Multifragmentation and the partition of angular momentum: General statistical theory

In the wake of the statistical theory for angular momentum in binary (deep inelastic) processes, a statistical theory for the distribution of angular momentum between the fragments has been developed for the case of multifragmentation (three or more fragments). From the generalized partition function, the average energy and angular momentum of each fragment are derived as well as the corresponding variances. The first moments in the two quantities suggest a ''rigid rotation'' limit analogous to the binary case. The components of the polarization tensor are calculated for each fragment. The role of thermally generated angular momentum versus that arising from rigid rotation is discussed. Comments are offered on the applicability of the theory to various reactions