The search for the scaling function in the multifragmentation of gold nuclei

J. B. Elliott, S. Albergo, F. Bieser, F. P. Brady, Z. Caccia, D. A. Cebra, A. D. Chacon, J. L. Chance, Y. Choi, S. Costa, M. L. Gilkes, J. A. Hauger, A. S. Hirsch, E. L. Hjort, A. Insolia, M. Justice, D. Keane, J. C. Kintner, V. Lindenstruth, M. A. LisaH. S. Matis, M. McMahan, C. McParland, W. F.J. Müller, D. L. Olson, M. D. Partlan, N. T. Porile, R. Potenza, G. Rai, J. Rasmussen, H. G. Ritter, J. Romanski, J. L. Romero, G. V. Russo, H. Sann, R. P. Scharenberg, A. Scott, Y. Shao, B. K. Srivastava, T. J.M. Symons, M. Tincknell, C. Tuvé, S. Wang, P. G. Warren, H. H. Wieman, T. Wienold, K. Wolf

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is shown that thermodynamic scaling when applied to systems with few (∼ 150) constituents, in accordance with the theory of critical phenomena, is observed in nuclear multifragmentation. Yields of different nuclear fragments, obtained over a wide range of excitation energies, collapse with some scatter onto a universal curve. This curve is the nuclear scaling function, which is intimately related to the free energy of the system. The determination of the scaling function forms the basis for quantitatively predicting the critical behavior in nuclei.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)34-41
Number of pages8
JournalPhysics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics
Volume418
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 29 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Critical exponents
  • Multifragmentation
  • Scaling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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