Detection and identification of large fragments from the partitioning of the 197Au + 197Au system at 23A MeV

First results of a study of partitioning of the nonfusing 197Au + 197Au system at an energy of 23A MeV are reported. A variety of light, medium and heavy fragments were detected and identified by using the 4π multidetector system CHIMERA (Charged Heavy Ion Mass and Energy Resolving Array). A new method of identification of low-energy fragments stopped in the silicon detectors, based on a precise time-of-flight analysis, is proposed. The method has been applied in a preliminary analysis of the 197Au + 197Au partitioning processes leading to the neck emission of intermediate mass fragments and sequential breakup of projectile-like or target-like fragments. (paper)