Description of nuclear multifragmentation

The decompression stage of a relativistic heavy ion reaction is described within a Monte-Carlo-Time-Dependent-Hartree-Fock model suitable for quantum dynamical calculations. Temperature and compression effects lead to instabilities and nuclear disassembly. Low excited stable and high excited unstable fragments are generated. The model is based on a Monte-Carlo simulation. A statistical set of self-consistent Hartree calculations are performed. Systems with different particle number are studied. At critical break-up temperatures fragments are found in U-shaped spectra. Above the break-up threshold fast and small fragments are counted. Below the break-up threshold the excited matter shows vibrational model. Density distributions are studied and evidence for volume dependent multifragmentation processes is obtained for most break-up temperatures. Mass spectra, multiplicities and momentum distributions are presented. (orig.)