Hot nuclei

Heavy ions accelerated at a few tens of MeV/u give a unique opportunity for studying highly excited nuclei. As a matter of fact and depending on the impact parameter a broad distribution of energy deposits is reached. Thus, there is first a need to select out the different exit channels by considering global observables such as the linear momentum transferred from the projectile to the target nucleus or the energy damping. Then, before speaking of hot nuclei one has to establish that a full thermal equilibrium has been reached. Only at this stage a study of the properties of the hot species can be carried out. In particular one can clearly demonstrate the dynamical character of the deexcitation. Phase space does not govern any longer the cooling process as it essentially does at moderate temperatures and this is best seen when considering the competition between a rather slow mode such as fission and faster light particle evaporation