The Disintegration of Nuclei in Violent Heavy Ion Interactions at 55A MeV - 110A MeV

High multiplicity 12C induced reactions in Ag(Br) at energies between 55A MeV and 110A MeV have been selected and investigated event by event in nuclear emulsions. Only a fraction of these events can possibly be described in terms of a normal thermal spectator- participant mechanism. Several events exhibit a violent breakup into several light and medium-mass fragments. A strong suppression of projectile associated proton- and composite particle emission in the forward direction is found in comparison with inclusive spectra. A large part of the low energy protons originates from a very slow source, with a velocity comparable to that of the heaviest fragment. The parallel fraction of the c.m. energy in each event, which is governed by the more energetic protons, has a broad distribution with a mean value of 0.61 and thus with no signals of collective production mechanisms. (Authors)