Limits of nuclear stability at finite temperature explored with giant resonances

Experimental investigations of the properties of giant resonances at finite temperature provide new insights into the interplay between the quantal and macroscopic properties of hot nuclei and into the limits of stability of the various nuclear phases. Here, we discuss recent investigations aiming at understanding the shapes of hot nuclei by measuring the angular distribution of high energy gamma rays emitted from well defined regions of excitation energy and spin, and new attempts to study the properties of superheavy atomic nuclei by measuring their gamma ray decay prior to fission. (orig.)