Particle clustering and Mott transitions in hot nuclear matter at finite temperature. Pt. 3

The properties of hot nuclear matter are calculated by considering the Coulomb interaction in a Debye-Thomas-Fermi approach. It is shown that the inclusion of the Coulomb forces implies a decrease of the cluster bound-state energy and a lowering of the nuclear density at the cluster surface. The Coulomb interaction together with consideration of the in-medium corrections leads to significant modification of the abundances of larger clusters compared with the frequently used law-of-mass-action approach. (orig.)