Origin of complex fragments from32S+natAg reaction at 37.5 A·MeV

Fragment emission from collisions of³²S with^natAg at 37.5 A·MeV has been studied with the 4π multi-detector AMPHORA. Production of intermediate mass and heavy fragments as well as of light charged particles has been measured. The total charged particle multiplicity and polar angular distributions have been used to select various classes of collisions. Analysis of angular and energy distributions of fragments and light particles in central collisions indicates the formation of a hot source (excitation energy of≈4.4 A·MeV) with an additional contribution from a preequilibrium process at more forward angles. Azimuthal angle correlations of He-Li, Li-Li, B-B, and C-C pairs have been used as a tool to study the origin of complex fragments. Data at backward angles are well described by considering a thermalized emitter with an angular momentum around 70? and a fragment emission time of the order of 200 fm/c. A microscopic approach of BNV type confirms these emission times and angular momenta indicating the persistence of an incomplete fusion process responsible for the emission of complex fragments at backward angles.