[en] Abstract only

No abstract available

[en] These notes review recent results on nuclear fragmentation. An analysis of experimental data from exclusive experiments is made in the framework of modern theories of fragmentation of finite size objects. We discuss the existence of a critical regime of fragmentation and the relevance of scaling and finite size scaling

[en] We discuss the meaning of Zipf's law in nuclear multifragmentation. We remark that Zipf's law is a consequence of a power-law fragment size distribution with exponent τ≅2. We also recall why the presence of such a distribution is not a reliable signal of a liquid-gas phase transition

[en] Short communication

No abstract available

[en] Similarities between models of fragmenting nuclei and disordered systems in condensed matter suggest corresponding methods. Several theoretical models of fragmentation investigated in this fashion show marked differences, indicating possible new methods for distinguishing models using yield data. Applying nuclear methods to disordered systems also yields interesting results. copyright 1998 The American Physical Society

[en] We point out the similarity of thermodynamic conditions reached in nuclear multifragmentation and in supernova explosions. We show that a statistical approach previously applied for nuclear multifragmentation reactions can also be used to describe the electroneutral stellar matter. Then properties of hot unstable nuclei extracted from the analysis of multifragmentation data can be used to determine a realistic nuclear composition of hot supernova matter

[en] The orientation of the spins of projectile fragments produced in the fragmentation of intermediate-energy heavy ions, is discussed. Fragment ¹²B from a ¹⁴N projectile on a ¹⁹⁷Au target at E/A=40.6 MeV/u is found to be largely spin polarized. The observed polarization as a function of the out-going momentum is well explained by a simple kinematical argument based on the participant-spectator model of projectile fragmentation, under the assumption that the fragmentation predominantly proceeds through the positive angle deflections in this case of heavy target and relatively low incident energy. At higher incident energies a strikingly different behavior of polarization is observed

[en] The mean N-over-Z (< N>/Z) ratio of heavy fragmentation residues produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions is investigated. The result gives indications for a break-up stage also in the reactions in which heavy fragments are formed. Data are analysed to extract the excitation energy at the beginning of the evaporation stage of the reaction and to deduce the freeze-out temperature of the break-up process. The temperature determined with this approach is consistent with the value found in the production of intermediate-mass fragments. (authors)