Nuclear multifragmentation and phase transitions in hot nuclei

Nuclear multifragmentation is a new, multibody, decay mode of very hot nuclei. The key properties of this process that were measured are considered, such as the space-time and temperature characteristics. The experimental data for the critical temperature of the nuclear liquid-gas-phase transition are analyzed. Thermal multifragmentation is interpreted as a result of spinodal decomposition, which is actually the specific nuclear liquid-fog-phase transition of the first order. The text was submitted by the author in English.