NUCLEAR FRAGMENTATION AND ITS PARALLELS

A model for the fragmentation of a nucleus is discussed. A general framework for obtaining the canonical ensemble partition function for a fragmentation process is developed based on simple recursive techniques. Parallels of the description of this process with other areas are shown which include Feynman's theory of the lambda transition in liquid helium, Bose condensation, and Markov process models. These parallels are used to generalize and further develop a previous exactly solvable model of nuclear fragmentation. A comparison with other models is also given and one of these models is generalized to include a tuning parameter which contains the underlying physical quantities associated with the fragmentation process. A discussion of the behavior of the partition function and phase transitions is given in terms of Lee-Yang zeros of the partition function. An analysis of some experimental data is given.