Searching for criticality in nuclear fragmentation

Abstract

Experiments providing a better identi cation of particles produced in heavy ion collisions make now possible the search of critical phenomena in these reactions. In this work a molecular dynamics model (Latino) is used to study collisions of N i + N i at di erent impact parameters and as a function of the beam energy. After identifying the participants using a kinematical prescription, we apply tests for criticality (Fisher's power law mass spectra, the normalized variance of the maximum fragment, and Campi's scatter plot) and conclude that critical phenomena has occurred in these collisions