Production mechanism of hot nuclei in violent collisions in the Fermi energy domain

A production mechanism of highly excited nuclei formed in violent collisions in the Fermi energy domain is investigated. The collision of two nuclei is decomposed into several stages which are treated separately. Simplified exciton concept is used for the description of pre-equilibrium emission. A modified spectator-participant scenario is used where motion along classical Coulomb trajectories is assumed. The participant and one of the spectator zones undergo incomplete fusion. Excitation energies of both cold and hot fragment are determined. Results of the calculation are compared to recent experimental data in the Fermi energy domain. Data on hot projectile-like, mid-velocity and fusion-like sources are described consistently. Geometric aspects of pre-equilibrium emission are revealed. Explanations to previously unexplained experimental phenomena are given. Energy deposited into non-thermal degrees of freedom is estimated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.