Compressional effects in heavy ion collisions. Spinodal decomposition and thermal energy saturation

Using a kinetic equation (the Landau-Vlasov equation), and analysis of the balance between thermal and collective energies is performed for heavy-ion collisions in the 20-100 MeV/u bombarding energy range. We show how the initially available energy is shared between thermal and compression degrees of freedom. Compression may in turn drive the nuclear system into the spinodal region. The sensitivity of the amplitude and frequency of the monopole oscillation to the nuclear incompressibility modulus is discussed. (orig.)