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A sample of Lambda's produced in 2 A*GeV Ni + Cu collisions has been obtained with the EOS Time Projection Chamber at the Bevalac. Low background in the invariant mass distribution allows for the unambiguous demonstration of Lambda directed flow. The transverse mass spectrum at mid-rapidity has the characteristic shoulder-arm shape of particles undergoing radial transverse expansion. A linear dependence of Lambda multiplicity on impact parameter is observed, from which a total Lambda + Sigma^0 production cross section of $112 +/- 24 mb is deduced. Detailed comparisons with the ARC and RVUU models are made.

We study the energy dependence of collective (hydrodynamic-like) nuclear matter flow in (400{endash}1970){ital A} MeV Ni+Au and (1000{endash}1970){ital A} MeV Ni+Cu reactions. The flow increases with energy, appears to reach a maximum, and then to decrease at higher energies. A way of comparing the energy dependence of flow values for different projectile-target mass combinations is introduced, which demonstrates a more-or-less common scaling behavior among flow values from different systems. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Author(s): Lisa, M.A.; Albergo, S.; Bieser, F.; Brady, F.P.; Caccia, Z.; Cebra, D.A.; Chacon, A.D.; Chance, J.L.; Choi, Y.; Costa, S.; Elliott, J.B.; Gilkes, M.L.; Huager, J.A.; Hirsch, A.S.; Hjort, E.L.; Insolia, A.; Justice, M.; Keane, D.; Kintner, J.; Matis, H.S.; McMahan, M.; McParland, C.; Olson, D.L.; Partlan, M.D.; Porile, N.T.; Potenza, R.; Rai, G.; Rasmussen, J.O.; Ritter, Hans G.; Romanski, J.; Romero, J.L.; Russo, G.V.; Scharenberg, R.P.; Scott, A.; Shao, Y.; Srivastava, B.K.; Symons, T.J.M.; Tincknell, M.L.; Tuve, C.; Wang, S.; Warren, P.; Westfall, G.D.; Wieman, H.H.; Wolf, K.

A systematic analysis of the multifragmentation (MF) in fully reconstructed events from 1A GeV Au, La and Kr collisions with C has been performed. This data is used to provide a definitive test of the variable volume version of the statistical multifragmentation model (SMM). A single set of SMM parameters directly determined by the data and the semi-empiricalmass formula are used after the adjustable inverse level density parameter, $\epsilon_{o}$ is determined by the fragment distributions. The results from SMM for second stage multiplicity, size of the biggest fragment and the intermediate mass fragments are in excellent agreement with the data. Multifragmentation thresholds have been obtained for all three systems using SMM prior to secondary decay. The data indicate that both thermal excitation energy $E_{th}^{*}$ and the isotope ratio temperature $T_{He-DT}$ decrease with increase in system size at the critical point. The breakup temperature obtained from SMM also shows the same trend as seen in the data. The SMM model is used to study the nature of the MF phase transition. The caloric curve for Kr exhibits back-bending (finite latent heat) while the caloric curves for Au and La are consistent with a continuous phase transition (nearly zero latent heat) and the values of the critical exponents $\tau$, $\beta$ and $\gamma$, both from data and SMM, are close to those for a 'liquid-gas' system for Au and La. We conclude that the larger Coulomb expansion energy in Au and La reduces the latent heat required for MF and changes the nature of the phase transition. Thus the Coulomb energy plays a major role in nuclear MF.

The fragment yields from the multifragmentation of gold, lanthanum and krypton nuclei obtained by the EOS Collaboration are examined in terms of Fisher's droplet formalism modifed to account for Coulomb energy. The critical exponents sigma and tau and the surface energy coefficient c0 are obtained. Estimates are made of the pressure-temperature and temperature-density coexistence curves of finite neutral nuclear matter as well as the location of the critical point., Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures, 6 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. C

The multifragmentation data of the ISiS Collaboration and the EOS Collaboration are examined. Fisher's droplet formalism, modified to account for Coulomb energy, is used to determine the critical exponents {tau} and {sigma}, the surface energy coefficient c{sub 0}, the pressure-temperature-density coexistence curve of finite nuclear matter and the location of the critical point.

A systematic analysis of the moments of the fragment size distribution has been carried out for the multifragmentation of $1A\mathrm{GeV}$ Au, La, and Kr on carbon. The breakup of Au and La is consistent with a continuous thermal phase transition. The data indicate that the excitation energy per nucleon and isotopic temperature at the critical point decrease with increasing system size. This trend is attributed primarily to the increasing Coulomb energy with finite size effects playing a smaller role.

It is shown that thermodynamic scaling when applied to systems with few (∼150) constituents, in accordance with the theory of critical phenomena, is observed in nuclear multifragmentation. Yields of different nuclear fragments, obtained over a wide range of excitation energies, collapse with some scatter onto a universal curve. This curve is the nuclear scaling function, which is intimately related to the free energy of the system. The determination of the scaling function forms the basis for quantitatively predicting the critical behavior in nuclei.

We have studied the yield of individual fragments formed in the projectile fragmentation of gold nuclei at 1 AGeV incident on a carbon target as a function of the total charge multiplicity. The yields of fragments of different nuclear charge peak at different multiplicities. We show that this behavior can be used to determine the critical exponent σ. We obtain σ = 0.68±0.05, consistent with the liquid-gas value.

Exclusive measurements have been made of Au+Au reactions with beam energies ranging from 0.25{ital A} to 1.15{ital A} GeV. We present measurements of directed collective flow averaged over all light fragments with masses up to alphas, as well as separate measurements for protons, deuterons, tritons, {sup 3}He, {sup 4}He, and Li. The results show a strong increase of the directed flow with fragment mass at all energies measured. Experimental results are compared with a quantum molecular dynamics model. We find that neither the ``soft`` nor the ``hard`` equation of state can describe the data over the entire range of beam energies.

Energy spectra of hydrogen and helium isotopes emitted in Au+Au collisions at 0.25, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, 1.0, and 1.15 A GeV have been measured. A systematic study of the shapes of the spectra reveals a significant non-thermal component consistent with collective radial flow. The strength of this component is evaluated as a function of bombarding energy. Comparisons of the flow signal to predictions of QMD and BUU models are made. Using reverse kinematics, the breakup of gold nuclei has been studied in Au+C reactions at 1.0 A GeV. The moments of the resulting charged fragment distribution provide evidence that nuclear matter possesses a critical point observable in finite nuclei. Values for the critical exponents γ, β, and τ have been determined. These values are close to those for liquid-gas systems and different from those for 3D percolation.

Using charged-particle-exclusive measurements of Au+Au collisions in the LBL Bevalac`s EOS time projection chamber, we investigate momentum-space densities of fragments up to {sup 4}He as a function of fragment transverse momentum, azimuth relative to the reaction plane, rapidity, multiplicity, and beam energy. Most features of these densities above a transverse momentum threshold are consistent with momentum-space coalescence, and, in particular, the increase in sideward flow with fragment mass is generally well described by a momentum-space power law.

Using reverse kinematics, we have studied the breakup of 1.0[ital A] GeV gold nuclei incident on a carbon target. The detector system permitted exclusive event reconstruction of nearly all charged reaction products. The moments of the resulting charged fragment distribution provide strong evidence that nuclear matter possesses a critical point observable in finite nuclei. We have determined values for the critical exponents [gamma], [beta], and [tau]. These values are close to those for liquid-gas systems and clearly different than those for 3D percolation and the liquid-gas mean field limit.