the spinodal region. The exclusive data for p(8.1 GeV) + Au collisions are analyzed within the framework of the statistical model SMM. It is found that the partition of hot nuclei is specified after expansion to a volume equal to V t = (2.6 ± 0.3)V 0. The freeze-out volume is found to be twice as large: V f = (5 ± 1)V 0. The similarity between multifragmentation and ordinary fission is discussed.