Simulations of Fragment Correlations in the Disintegration of Non-Compact Nuclear Configurations

Abstract

Non-spherical and hollow nuclear configurations have been predicted for intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions. We have developed a simulation of the emitted heavy fragments in order to establish observables indicative of non-spherical break-up geometries. Starting with a spherical, bubble, spheroidal or a toroidal freeze-out volume configuration, a primary fragment distribution is defined with a given radial collective energy, thermal momentum distribution and intrinsic excitation energy. The outgoing fragments are allowed to propagate along their Coulomb trajectories in a self-consistent manner. Account is taken of the de-excitation of the primary fragments by nucléon and cluster evaporation. Considering 5-fragment partitions, azimuthal distributions and two-fragment correlation functions are constructed and discussed in connection with their associated break-up geometries.