Various aspects of the radial and tangential energy dissipation in heavy ion collisions at bombarding energies in the range 4-12 MeV.A

After a brief historical survey of deep inelastic reactions typical experimental results are presented showing, in a number of systems, energy spectra extending from quasi-elastic small excitations up to very large excitation energies corresponding to complete relaxation. The significance of the value of the kinetic energy at full relaxation is discussed in terms of Coulomb repulsion and rotational energy. The correlation between the total kinetic energy loss and angular momentum transfer is examined in the light of transport theories. The continuous spectrum of kinetic energy loss between quasi-elastic scattering and complete relaxation has been studied and the mechanisms of energy dissipation exhibited examined. (UK)