Total neutron multiplicities as a measure of the violence in heavy ion reactions

Abstract

Energy spectra and multiplicities of neutrons from the reaction system 838 MeV 32S projectiles on 197Au have been measured in coincidence with binary fragmentations. Neutron detection was performed simultaneously in a 4re scintillator sphere and by time-of-flight. The linear momentum transfer (LMT) and the excitation energy E~N are deduced with the folding angle technique. Neutron multiplicities are compared for consistency and discussed as a measure of LMT and E*N. The saturation of M4~(E*N) beyond E*N ~ 400 MeV seen for several systems of high fissility (x > 0.8) is attributed to the spreading of the folding angle distribution and the increasing competition of charged particle evaporation.