Emission of light charged particles and associated heavy partners in reactions induced on Ni by C projectiles at 30, 60, and 84 MeV/u

Measurements of light charged particle emission and of associated heavy nuclei have been used to explore reaction mechanisms in the interaction of 12C projectiles at 30, 60 and 84 MeV/u with a Ni target. In this intermediate-energy range it is shown that the main characteristics for both the low-energy light particles and the target-like nuclei evolve very gently. There is no indication in the present data of a rapid change in the reaction mechanisms when exploring interactions with beam velocities larger than the speed of sound in nuclear matter or larger than the Fermi velocity. (orig.)